Staff Bios

Joseph Borrelli Joseph is the Gallery Director and CEO and manages all daily operations. Prior to opening the Gallery in 1995, Joe managed the prestigious Hahn Gallery for 5 years. He has 30 years experience in the fine art world including curating, sales and custom picture-framing. Joe is as committed to showcasing emerging local artists as he is to regional and nationally-acclaimed artists. He is a generous friend to the artist community and has hosted many charitable fundraisers at the Gallery in collaboration with local organizations including Musehouse – A Literary Center for the Arts and the ANA project.

His extensive relationships in the art world have resulted in notable partnerships with artists such as HBO-featured artist Chuck Connelly; nationally-acclaimed American realist, Neal Hughes; PAFA legend, Phil Cohn; Chestnut Hill favorites, Paul Rickert and John Lear; local urban folk artist, Robert Arnosky; vibrant landscape painters Sandra Hoffman and Gail Bessette; watercolorist Susannah Hart Thomer; and Latin folk artist, Marta Sanchez.

When Joe’s not at the Gallery, he’s a professional musician-singer/songwriter. From his early days with Danny and the Juniors through 3 record contracts, he’s still making music. Joe was the lead singer of East Coast favorites, Uproar and toured the country in support of their single Driftin' Away, a Billboard recommended single pick that charted in the top 100. His second record was with the power pop quartet, The Patriots, on British Label Bam Caruso whose debut album "Pharaoh's Land" received strong airplay both in the U.K. and across the state. It was given 3 stars by Philadelphia Inquirer Music Critic, Ken Tucker. Joe’s bands have opened for many major recording acts including the Greg Allman Band and New Rider's of the Purple Sage. You can find out more about his current band, 56 Men, and their newest album on Zip Records here: http://ziprecords.com/artists/56-men.

Joe is a member of the Chestnut Hill Business Association, the Chestnut Hill Community Association, the Musehouse Literary Center for the Arts, the Professional Picture Framers Association, BMI/ASCAP, The Philadelphia Grammy Foundation and serves on the Chestnut Hill Arts Committee where he serves as Judge for the Annual Juried Chestnut Hill Arts Festival.  Additionally, he has served as juror for Cheltenham Center of the Arts annual juried show. When he's not rehearsing or at the Gallery, he's hanging with his favorite Italian Greyhound, Rosie.

 

Suzanne Alex Sheeder  Suzanne is co-owner of the Gallery and brings over 25 years of administrative and financial experience to the Gallery, as well as an extensive background in event, database management and graphic design. Suzanne manages publicity and events for the Gallery. She is also the Director of Administration and H.R. for the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations. Prior to that, she served as Administrative Director and Event Coordinator for the award-winning, internationally syndicated Consider the Alternatives Radio. During her eight years there, she coordinated the National Sane Peace Award which included the Right Rev. Desmond Tutu, Jesse Jackson, and Joan Baez among its awardees.

Suzanne majored in English and Liberal Studies at Arcadia University and has taken extensive leadership, organizational development and financial management courses through the years including the Nonprofit Management Certificate Program through LaSalle University. Her professional affiliations include the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) along with numerous political, environmental and animal-rights organizations.

John Warren is our onsite Custom Framing Department Manager and has been with Borrelli's for many years. He's an excellent craftsman and an accomplished abstract artist. He majored in printmaking at Tyler School for Art and has exibited widely. Check out his work on Insta @johnwarren_art. When he's not supporting the arts, he's delighting his girlfriend with his gourmet cooking.

 

 

 

 

Declan McManus Gallery Associate Declan McManus was raised in Newport, Rhode Island by two photographers, often shadowing his father who worked for their local art museum. A recent graduate of the University of Vermont, he worked for the university’s William’s Hall Student Art Gallery and for the varsity basketball team as an in-game stat keeper. Drawing inspiration from his time spent living and working as a coach in Cape Town, South Africa, he majored in European History and minored in English choosing to concentrate on European Colonialism in Africa. Outside of working at the gallery, Declan is also a server at Fork Restaurant in Philadelphia’s Old City. In his free time, he enjoys painting, sketching, cooking, and playing basketball.