I am fortunate to be the husband of Elga Gemst, stained glass artist extraordinaire and all-round artist in every medium she touches. She was born and raised in Montreal where her family owned Gemst, Inc., a gallery, art restoration service, framing business, and art supply store. She inherited the business in 1999 when her Dad died, and sold her half to her brother, Eldor. When he died in 2024 she inherited it again, and it has fallen to her to close this 70-year old business. After more than two dozen auctions in the past year and a half and two customer appreciation sales this month, we are entering the final liquidation process with a professionally run 3-day sale and online auction. The note on the Gemst, Inc. door reads:

A BRIEF HISTORY OF GEMST

Gemst Inc. was founded by two brothers, Gunar and Egon Gemst, along with their mother, Emma Gemst in the early 1950’s.  Earliest business records are from 1954.   WWII refugees from Riga, Latvia, they didn’t waste much time once landing in Montreal to apply their entrepreneurship.  Each brother took a wife, Livia and Linda respectively, and two children were produced by Gunar and Livia, (Eldor and Elga).  Everyone in the family was involved to one degree or another in the family business, each putting in their years over the 7 decades.  

Dozens of employees, most often immigrants from other countries, and as many as 40 at one time, were employed at the original location at the corner of Sherbrooke Street West and what is now the Decarie Expressway.  At its peak the picture-framing and art supply departments were second to none in Montreal and the hand-carved and gold-leafed frames manufactured there were recognized across Canada.  The Gemst Gallery focused on Canadian and Inuit art and many a young artist had their start showing there.  Countless shows were mounted over the decades, with opening nights complete with live string music, delicacies from the old country and champagne, and afterwards being reviewed in the Montreal papers.  

As the original founders passed on, the business was continued by Eldor Gemst, who moved it to its current location in Mount Royal 20 years ago.  In April of 2024 Eldor died unexpectedly and the task of dismantling the 70-year-old legacy fell to the remaining two employees of the business, Reg and Bill, along with the last remaining Gemst, Elga, living in Vermont.  

Reg Van Nes has served as the gracious and friendly face of the business for many years now, and it has come as a surprise to many of the newer clientele that he is not the primary owner of Gemst Inc.  He has been at Gemst for 54 years.  Bill Ubhy walked into the business to get his first and only job some 40 years ago.  Bill was essentially born in a frame shop in northern India.  The business is greatly indebted to Reg and Bill, and especially during this last year and a half of chaos and uncertainty.  We also have had many other loyal employees over the years, not the least of whom was Frank Coss, who manned the art supply department with information and grace for decades. Frank befreinded and catered to all of Montreal’s artists and art students of his time. This business was old-fashioned, personal, service-driven, supportive of artists of all kinds, hiring employees of all kinds.  People with the most challenging projects in Montreal were typically directed to Gemst, and Gemst never said no.  We want to thank our loyal clients, artists, students and employees for our success.  We couldn’t have done it without you.