Hidden Gems: Meet Meredith Fleischer of The MF Gallery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Fleischer.

Hi Meredith , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My interest in photography started at a very young age and when I was gifted my first camera at age 13, I started documenting my life – my friends, school, family, family trips and my dogs. I took my first photography class in High School, then went on to study photography at the College for Creative Studies where I received my BFA (with honors in creative writing) and shortly after attended Cranbrook Academy of Art where I received my MFA. I was always really interested in fashion but didn’t necessarily want to be a commercial fashion photographer. I had a small business of my own called Vintage Rescue, that I started in graduate school in which I would reconstruct vintage t-shirts. My t-shirts were sold both online and in retail stores all over the United States and London, England.

Fun fact: Britney Spears was my first celebrity client. She bought multiple t-shirts from one of my retailers; Patricia Fields in NYC.

After grad school, I moved my business to New York and continued to produce t-shirts for a few more years while working retail jobs and internships that eventually led to my first real job in the photography industry as a Photography Agent Assistant.

Seeking a more creative role, I moved to another Photo Agency where I was the Art Director and managed the entire agency’s creative roster of portfolios (both physical & online) for photographers, wardrobe stylists, hair and make up artists, manicurists and set designers.

In 2011, I left New York and the photography industry and moved back to Detroit to help my father launch a new company he had purchased, Plutonium Paint. I missed photography and it was always on my mind, so in 2020 I started a fine art photography blog called The MF Gallery. In 2022, I transitioned the blog into an online exhibition space and print shop.

To this day, The MF Gallery serves as an online exhibition space and print shop representing both modern and contemporary fine art photographers from the United States and Canada.

www.themgallery.com

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My career transition has certainly had its challenges and I’m still learning and growing from managing and running a small online business 100% independently and 100% organically.

I view The MF Gallery as collaborative between myself and the photographers I represent. One of the most challenging aspects is getting the photographers to engage and promote their own work through my online platform. The more we (me & the photographer) communicate and work together, the more impact we can make on getting their work seen worldwide.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The MF Gallery (www.themfgallery.com) serves as an online exhibition space and print shop representing both modern and contemporary fine art photographers from the United States and Canada.

The MF Gallery specializes in street photography, documentary photography, celebrity portraits and music photography.

I’m most proud of creating a community of diverse photographers and supporting important charitable causes including: 10% of all “Street Dogs” print sales are donated to the ASPCA.org, aiding the welfare of animals in need and 10% of all “Days of Punk” print sales are donated to MusiCares.org, providing critical health and welfare services for the music community, including support for mental health, addiction recovery, and more.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
1. A sense of purpose and connection to myself.
2. My rescue dog, Strummer, brings me an enormous amount of happiness. He has shown me the beauty in simplicity and the importance of living in the moment. With his support, I have found the courage to approach the future with hope, optimism and gratitude.
3. Feeling like my actions and contributions have value and importance.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.themfgallery.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themfgallery/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-mf-gallery
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-fleischer-6b5b9817a/