As we all have done, Georgian Gallery has gone through several changes over its 50+ years history in Henry county. Starting in Stockbridge, the business was a small frame shop serving this community with quality framing.
Several years later the brand was sold, and the framing took an upscale turn to include some of the world’s finest framing designs. Also, the owners were dealers in fine antiques. Expanding its presence with antique trade shows, the gallery maintained a modest presence offering fine framing, antique art canvases, and beautiful antiques.
What follows is the current ownership of Georgian Gallery. Following a successful career in hotel management, Keith Sweat landed in Henry county following the 9-1-1 tragedy. He purchased Georgian Gallery with a desire to return to his first job which he did all through high school and college. Not knowing any better, he decided to keep the framing side of the business and let the antique business go. Then he looked at the space and said “I want to show Henry county people contemporary art.”
Keith started “interviewing” artists through gallery exhibits, art shows, and private meetings. Slowly and surely, he develops a gallery that, to this day, reflects some of the most unexpected talent in the state of Georgia.
With a fresh and energetic façade, thousands of people a year are served by Keith and his staff either via their expert custom picture framing, art events, and/or seeking assistance guidance in the latest interior design trends. Through large art gallery openings, monthly wine tastings, and lots of community service work Georgian Gallery has intrenched itself into the Henry county as “a gallery space for a gathering place.”
Supporting local business is important to Georgian Gallery. Hosting the Story on the Square exhibit in 2019 offered an opportunity to share stories and support McDonough Square store. Read more here.
Beginning his framing and gallery career at 15 years old, Keith Sweat was introduced at a very early and formative age how important good framing is to beautiful art, collectibles, and important documents. Within 4 years Keith was managing his own frame shop when his company expanded to a second location. After 7 years in the framing and gallery business, Keith moved onto the interior design world by apprenticing under two different interior designers.
After attending Valdosta State College, majoring in Secondary Education in Business, Sweat started a new career in hotel management. Even as a young hotel manager, he realized the importance of promoting fresh new art from emerging artist.
At 22 years old, Keith started showcasing local area artist in the lobby of his hotel. Within 3 years, Sweat accepted his first General Manager position in Athens, GA. Being involved from ground up construction, Keith was a part of the entire interior design and art selection process for the newly built hotel.
After relocating to Henry County in 2001 Keith finds a small frame shop and antiques store for sale. The deal was sealed in January, 2002. Immediately he started renovating the space to showcase new contemporary artist from all over the state. Ever since that first year, Keith has been custom framing collectible and keepsakes, showcasing some of the newest and freshest art to be shown in the area and volunteering his talents to several non-profit events.
Now, located on the beautiful and historic square of McDonough, Keith’s high-energy, “about town” persona is right at home. Following a decline in recent years due to our economy downturn, the business is growing and reshaping itself to the needs and demands of a new Henry county resident. Multi-generational, multi-cultural, multi-lifestyles, our community is expanding in many more ways than just population. Georgian Gallery is staying in-step with this vibrant trend with the introduction of a new gallery addition. “A gallery space for a gathering place”, Keith is living his dream of providing a “retreat” from the chaos with an environment of beautiful art, delightful social events like our monthly wine tastings, and the best friends one could have in the gallery.
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