Premier Art

Premier Art, LLC: Backgrounder
A Story of Art, Family and Legacy Building

Although officially founded 14 years ago, the roots of Premier Art, LLC span the lifetime of company founder, gouache and oil-on-canvas artist Aaron F. Henderson.  A husband and father, Henderson began painting in his teens.

Aaron graduated from Tuskegee University in 1971 with two prizes: his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and the love of his life, fellow Tuskegee graduate Bernice Billups. The couple married and had two sons, Omari J. and Onaje M. Henderson.

For the next 22 years, Aaron enjoyed a successful career as an engineer, all the while continuing to create art. During that time, he developed a reputation as a talented artist. In 1993, Henderson turned his pastime into his profession and left engineering to work full time as an artist.  That same year, he opened Premier Art to sell his art and to share his love of the arts with a broader audience.

Omari J. Henderson and Onaje M. Henderson grew up playing in Aaron’s studio, where they watched their father bring ideas to life on canvas.  As both parents worked to imbue their sons with appreciation for all forms of art and culture, Aaron especially shared his passion for the visual arts with his young sons.  While most kids’ wealth of knowledge consist of Tonka trucks and Nintendo games, Omari and Onaje learned about acrylic and oil paints, abstract and figurative compositions and the business of producing, selling and collecting art.

As the boys grew into men, they continued to take after their father. When it came time to go to college, the Henderson brothers chose their father’s alma mater, Tuskegee University. Both Omari and Onaje graduated with engineering degrees – in chemical and mechanical engineering, respectively.

In 2000, the Henderson brothers joined their father as partners in Premier Art, LLC, bringing a new generation of leadership and entrepreneurial skills to the business. The pair began by marketing their father’s work to art collectors through word of mouth and organizing exhibits on his behalf.  In their first year, Omari and Onaje increased sales of their father’s work by 50 percent. Shortly thereafter, other visual artists began approaching the two about marketing their artwork. With future success assured, Aaron soon handed the reins of Premier Art to his sons and continues to serve as a board advisor.

As they brainstormed about how to continue to grow the company, Omari and Onaje thought back to their childhood, remembering how they would ask their father about color-mixing techniques, his thinking behind selecting one paintbrush over another, and the creative process.

from idea to completion. When they began staging exhibitions, the Henderson brothers realized that customers were asking the same questions, but doing so with reluctance and trepidation.

This insight led Omari and Onaje to redefine the relationship between artist and enthusiast by revolutionizing the experience of viewing fine art.  Their breakthrough idea – Art Tastings^TM by Premier Art – introduced an entirely new approach to learning about art and art collecting.

As Art Tastings^TM by Premier Art began attracting young professionals with limited budgets but strong future earning potential, the Henderson brothers’ expanded Premier Art offerings to include payment plans.

Although among the youngest brokers in the art collecting industry the Henderson brothers are earning the respect and business from seasoned collectors throughout the visual arts community for their creativity, knowledge, and passion.