TOPEKA (KSNT) – One of Kansas’ oldest commercial art galleries is set to close by the end of the year unless a new owner steps forward to continue its legacy.
Bob Swain, owner of Beauchamp’s Art Gallery in central Topeka, is weighing his options as he prepares for retirement. Beauchamp’s Art Gallery has been in operation for more than 50 years in the Capital City.
Swain finds himself in a situation similar to the one founder Paul Beauchamp faced 21 years prior. At the time, Beauchamp was deciding whether to close the gallery or sell it to someone who could continue the business he had spent decades building.
According to Swain, Beauchamp had been considering the gallery’s future and his work life balance.
“Paul fretted about that all night,” Swain said. “He didn’t sleep that night even. And he just came in the next day, Monday at the gallery. And then I came walking in the door and said, ‘Have you ever thought about selling this gallery?’ And it really threw him.”
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Swain said his relationship with Beauchamp developed over five years of working together before the ownership transition.
“I think back on it, he did trust me,” Swain said. “He had built this thing up over decades and he was hesitant to hand it off just to anybody. I feel an obligation to Paul Beauchamp’s legacy.”
Since taking over, Swain said he has continued many of the same practices established by Beauchamp, including handcrafting custom frames.
“Here we do everything the way Paul always did it,” Swain said. “We do everything by hand. It’s hand-cut, it’s hand joined. It’s all custom.”
When the business opened in 1970, Swain said there were nearly a dozen independent frame restoration shops in Topeka. Today, he said, Beauchamp’s is the only one left in the city.
“There’s nobody else around who can do the restoration, who knows as much about art, who cares and does things the old-fashioned way,” Swain said. “Nobody is going to be around like that anymore.”
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As retirement approaches, Swain said, if he sells, he hopes the buyer can continue operating the gallery and preserve Beauchamp’s legacy. He said the ideal successor would have an entrepreneurial mindset, some background in art and a willingness to learn the framing side of the business.
“You know, it’s a lot of work, but it’s been worth it,” Swain said. “It’s been gratifying.”
You can find Beacuhamp’s at 3113 SW Huntoon St. in Topeka.
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