Exposure to the arts began at an early age for Jody Klotz. As the daughter of a man with an affinity for antiques and beautiful objects and a mother with a love of languages and art, Jody was immersed in a world of aesthetic quality throughout her childhood. Whether it was weekend trips to Greenwich Village with her father to attend antique auctions, or extended treks through Europe with her family visiting the finest art museums, she was influenced by her parents’ love for beauty, culture and adventure.

Jody’s introduction into the world of the performing arts was as an acrobatic dancer. She took classes intensively in her early childhood and, at the age of 11, was hired by renowned Italian director Franco Zeffirelli to perform a solo acrobatic routine in a production of Pagliacci at the Metropolitan Opera House. She became a fixture at the Met during her teens and early twenties, performing high wire stunt work and acting in dozens of operas. Jody grew up backstage at the Met - the proverbial little stage mouse.  

Jody began college at the age of 16. Initially intending to study acting and dance, she would end her summer days of 6-hour dance classes in New York City by visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Captivated by the beauty of the paintings, Jody shifted her focus and found her next passion. She entered a specialized program in art history with a specialization in art appraisal. A requirement of this program was an internship at a major auction house in New York City, so at the age of 19 Jody began a ten-month internship in the Old Master Paintings department at Christie’s. This experience ignited her intrigue into the world of art as a business. Filled with exuberance in her newfound passion, Jody spent her life savings to buy her first painting. Her father responded, “What!? ... Are you crazy!” Yet this launched a career that is still going strong 40 years later.

As a young art dealer at the age of 22, Jody moved to Paris to immerse herself in the art world, cultivate her eye and learn about the international art market. She lived near Hotel Drouot, the heart of the Paris art world, and traveled extensively visiting museums, galleries, auction houses and art fairs throughout Europe. Her exposure to and visual study of a tremendous amount of art is the basis for her sophisticated aesthetic which defines her artistic taste. During this time Jody bought and sold paintings, made some wonderful art discoveries and began to cultivate a clientele and a network of contacts worldwide. 

Four years later, Jody returned to New York City where she spent the better part of the next 15 years building an internationally based business as a private art dealer while traveling regularly to Europe. Her language skills have been a helpful tool as Jody is fluent in French and Italian. By amassing an extensive network of international colleagues and resources, she has slowly built her business and has become a resource herself for major collectors and museums. In 1997, Jody moved to Abilene, Texas where she continues to grow a vibrant gallery with a program of exhibitions and art fairs that caters to regional and international clients, dealers, interior designers as well as local collectors.

Jody Klotz has built her business around a passion for paintings, and the major focus of her life’s work has been to cultivate her eye in relation to quality of art. She surrounds herself with beauty each day and shares that beauty with her clients and colleagues.