Jonathan Carver Moore is Living the Dream

Interview by Nora Lalle & Camila Gutiérrez

Images by Nora Lalle

In a little more than a year, Jonathan Carver Moore has emerged as a pioneer in the global fine art world. His namesake gallery sits on Market Street right in the heart of San Francisco, and is focused on amplifying the voices of often underrepresented artists through a Black queer lens. Pamplemousse sat down with Jonathan to learn more about his journey to gallery ownership, his passion for community, and his wildest dreams for what’s next.

In December 2019, Jonathan discovered the work of photographer Zanele Muholi at a museum in Canada. He remembers, “there were two pieces of their work that stood out because I felt like that was the first time I've ever seen myself on a wall. I was 32 or 33 at the time, and to see someone with skin like mine, to see someone talking about being queer and creating the work that they were creating, was something that really resonated with me.”

Just a few months after this crucial moment in Jonathan's life, the world was plunged into a global pandemic. This gave him time to reflect on what else he could be doing professionally. Having previously worked in a museum, Jonathan realized, “you can’t be as nimble as you’d like to within an institution.” This, combined with a newly close and collaborative friendship with Muholi, led Jonathan to the conclusion that, “I could have more of an impact being on my own and having a gallery.” 

In March 2023, Jonathan took a leap of faith and opened the Jonathan Carver Moore gallery. 

One thing that stands out about the gallery is its location. Jonathan moved to the Tenderloin in 2016 and never looked back. The historic Tenderloin district, located a mere mile from some of San Francisco’s wealthiest neighborhoods, has a reputation for homelessness, high crime, and poverty despite the presence of $2 million dollar condos. Jonathan says of the Tenderloin:

“This is a neighborhood that often gets looked at in a negative way, but to me there's so much beauty in it. This is a diverse neighborhood, there are 52 languages spoken here. It's a neighborhood that has the most children in all of San Francisco County. I often think, "Where's the art for them?”

Interview edited for clarity by Jess Rhodes.

It may seem like Jonathan Carver Moore became a leading voice in the contemporary art scene overnight, but it was a combination of hard work and luck in the face of life's twists and turns that led him to where he is today.

Jonathan's childhood dream was to be a veterinarian. The child of an Air Force dad, Jonathan's life overseas introduced him to any critter one could think of, which in turn developed into a deep love for animals. His mother made sure that love extended to the arts, with a museum often being the first stop when they found themselves in a new place. However, a career in the arts was not something young Jonathan would have imagined: “I did love art and it was something that I naturally gravitated towards. But because of the lack of diversity that you see in the art world, there was no signal that it could be a possibility for me to be in the art space.”

Eventually, Jonathan gave up on the idea of working with animals. Initially exploring the business world, he continued his education with a degree in Women’s Studies and Sociology. This led him down a path into the nonprofit world. Jonathan says of this time, “when I was working at a foundation, one of the biggest things that I loved and was most proud of was curating art in that office, and doing so without even thinking of it as a job. I wasn't hired to do that job. I was hired to do public relations, but I really cared a lot about art and artists in California.”

Navigating the ups and downs of pursuing a dream is no easy feat. “It is tough. But I just think about the bigger picture. You know, like you have bad days, good days, but at the end the good will always outweigh whatever challenges you may have faced.”

It’s apparent that Jonathan’s life experiences and community continue to inspire him.

“What keeps me focused and staying hopeful is all of the promises and the visions that I have for the artists. It could be my nonprofit background, me always trying to be optimistic and help change the world, but I really do believe that we can make a difference.”’

Jonathan dreams of expanding his gallery, but remains focused on his core values of accessibility and community within the arts. Merging those values with the realities of running a business in the fine art world can be tough, but if anyone can do it, it’s Jonathan Carver Moore.

Jonathan points out that the Tenderloin is less than a 10 minute walk from four different major museums in San Francisco. “This should be the arts district!” Jonathan often thinks about his neighbors in the Tenderloin and their access to art.

“I chose Market Street very intentionally. I wanted to have these big glass windows so that anyone could look in and see art whether or not I was open. It's very exciting to walk by the gallery and hear people talking about what they see in the window and just to see people stop and stare. I’m really proud of that. I'm not a community center, but I do care about being the center of this community. “

As we wrap up our conversation, Jonathan reflects on what it means to have his voice and perspective at the forefront of the global fine arts community. “It’s somewhat of an honor and a true dream. It just doesn't seem real sometimes. I had a vision, and knowing what was lacking in the spaces is really what made me see what I wanted to create and what I think should exist. The dream that was once just a dream is now my reality.” 

So what’s next for Jonathan Carver Moore?

“I’ve been dreaming about having a bigger space, a second location, and growing my team. I’m dreaming about how to continue to make this gallery successful so that other people can be a part of the success. Not just the artists, but the people that want to work in the space and want to be a part of my team. That's what I'm really dreaming about, the next step of expanding.”

Jonathan Carver Moore Gallery

966 Market Street, San Francisco, CA

Open Saturdays 12-4pm and by appointment 

Visit jonathancarvermoore.com to learn more about past and current exhibitions and follow @jonathancarvermoore on Instagram.

originally published in print in THE DREAM ISSUE #10, Fall 2024