As a corporate art consultant, Saint Anselm Alumni Amanda (McGowan) Lacasse ’07 thrives on connecting people with art.
Corporate consulting wasn’t what Amanda (McGowan) Lacasse ’07 had in mind when she chose sociology as her major—but a job at the college’s art gallery set her on a path that she could not be happier about.
“What really catapulted me into the art field is my time with Father Iain at the Chapel Art Center,” she says. “I worked there all four years and it was the best gig ever. It helped pay my tuition and I fell in love with the process of connecting people with art.”
She has been making that connection ever since—and the results can be seen on the walls of hospitals, medical clinics, legal offices, banks, retirement communities, country clubs, and other establishments. Lacasse’s business, McGowan Fine Art, is one of very few corporate art consulting companies north of the Boston area. She advises businesses on integrating art into the workplace, helping them acquire, arrange, and maintain their art collections in a way that suits their space, their budget, and their culture.
“I remember watching Father Iain’s meticulous vision for an exhibit come together—I painted over many walls because the color was not right—and then I saw the way people enjoyed the show,” Lacasse says. “He made each show interesting and welcoming. I hope I channel some of that in my work.”
With four years of experience at the Chapel Art Center, Lacasse was ready to work in a commercial art gallery. She was hired at McGowan Fine Art in Concord, N.H. The match with her maiden name— McGowan—was a coincidence; nearly every visitor assumed she was related to one of the owners. The establishment blended a gallery, full-service frame shop, and corporate consulting under one roof. Lacasse’s role was as a consultant helping companies plan their art collections. “I liked gallery work, but I was fascinated to go out and meet people, get to know their company’s ‘business personality’ and what they were trying to create for an environment, and give them an art program that worked for them,” she says.
When McGowan Fine Art closed its gallery in 2017, Lacasse acquired the business name and started out on her own. It was a whole new adventure, she says—especially when combined with raising two children. Her client list is varied, and every project is different.
A memorable job at the New Hampshire attorney general’s office involved working with a collection of historic photos and memorabilia rather than paintings and fine art prints. At a country club, she blended golf imagery with painterly New Hampshire scenes. For an OB-GYN clinic, Lacasse wanted art that was bright and cheerful, yet not too feminine. A mental healthcare setting should make people feel safe and comfortable. It may take several trips to get the space just right. “Art is very important in a healthcare setting,” she says.
Lacasse’s workweek might involve driving to a medical center in Vermont with a stack of custom-framed photos; brainstorming ideas for a unique space; working with architects, interior designers, and framers; installing artwork; and emailing clients and getting quotes. She uses original art whenever possible, so she researches and meets with artists whose work might be perfect for a particular room or corridor. “I love it when a client allows me to push the boundaries, incorporating some really thoughtful abstract pieces,” Lacasse says. “Finding things that complement the space, helping people tell a story with their space: That’s my art form.”