Dave Ross is living a life in the art world that most people would love to have. He went from a top-ranking Wall Street analyst to a promising abstract painter who is receiving very positive reviews from collectors. My husband and I bought two paintings from Dave that we adore, one of them is an absolute favorite.

Dave is what I call a free spirit who believes in the art of the possible. He surrounds himself with people who are as adventurous as he is and believes in the power of positive energy.

Lots of folks call Dave a polymath. He is also a mentor to many, a philanthropist, and writer. A long-time art collector and patron of artists, Dave now has his own studio practice in Miami, FL, USA. He also serves on the Ubuntu Council for the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP), the Global Council of Zeitz MOCAA, and on the Board of Directors for The Fountainhead Arts.

There are so many extraordinary stories to the life of Miami gallerist Mindy Solomon that I just don’t know where to begin this introduction to Art Lovers Forum. She says you can pretty much follow her life by the ceramics she’s collected over the years and the ones she exhibits in her gallery. Most of them tell a story that parallels her life.

I keep thinking of the one where Mindy basically closes down her art career in St. Petersburg, FL because she felt the city of Miami would give her a broader and more sophisticated audience for the paintings, sculptures, ceramics and newly discovered artists she wanted to introduce. It took a solid three years for her husband to leave his medical practice in St. Petersburg and establish a new one in Miami, get her four children to move closer to her, become a leading force in the Miami community, and make Miami a serious art town.

Today, Mindy is considered one of the most respected gallerists in the business because she has introduced new worlds of art to everyone who knows her. The exposure has had a positive impact on our lives. Every time I see her petite presence come walking towards me I think of what she has accomplished and why more women don’t do the same thing. I hope the following podcast of Art Lovers Forum is an inspiration to everyone of any age.

Leon Ford is an author and activist who wants to open a non-profit art gallery in Pittsburgh that showcases powerful works but also serves as a hub for community connection and dialogue. Leon has real life experience to make this happen. When he was 19 years old in 2012, Leon was shot five times by a Pittsburgh police officer as he was racially profiled during a case of mistaken identity. He has been paralyzed ever since.

He is a man of his word. He wrote a book about what happened to him called “An Unspeakable Hope” which was published by Simon & Schuster. In it he explains how he faced these new truths and discovered the power of forgiveness and letting go of his hatred. He explains how his harrowing experience inspired his lifelong commitment to social activism.

Now he hopes to have a Gallery space that emphasizes that art is more than an industry—it’s a medium for healing, storytelling, and social impact. Leon grew up in Pittsburgh and has been an art collector and advisor in the community for years. He is also the founder of The Hear Foundation, the first and only nonprofit in Pittsburgh dedicated to collaborating with community leaders, Police, and residents to create a safe, thriving community for all.