Silvia Ferrari-Palmer and Andy Palmer, co-owners of In Tandem Gallery, had a whirlwind romance and a whirlwind entry into their careers as gallery owners. Seven months after meeting in upstate New York, the pair married, and four months after their wedding, they received an offer to manage an art gallery in Bakersville. Despite having no experience in gallery work, the couple seized the opportunity. After that gallery relocated, Ferrari-Palmer decided to open her own business. “She created and developed the idea of working hand in hand with artists, patrons and collectors, which is where the ‘In Tandem’ name came from,” says Palmer.

The pair purchased a historic bank building in downtown Bakersville and opened their gallery. “Our focus is on studio ceramics with about 120 nationally known ceramic artists as well as around two dozen jewelers,” says Palmer. “We always try to work in tandem with people that make beautiful things and people that love those beautiful things.”

Silvia Ferrari-Palmer has come to gallery ownership by being a maker and art appreciator.  Born and raised in Milan Italy she began her love of the arts with an academic focus on drawing, painting, and design.  Moving to America in 1993 she began working for various newspapers and magazines in upstate New York doing computer graphics and web development while continuing to develop her personal art developing a distinct following of animal lovers who commissioned portraits of their beloved animals for her to depict.  A recent move to North Carolina in 2014 put her in a position to learn gallery work; photographing, creating displays, contacting artists and patrons, advertising, web development, and all the necessary day to day needs of managing a gallery. 
“As far as gallery managing/ ownership goes; if you love something – and I really do love, appreciate, and surround myself with the arts – you want to share that enthusiasm with other people.  That’s what working in a gallery means; spreading your passion to others.”
Her tastes and focus are mainly geared towards functional and sculptural ceramic as well as jewelry work including local and international artists.