Our Story

When Andy and Rose Famellette met at SUNY Oswego in 1995, neither dreamed of owning their own art and sculpture business. Andy graduated with a BA in Education while Rose graduated with a BA in Art. They moved to Rochester NY after their marriage in 1998, so Andy could teach and Rose could study as an interpreter at RIT's National Institution for the Deaf. Later Rose took a job in education and Andy went back to automotive service and later worked in metal fabrication.

The Salvage Gallery was built on the idea of making useful what others no longer considered useful. As their first outlet for this idea, the couple rented a booth at a flea market in Rochester NY selling used, reconditioned, and repurposed items. After leaving his teaching job in 2000, Andy worked in automotive service for four years. During this time, he perused his long term interest in metal sculpture as the first spoon flower blossomed from a spoon discarded on the ground.

In 2002, Andy and Rose wanted to start a family and purchased a house that had a small 1950’s detached garage, which played a big part in transforming The Salvage Gallery into the art and sculpture business it is today. In 2006, as Andy and Rose began to share their art and metal fabrication knowledge with each other, that little garage became their studio. Stainless flatware sculptures had become the focus of their business, and they were ready to test the market.

These tests on small local art shows proved successful, enough so that in 2008 they realized they “could work all day, but couldn’t have jobs.” The Salvage Gallery became a full time business and in the following years, Andy and Rose sold their work at up to fifteen shows a year. Even after reducing the number of shows in 2011 for medical reasons, the couple were amazed by the good friends they’d made from getting to know their “once customers.”

In 2016 Andy and Rose decided they would take a short break from creating their artwork, although they worked on the occasional sculpture and art project. During that time, Rose took up a hobby in ceramics, her focus at SUNY Oswego, and Andy reignited his passion for all things automotive with the help of his daughter. Andy briefly returned to metal fabrication and has honed new skills he can use to create his artwork. Their daughter Rosetta is now 21 and can provide more help than simply sitting in the back of the booth and setting up displays.

Their return to the Rochester Public Market in May of 2024 delighted previous and new customers alike. Now Andy and Rose can focus on refining the process of making their sculptures while Rosetta uses her Associates in Creative Writing from MCC to manage their website, care materials, and even new product photography. The family is ready to open a new chapter in the Salvage Gallery’s journey and are excited for what’s to come.

Image by Jason Ackerman