By Taylor M. Coffman
Herald Correspondent
In Dec 2025, Jeanine Taylor of Jeanine Taylor Folk Art stepped down into a well-earned retirement, leaving many locals anxious about the future of one of downtown Sanford’s most iconic and long-standing businesses. Over the last few months, however, the gallery’s new leadership has steered it into a new era while still honoring the same mission as it’s always had, allowing those concerns to be put to rest.
After Jeanine Taylor’s retirement, Jeanine Taylor Folk Art - now renamed to the Gallery on First - remained under the ownership of Taylor’s business partner Howard Marks and his wife Aurore, allowing for a smoother transition into the leadership of the gallery’s new director Tammy Lennox.
The gallery’s location on First Street remains the same as ever, save for some redecorating and a fresh coat of paint, and Lennox has assured worried patrons that despite Taylor’s departure, the Gallery on First’s folk art-centric mission has not changed, as the gallery “remains rooted in artist-driven practice, rotating exhibitions, and an open, process-focused environment that highlights both folk traditions and contemporary regional work.”
Along with highlighting folk art, the Gallery on First continues to give local artists a platform with their artist residency programs, where twelve artists of all mediums are given an on-site studio to work in a shared collaborative space. The gallery’s open studio events allow the public access to working artists and in-progress works, while their workshops offer hands-on experiences in ceramics, folk art, and mixed media art, often led by the gallery’s in-residence artists.
Under the direction of Lennox and Aurore Marks, the Gallery on First has also been working hard to showcase both local and national art, with rotating exhibits held in its Rozzi Marks Gallery and collaborations with other galleries aimed at expanding the creative dialogue between local and regional artists alike. For those interested in a behind-the-scenes look, the gallery also hosts guided tours of its 5,000 square-foot space, allowing unique access to a space in the middle of transition as this new era begins.
Although most of the Gallery on First’s work remains unchanged, there are a few changes coming to help it keep up with the times - namely, a new newsletter meant to establish a direct connection between local artists and the community, and a website refresh to keep their outreach efforts as current as possible and to share information about the gallery’s artists, programs, and upcoming events.
“At its core, Gallery on First remains a space where art is actively made, shared, and experienced,” said Lennox, when asked about the gallery’s future. “Our studios are full of energy, our artists are creating beautiful new work, and there’s much more to come.”
For more information on Gallery on First’s collections, artists, classes, or upcoming events, visit https://www.galleryonfirstsanford.com/, contact [email protected] or 407-323-2774, or see the gallery’s art for yourself at 211 East First Street in Sanford.
