Heavily influenced by her mother’s love of art, Amanda Goetze has been collecting and studying art from a very early age. Amanda has taken her passion for art and turned it into a career. When she first started her business, she sold art out of her home, eventually moving into a gallery space. Amanda says she “wanted to create a space that feels both sophisticated and inviting, where everyone, from collectors to first-time buyers, can discover thoughtful, one-of-a-kind pieces with guidance along the way.” Her approach to selling art is personal and easygoing to both the first-time buyer and the seasoned collector.
Amanda shares that “as long as I can remember, art has been a part of my life. My mother was an artist and docent at the Brooks Museum. I was raised among sketchbooks, easels and images of art on the refrigerator.” The art classes and summer art camps she took as a child made a lasting impression on her. Amanda went on to study art history in college and, after graduating, worked in government relations at the Smithsonian. She goes on to say, “But it was always the personal connection—seeing how art lives in people’s homes and tells their stories—that pulled me back. That’s what drives our work today at Goetze: helping others find pieces that reflect their personality, their values, and their lives.”
When asked about the early days of her business, Amanda notes that “a gallery space wasn’t the plan. I started the business out of my home. As the business grew and more and more art was scattered around my house, it became inevitable that I had outgrown the living room. The children and even the dog knew to step around the art, but it was getting out of hand!” Selling art out of her home required creativity. During the pandemic, Amanda adapted by hosting pop-up sales in her front yard, which allowed her clients the opportunity to buy art when many galleries were temporarily shuttered. She says, “I started setting up easels in the front yard—landscapes, quirky birds, endless skies—turning the lawn into an impromptu gallery. There was a lightness to it all that I try to carry forward in the business today. Collecting art should be joyful—it should resonate with you, catch you off guard in the best way, and sometimes make you laugh.”
Realizing her need to move from her crowded living room into a commercial space, Amanda jumped at the opportunity to share space with Garner Framing on South Perkins. She says that it felt like the right next step and that she will miss that space. However, the move to Laurelwood is bringing a new excitement to the business. Amanda is looking forward to “more foot traffic, easier access for clients, and the opportunity to be near a vibrant community of designers in Laurelwood. We love the seamless nature of having framing capabilities so much that we’ve even added a satellite Garner framing center to our new space!” In addition to framing, Goetze Art & Design also offers regional art on consignment, providing “a wonderful opportunity for both the collector and the consigner. Often, the consigner has downsized or their tastes have evolved. Now the piece has another life in another collection.”
Amanda enjoys supporting the local arts and feels honored to work with the community of artists and creatives who want their works to tell a story. She believes, “none of this would be possible without the incredible community that surrounds us—our artists, designers, framers, clients and team. I’m deeply grateful for the relationships we’ve built, the trust they’ve placed in us and the shared passion we all have for beautiful, meaningful spaces.” Amanda continues to build a thoughtful, community-centered business rooted in her lifelong passion for connecting people with meaningful art.