Meet Vincent Ball. He’s the art curator who blends art, food, wine, and nature into unique immersive experiences at Vaunt Gallery in Woodinville.

By Nick Shekeryk for Discover Snohomish County

Farm-to-table dining is more than just a dining craze. It’s a movement in response to conglomerate grocers and supply chains pumping us full of processed and genetically modified foods. It’s a curiosity to know exactly where our food comes from. It’s a desire to connect with the ground, trees, and plants that sustain us.

To experience farm-to-table dining is to be immersed in a sustainable ecosystem that often includes farming and cultivation, harvesting, local distribution, and timely kitchen prep. It concludes with nutritious and delicious consumption.

So, what does a former graphic designer and techie turned art gallery curator have to do with farm-to-table dining?

Vincent Ball is many things. A design innovator. A global collaborator. A cultural leader. An engaging storyteller. But most of all, he’s a man who likes to have fun—and he’s bringing his joy for creating immersive experiences to Vaunt Gallery.

Located at Harvest Woodinville in the heart of Woodinville Wine Country, Vaunt Gallery is Snohomish County’s newest gallery and destination for contemporary art. Vaunt Gallery opened in August—and it’s a reflection of Ball’s passion for discovering bold, conceptually rich artists from around the world and bringing their artistry to the Pacific Northwest. His collection includes art created in the same spaces as Claude Monet and Paul Cézanne, and by an artist who shares a familial lineage with the “father of Impressionism,” Camille Pissarro.

Like its founder, Vaunt Gallery is many things—and the best way to capture every detail is to let Ball share his vision in his own words.

In a Welcome Magazine first, we joined Ball at his gallery for a glass of local red from DiStefano Winery and a Q&A-style conversation on art, food, and the allure of immersive experiences.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Welcome Magazine: What is Vincent Ball’s origin story?

Vincent Ball: My entire career is essentially art and experiences. And that’s why it’s so important for me to think about experiences here.

I don’t consider myself an artist per se, but I’ve done art my entire life. After college I did graphic design. Then I went into design management and got to be around physical, tangible devices. After 18 years I left and started a design engineering company focused on developing consumer electronics and experiences.

I sold that company then realized I needed to get back to fun. And that’s when I thought I have to do this. Bring some art back into my life.

WM: How did you come up with the idea for Vaunt Gallery?

VB: Four years ago, I decided I wanted to open an art gallery, so I started traveling the world and thinking about how great it would be to visit artists in their studios.

I wanted to put together a trip of 15-20 people and go around Europe and visit these artists in their studios. I also wanted to understand the food and wines and culture. And what I realized is I can do that here. There’s nowhere in the Seattle area, that I’m aware of, doing what we’re doing. I think that’s exciting.

WM: Vaunt Gallery is located in the heart of Woodinville Wine Country. This means you’re never far from good wine, good food, or healthy creative energy. How does this area inspire your vision?

VB: This area is so integrated into what we’re doing and the concept of Vaunt Gallery.

Once I knew I wanted to start a gallery, I thought about where I wanted it to be. I wanted an elevated experience for my guests because the artists that I have are elevated. We have pieces that are $1,500, but I also have artists up to $1.5 million.

I discovered this space at Woodinville Harvest. I thought about how incredible it would be to showcase wines from this region and incorporate them into the experience. At that point, it becomes more than a gallery.

WM: Vaunt Gallery uses experimental and immersive experiences that go beyond the gallery. What makes it a truly unique place to experience art?

I’m trying to build these experiences and it’s more immersive that way. It’s more interactive and exclusive because the artists are here for a short period of time. And people get to connect with them in a unique way.

WM: The connection between food and art seems to be a theme for Vaunt Gallery. Tell us about your partnership with The SOMM Hotel & Spa and how it fits into your immersive experiences.

VB: SOMM’s head chef [and James Beard Award finalist], Maximillian [Petty], is very creative. We just have a great connection.

He jumped right in to come up with new ideas on how we can connect with the artists and build something meaningful. I’ll give you an example. We were talking about how to create a connection between food and wine. And one of his ideas was tea tattoos instead of wristbands. It’s a tea-based tattoo of art using natural elements like flowers. He thinks outside the box.

WM: One of your featured experiences is a multi-day immersive food and art experience called Forage and Form. How did you come up with the concept?

VB: I met [botanical] artist Grace Duda through another gallery. She’s very unique in that she does foraging. But not necessarily just for food. It’s to create her art. I went foraging with her, and it evolved from there.

We go out to the Snoqualmie trailhead to meet Grace and she explains how to forage, how to do it responsibly. Then we forage together for an hour before and after we have a lunch created by Chef Maximillian. He prepares a meal like poached salmon with beet salad, and we eat by the river. Then we come back to the gallery. We have wine and people share what they found with the artist.

That night, Grace stays at the hotel and creates two pieces with the elements she collected from the group. The next evening, everyone returns to the gallery, and we have a four-course meal inspired by Grace’s work. Then she unveils her latest pieces.

WM: Is there a specific moment during Forage and Form that stands out as a favorite among participants? Yourself?

VB: I think it’s the reveal, right? It reveals the work she did from the pieces that people contributed. It lets them be part of the art process. Maybe they add a pinecone or a leaf. It makes the unveiling fun for everyone.

WM: How can our readers sign up for Forage and Form or any of the other immersive experiences offered at Vaunt Gallery?

VB: Go to my website, find me in the gallery, or find it through SOMM. The SOMM is exclusively selling Grace Duda’s experience.

WM: Any final thoughts?

VB: Every three weeks we will have a new and completely unique experience. We’re always expanding. The best part is that we work with international artists, so it’s going to be different every time.

Website: vaunt-gallery.com

Social: Instagram: @vauntmodern Facebook: /vaunt-gallery

To learn even more about art galleries in Snohomish County, visit discoversnohomishcounty.com or follow @discoversnoco on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube