Meet the Galería Namu Staff

Aisling

It has been my joy and privilege to bring Galería Namu into existence. My training as a teacher has dictated the gallery's style and approach. It is my wish to encourage visitors to the gallery to learn as much as possible about the wonderful art on display. The selling of the art pieces often takes a back seat to the teaching about its background.

People come back again and again and they recommend friends, family and fellow travelers, because they know that patronizing Namu means that they are supporting art from communities that are often as fragile as the environmental beauty for which Costa Rica is renowned. They are also impressed by the 'fair trade' practices of the gallery which bring more than the usual financial security to its artists.

Maggie

My training as a mid-wife has given valuable insight to helping people in a way that is caring. I love meeting people who come from all over the world in the gallery and helping them to understand more about the amazing art we have here in Costa Rica. I've lived in Costa Rica since 1994 and I've traveled all over the world and have lived in several different countries. I have even become used to bumping into people in the gallery who know people I have known abroad!! For many of you who are previous gallery clients and are checking this website you'll probably remember me - please feel free to communicate with me through our e-mail connection.

Conall

I was very instrumental in encouraging the owner, and incidently my mother, to focus on the indigenous arts of Costa Rica. We both realized that the presence of tribal arts was sorely lacking here so we established Galería Namu in 1998 knowing that it would be the first of its kind in Costa Rica.

My own background in fine arts, museum studies and anthropology has worked well as a foundation for the research of the indigenous side of the gallery's offering. It has even nudged my mother to expand the gallery's scope by exhibiting remarkable art from other indigenous people's of the Central American isthmus, such as the small, but culturally rich Panamanian tribe, the Wounan, amongst whom I worked and lived throughout 1999 and part of 2000. Their carved tagua (vegetable ivory) nut art is stunning as are the 'ceramic-like', tightly-woven baskets created by Wounan women.

Roberto

Anyone who comes into the gallery will have met me. I have been with the gallery for almost 3 years and I take pride in my work assisting Aisling to maintain the gallery in a well organized way that will show the beauty of every little piece. I help clients to ensure that their purchases are packed safely for the journey ahead of them, and that the client will leave with as much written background information as we can provide.