About

About the Blogger 

Brian Siedlecki is the founder of TheArtGallerist.com and the principal writer of this blog.  In addition to an art background, a successful business career, and his recent certification as an inbound marketing professional, his story is definitely one of survival and success that can provide hope to those with cancer, their care givers, and those who undoubtedly will be diagnosed with cancer in the future.  While there are millions of cancer survivors, Brian has lived 54 years with cancer. With each of the cancers he has beaten in his life, each has forced him to adapt and refocus his “life strategy” to not only survive, but to thrive. 

He has never talked about his life long battle with cancer, but now he hopes that by sharing his story he might inspire and motivate others to take charge of their lives.  He was born with a malignant tumor, fought Hodgkin’s disease as a young adult, and most recently survived a 14 hour surgery and chemotherapy (again) for oral cancer.  The doctors believe that the radiation treatments he received to cure each of the cancers caused the subsequent cancer event.

While we really don’t need to go into all of the details of his life story here, suffice it to say that he never let the illnesses slow him down.  In fact, cancer had the opposite effect on him.  Never knowing if and how long he might live, at a very young age his mother started exposing him to as many things as possible; art, music, food, sports, you name it.  He was a natural athlete, excelled in many sports, liked to cook, won awards for his art, and even played piano. 

In high school he discovered gymnastics and as an All-American gymnast he went on to graduate early with honors from the University of Illinois, Chicago. It was during college that he was diagnosed with his second cancer, Hodgkin’s disease.  He then pursued a career in business, and after a few years moving through several positions with a major pharmaceutical and packaged goods manufacturer he began working to start up several successful placed-based media companies.

Forced to retire very early due to a diagnosis of oral cancer two years ago, Brian has now embarked on a new business venture that combines two of his passions, art and business.

As a student artist, he often sold commissioned artwork to help fund his college education.  He wished then that there was a better way for artists to market themselves outside of their area.  Of course, now with the Internet there is.  “Having cancer is a great motivator to do the things you like and to make the most of everyday”, he says.  “I have always lived life with a sense of urgency, but now those feelings are heightened as I want to share all of the knowledge and experience I have acquired over the years to help artists market themselves online.  My wish is that in doing so I can prove to all those currently fighting cancer that there is hope”.