Marsha Ralls is one of Washington’s leading art figures, having been entrusted with the creation of some of the top private and corporate collections in the country. Her career in art began when she was awarded a coveted apprenticeship in the studio of noted American Master, Robert Rauschenberg, where she was trained as an archivist. From there she moved on to become a business consultant and development advisor with the Fay Gold Gallery in Atlanta and later Sotheby’s Auction House in New York. In 1988, she founded The Ralls Collection, Inc., a private art dealership providing art consulting and curatorial services to both private and corporate collectors. Three years later, in 1991, she opened a gallery of the same name in Georgetown, where today she specializes in contemporary American paintings, photography, prints and sculpture.
As a leader in the Washington arts community Ms. Ralls conceived and acted as lecture coordinator of a special series on connoisseurship of contemporary art collection for the Smithsonian Institution’s Campus on the Mall. In 2003-2004, Ralls worked with National Geographic Society’s Caravan Initiative program, where she curated an international exhibition of five renowned Geographic explorer/photographer’s works. In the summer of 2004 the show was exhibited at the United Nations in New York. Ms. Ralls tailors the purchase and display of artwork to her clients’ personal needs and is discriminating in terms of the artists she chooses to represent, understanding that connoisseurship and commitment are of the essence.
Ms. Ralls is also an active member of her community and charitable organizations. She is a member of the Economic Club of Washington DC, Georgetown Business and Professional Association, Art Dealers Association of Greater Washington, AIPAD (Association of International Photography Dealers and recently joined the NFTE (National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship) board. She is on the Washington Capital Area board of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In 2000 the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society named Ms. Ralls National Woman of the Year.
Ms. Ralls completed Leadership Washington in 2004, a yearlong educational program designed to foster cooperation and leadership among the top community activists in the Washington metropolitan region. In addition, she is also a member of the Washington, DC chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and has served in various leadership roles, both in the DC Chapter and EO International. In the fall 2004, Ms. Ralls was appointed by Mayor Anthony Williams to serve on the Washington, D.C. Arts & Humanities Commission Board and traveled as part of a cultural and diplomatic mission to Beijing, Shanghai and Bangkok, Washington’s sister cities. Under the new Mayor Adrian Fenty, Ralls will continue her role with the DCCA&H and serve to accomplish his vision for Washington DC to be a world class art city.
This is a very exciting time for Ms. Ralls as her travels continue and the Ralls Collection expands. She is commuting back and forth to the Middle East. Her current project is in Dubai as she is working with local business leaders introducing art concepts to this rapidly growing region.
Ralls has completed executive programs at Stanford, MIT and the Aspen Institute.
