Since opening five years ago in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood, Fai-E’ Galley has slowly garnered a reputation as a showplace for museum quality work. The quaint space located at 43rd Street and Ellis Avenue has seen growth and development around it. There is a restaurant, boutique, a hair salon and several retail shops. Owner Faye Edwards illustrates that if you really want to do something, it’s important to follow your dreams. The sky is the limit! –tony binns
What kind of art is displayed at Fai-E?
We are an African art gallery — not African American — although sometimes we do feature some African American artists and art from other parts of the Diaspora. But it is overwhelmingly African Art, it is a gallery, not a shop, so you are not going to find clothes, shea butter, T-shirts and other things. You will find true museum quality, true antiquities, and true original works.
How did you get started?
I started traveling to Africa about 20 years ago and fell madly in love with the people and the art. It started out as pleasure, moved to education and wanting to share that education with others and there was always that desire to open a gallery because I kind of kept a gallery out of my home and enjoyed sharing the art and educating people about its true purposes. I also had chats once a month called “Third Sunday in Bronzeville” to discuss cultural issues that impact the Diaspora. I also have a full-time job with a social service agency working in child welfare, which I love. So, how do you do a gallery and a job of such importance? And then a nasty thing called cancer came to my door and a voice in the back of my head said, “if you want to open a gallery, this might be the time to do it!” And the wonderful thing about it is I am in remission.
You were originally located around the corner on Cottage Grove, why move?
It was time to grow. Being here on what we call “Bistro Row” has given us a new energy with the Norman’s Bistro, Fort Smith, and Laws Concepts.
Define Africanist.
A person who studies the art, culture, and people of Africa.
For more information, visit www.faieafrikanart.com, 4317 S. Cottage Grove, Chicago, Ill. 60653, 773-268-2889
