History 

Linda Ross began her professional art career in 1986 with the establishment of The Sybaris Gallery, located in Royal Oak, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The Sybaris Gallery achieved an international reputation as a forum for exhibiting innovative art in all media. Initially embracing the burgeoning crafts movement, the gallery mounted critically acclaimed exhibitions of museum level work by emerging, mid-career, and such seminal artists as Nick Cave, Barbara Cooper, Philip Cornelius, Patrick Dougherty, Jack Earl, Viola Frey, William Hunter, Ferne Jacobs, Marilyn Levine, Joan Livingstone, Michael Lucero, Sam Maloof, John McQueen, Myra Mimlitsch-Gray, Ron Nagle, Ken Price, Ed Rossbach, Jane Sauer, June Schwarcz, Joyce Scott, Kiff Slemmons and Lenore Tawney. These important exhibitions helped to reshape public opinion about the field of contemporary crafts and provided much needed exposure for a whole group of very talented, but often times under-recognized artists. 

With the arrival of the 21st century, the gallery expanded its focus to include painting, sculpture and works on paper. Among those exhibited were prominent Chicago artists Rodney Carswell, Dan Devening, Suzanne Doremus, Rebecca Shore and Diane Simpson as well as a small group of international artists including the German sculptor Birgitta Weimer and Fraser Taylor, a painter from London. 

During her 17 years as a gallerist, Ross established working relationships with hundreds of artists and art world professionals around the globe. She assisted both private clients and public institutions in building and cultivating top-notch collections. A partial list of museums and corporations served include: the Detroit Institute of Arts, Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art/Smithsonian Institution, Cooper-Hewitt/National Design Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, Oakland Museum, The Contemporary Museum/ Hawaii, The Albuquerque Museum, Mint Museum of Craft and Design, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bank One and Compuware.  

Ross was instrumental in revitalizing the Detroit Art Dealers Association and held the position of its Vice President from 1997 to 1999. Ross also collaborated with numerous organizations locally and nationally on a variety of special projects to promote the arts in addition to guest lecturing at museums and art schools around the country and serving on numerous juried art competition committees.  

Current 

In 2003 Ross and her partner closed The Sybaris Gallery. Not being able to stay away from the business for too long, Ross quickly used her extensive knowledge and experience to start a new venture. Linda Ross Contemporary/Art + Projects is a unique approach to the traditional notion of a gallery. Ross’ new model consists of approximately 3 thematic exhibitions per year held in changing locations throughout the metro Detroit area. Ross showcases work in all media by emerging, mid-career and established artists of diverse nationalities and ages working in a range of styles. Challenging concepts along with sound formal principles and high levels of aesthetic standards are of primary importance in the work exhibited.  

This Website will highlight art from each of the rotating exhibitions. Further, it will act as a virtual gallery featuring a selection of work ranging from painting and drawing, prints and photography to sculpture and objects by a mix of artists not participating in a current exhibition. The artwork in this section will be updated and changed on a regular basis.  

Linda Ross also provides services that include collection planning and acquisition, exhibition development for museums and not-for-profit art spaces as well as appraisals in the field of contemporary crafts.

In addition to her curating and consulting activities, Ross is presently an adjunct faculty member at the College of Creative Studies where she teaches the History of Craft.