About Us
Stanek Gallery launched in 2015 with an innovative exhibition program that demonstrates how distinctive styles, content and genres can coexist in the same room with harmony and intrigue. Stanek Gallery works with an international community of aspiring and experienced art collectors to provide opportunities to acquire highly regarded modern masters and intriguing new works by emerging talent.
With a focus on quality, Stanek Gallery presents a diverse collection of representational, abstract, figurative and conceptual work of exceptional craftsmanship in a wide range of styles, techniques and subject matter. The approach is modern and multifaceted, offering not only an opportunity for artists to maximize exposure of high caliber work, but also provides an intimate experience for collectors and patrons.
Meet the team
Katherine Stanek, Owner and Director
Katherine Stanek was born in Oak Park, Illinois and lived in the Chicago area until her early twenties. Pursuing work and education, Stanek relocated to Philadelphia where she held a full time corporate management position while attending classes part time at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. In 2002, Katherine resigned her management position and began her career in art at The Pennsylvania Academy receiving a 4-year merit scholarship for her studies.
Immediately upon graduation, Stanek was invited by notable Philadelphia galleries to exhibit her work and accepted The Rosenfeld Gallery invitation to represent her body of work. She has since exhibited widely in numerous galleries, museums and sculpture gardens which include The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, European Museum of Modern Art MEAM, Barcelona and most recently, she was invited to exhibit her sculpture alongside the work of Auguste Rodin in the international exhibition "Rodin and the Contemporary Figurative Tradition" at the Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Katherine is the recipient of the George and Helen Segal Foundation Grant and her work has been featured in several publications including The National Sculpture Society's "Sculpture Review".
In 2014 The Rosenfeld Gallery announced their intent to close following a series of gallery closings throughout the city. With dwindling options remaining for a figurative sculptor in Philadelphia, Katherine opened Stanek Gallery in Old City with the intent of shifting the trend. Since it's opening in November 2015, Stanek Gallery has quickly become the leading art gallery in Philadelphia attracting some of the area's most accomplished artists. Stanek Gallery's museum style exhibition program and innovative events designed to return patrons to the galleries have fostered partnerships with curators from The Barnes Foundation, The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, The Hugo Galerie NYC and scholars from across the country.
Jennifer Bedford, Gallery Manager
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Before working toward her PhD in Modern and Contemporary Art History at Temple University, Jennifer Bedford completed her Masters Degree in History and Philosophy of Art from University of Kent in 2016 after earning Bachelors Degrees in both Art History and Art Conservation from the University of Delaware.
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Jennifer has spent time at Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library, Tunbridge Wells Museum and Library, and most recently held the position of Assistant Curator at Center for Creative Works. Additionally, she has presented her research on technologically aided art methods and practices - specifically focusing on the development of artificial intelligence and the concept of creativity - at Southern Oregon University's 2021 Creativity Conference. Jennifer also engages in art practices of her own.
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Jennifer currently acts as the Manager of Stanek Gallery.
Isabella Del Signore, Gallery Assistant​
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Isabella Del Signore attended the Studio Arts College in Florence, Italy while pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Pennsylvania State University. Upon graduating in 2022, Isabella now acts as the Gallery Assistant at Stanek Gallery and is a practicing fine artist and illustrator under the name “Bella Lucy”.
Isabella’s work has been featured in both solo and group exhibitions at 3 Dots Downtown, Zoller Gallery, and Bellefonte Art Museum.
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Deborah Fine, Art Consultant
Deborah Fine studied Fine Art at Carnegie Mellon University and received her BFA from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
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Deborah co-founded Stanek Gallery along with Katherine Stanek and currently serves as art consultant to collectors and patrons of the gallery.
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Deborah's artistic accomplishments include The National Arts Award and winner of the Vermont Studio Center Fellowship. Deborah Fine has exhibited her work in numerous shows throughout the region including the Woodmere Art Museum and her work is important collections throughout the US.
Elizabeth McClafferty, Process Manager
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Elizabeth received her Bachelor’s degree in Art History and a minor in Visual Arts from the University of Chicago. Her academic specialization is in Modern American Art, and her thesis focuses on the works of Pennsylvania native Andrew Wyeth. She also has experience in both museum and archival fields.
Elizabeth has worked at the Stanek Gallery since 2017. She has excelled in her many roles at the gallery including Gallery Manager and Public Relations Coordinator and continues to do so in her current position as Process Manager.