Rising Stars: Meet Adam Small of Brookside

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Small.

Hi Adam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in Kansas City and in 7th grade met this great guy who was wearing a Blink-182 t-shirt. The next thing I knew I was working at his dad’s gallery–Leopold Gallery, owned by Paul Dorrell–where I earned a little cash, which I spent terrorizing the Ward Parkway Shopping Mall. I moved away from KC in 9th grade but kept coming back to see friends and help out around Leopold Gallery every summer, especially with their big installations. I went to college for theatre at Emporia State and KU. My free time is spent helping out at a local winery and cooking extravagant meals for my fiancée and myself.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say I grew up with my share of challenges, for sure. My family was poor, so we were constantly getting kicked from one small town to another. After my parents split up, my mom met this guy who was known to get physical from time-to-time. Luckily, I had made a friend with cool parents that built me a room in their basement and took me out of that situation. I am forever thankful to them.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the proud Gallery Manager and Art Consultant for Leopold Gallery. It’s pretty awesome having a job where I can come in each day and always encounter interesting tasks, especially after years of grinding away in the food industry. Some days are spent creating photographic mockups for clients and answering the phone, other days I will be out for several hours doing some good old fashioned guerilla marketing, and on yet other days I post on SM or install art for clients or edit the website. It’s a very rewarding profession, especially since we help advance culture on a national level.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my most memorable childhood moments is when I was with some friends and I were walking along Ward Parkway–one of the major boulevards in the city–and took a break by the gigantic Meyer Fountain. By break, I mean we sat on the edge of it and poured a Red Solo cup of dish soap into the water before going on our jolly way. When we came back later, there was a mountain of bubbles about 20 feet high. I was so proud. The owner of Leopold Gallery, Paul, showed us how to furtively do that with the kind of soap that breaks down rapidly and does no damage. Either way, it was a lot of fun for a kid.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.leopoldgallery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leopoldgallery/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeopoldGallery
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leopold-gallery
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSYIJ8kJLnLhKMfVNARkSLw
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/leopold-gallery-art-consulting-kansas-city?osq=Art+Galleries