It’s no secret that the Baylor University College of Arts & Sciences has a diverse student body. With 25 academic departments represented –– spread across the sciences, humanities and social sciences –– its graduates go on to excel in a wide careers.

It’s also no secret that an impressive number of Arts & Sciences alumni are choosing to start their own businesses after graduation, sometimes in fields quite different than those they studied in school. To get an idea of just how varied these business ventures can be, we talked to nine A&S entrepreneurs to learn about how they used the skills they learned at Baylor to achieve success in the marketplace.

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Christine Berry (BA ’92)
Berry Campbell Gallery

While studying art history at Baylor, Christine Berry learned that that there is still a lot to be discovered in the art world. With plenty of perseverance and a solid understanding of the field, Berry realized that she was “onto something.” As co-owner of Berry Campbell Gallery in New York City, that forward thinking has served her well.

Founded in 2013 by Berry and co-owner Martha Campbell, Berry Campbell is located on the ground floor at 530 West 24th Street in New York City in the heart of the Chelsea Arts District. The gallery fills an important gap in the art world, showcasing the work of prominent artists and estates in the areas of abstract expressionism, minimalism, color field, op art, and mid-career contemporary artists working in the modernist tradition.

“We became specialists in these areas after research and networking with artists and other scholars in this area of study. It is an untapped market,” Berry said.

Berry Campbell Gallery has grown from 1,200 square feet to 2,000 square feet, which allows for two exhibitions simultaneously. In order to expand its collector base, the gallery is using the current trend of exhibiting at art fairs to its advantage. It’s participated in art fairs in Silicon Valley, Southampton and Miami, and hopefully will visit Texas in 2016.

“We pride ourselves on our solid ethics and a complete understanding of the art market,” Berry said. “Our Berry Campbell clients trust us for our artistic eye and our edge on the market.”

Berry comes from a long line of Baylor graduates, dating back to the founding of the University. Berry enrolled in 1987 and completed a BA in art history in 1992. Following graduation, she earned a master’s degree in art history and criticism at the University of North Texas, along with a certification in museum studies/education. Prior to founding Berry Campbell, she worked first at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and then the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.

“I took many classes at Baylor with Dr. William Jensen from Greek/Roman to Renaissance art history. He was researching and writing on Michelangelo and the Sistine Ceiling, and therefore often lectured on the subject,” Berry said. “He made me realize that there is so much to be uncovered in our field. Dr. Heidi Hornick also was a wonderful role model in the department.”

Berry said that her Baylor degree gave her the tools necessary to open her gallery because of the variety of study areas she explored as a student.

“In my field you need to have an understanding of art, history, languages, business and people, and a BA allows you to touch base on all of those things,” she said.

––Julie Carlson

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This article originally appeared in the Spring 2016 issue of Baylor Arts & Sciences magazine.