The Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery was founded by art instructor, Susan Roux, with a fellow artist and previous student, Michael Paul Cyr. Susan envisioned the gallery as “uniting the world through art,” as the gallery opened with 28 artists from seven different countries.

Susan grew up in Berlin, New Hampshire and attended the Rhode Island School of Design. She has years of experience as an artist and oil painting instructor (see artist section). Susan moved to Maine in 1980 and raised her family in Poland Spring. Michael was born in New Brunswick, Canada, and then lived in Caribou. He attended the University of Maine at Presque Isle and worked in the restaurant industry prior to helping Susan open the gallery.

The gallery opened in May 2014 with a ribbon cutting ceremony by then Portland Mayor, Brennan. The gallery was set up with antique furniture and tea available for customers. After 9 years the gallery is a fixture on Free Street. Many people look in the picture windows at the paintings displayed there and inside the gallery. The gallery is on the ground floor and is easily accessible. It is conveniently located between Congress Street and the Old Port. There is on-street parking and there are parking garages nearby.

Michael bowed out of the gallery in the first year. Susan then managed the gallery on her own. She is to be commended for having kept the gallery running through the pandemic. She staffed the gallery herself with the help of volunteer Linda Sproehnle and later, artist Mary Buergin. Susan also continued to teach panting classes via Zoom, which a number of students credited with helping them through that difficult time.

Susan taught art from her home prior to opening the gallery. She used the studio space in the back of the gallery to teach oil painting classes with her goal of making painting accessible to all interested in exploring the medium. She continues to teach intermediate and advanced students. She has offered several popular workshops including a Color Workshop to help people use color expressively and effectively, a Portrait Workshop, and a Monet Workshop.

There are currently two other teachers in the gallery. Linda Sproehnle teaches the beginner painting classes. She displays her own art in the gallery and does pet portraits on commission. Mary Buergin teaches intermediate classes and will display her own paintings in the gallery.

Susan decided that she would like to continue to paint and to teach, but wanted to retire from the management of the gallery. As of July 1, 2023, Leslie Gatcombe-Hynes is the new owner of the business. She hopes to keep the tradition of the gallery alive, while bringing in new local and global artists and expanding on available classes and programs.

The gallery continues to have artists from around the world including Iceland, England, Canada, France, and Australia as well as the United States. Many of the artists live in Maine. The focus as originally envisioned by Susan Roux remains on realism and impressionism, but gallery will be expanding to include more variety of expression and three-dimensional art. There are over 40 artists affiliated with the gallery. A variety of mediums are on display. Art of varying styles and prices is available.

The gallery is conveniently located on the ground floor and is accessible by wheelchair. For any needed assistance with building doors, please call the gallery and we will be happy to help you.