Galleri Urbane has its roots in the front two rooms of Ree and Jason Willaford's former Victorian home located in Silver City, New Mexico. Clearing the rooms to create an impromptu gallery space, Jason Willaford's exhibition of paintings, titled "Belly of the Cowgirl," opened with a reception of about 50 people. The excitement of informal exhibitions like these gained the attention of local photographer Michael Berman who eventually convinced the Willafords to start a formal gallery business that could represent his work. Galleri Urbane was hence founded in 1999. Two years later, the gallery took a chance and formed a Pop Up in Marfa, Texas during the Chinati Foundation's Open House Weekend. After two consecutive years of successful Pop Ups, Galleri Urbane officially relocated to a 100-year-old adobe building in Marfa in 2002 where it housed numerous exhibitions by artists like Gail Peter Borden and Kate Carr. The gallery remained in West Texas until expanding and relocating to the Dallas Design District in 2009, where it still remains today. Galleri Urbane also currently maintains its connection to Marfa through our Exhibition Lounge at the Thunderbird Hotel.