From early mornings in New York City to sunny travels in Rio de Janeiro, history lessons in Philadelphia... And all along I've been sourcing the important and rare finds in antique, vintage and modern. I'm Heather Karlie Vieira, welcome to 20th Century by HKFA. I suppose it all started back in the 1980's when I'd be in the flea markets of rural New Jersey with my family. I'd be walking along amazed by all of the offerings... from Queen Anne chairs to Freddy Mercury records, crystal chandeliers to ball gowns, brass side tables to ships models... it was all there for the offering. Fast forward to 2002, I had moved to New York City with the dream of becoming an antique dealer. With a six month sublet and six hundred dollars, I set out into the City that Never Sleeps. It was here that I happened upon the world famous 26th Street flea market. Every weekend dealers brought their freshest finds and the buyers lined up with flash lights in hand to buy them. I had found my passion in antique and period picture frames, so a specialist I became. Soon thereafter I established myself as a serious dealer in fine picture frames and found my clients throughout the coveted Upper East Side and all along upper Madison Avenue. With a selection of frames on my shoulder and a swipe of my MetroCard I was transported from my studio apartment in the West Village to another world. A world of Picassos and Kandinskys, Cassats and Sargents, Titians and Tintorettos... it was magical. As the years went on, my eye became drawn to art, furniture, lighting, case goods, accessories, you name it! I was now a regular exhibitor at the Pier Antique Shows and the downtown Armory Antique Shows. My client roster was growing and so was my family. I met my husband while waitressing (because everyone in New York City has more than one job) and we welcomed our first daughter in 2008. Buying and selling continued to grow and so did our family. We welcomed our second daughter in 2009. New York City had given me a profession and a family. Life was wonderful. By then we were living in the same tiny West Village studio apartment that I had moved into back in 2002 and it has become just a bit too small for the four of us. So we pulled up stakes and moved to Cidade Maravilhosa, Rio de Janeiro. My husband is a true Carioca and I immediately fell in love with the rhythm and beauty of Rio. I discovered Praca Quinze, the famed flea market, as well as a new passion - Brazilian modernist furniture. I had soon bought enough to fill a container and ship it back to New York City. The market was ripe for the ultra fresh, ultra exclusive finds. We slowly wound our way back to the States and settled in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Beautiful scenery with the added bonus of proximity to New York City, we were enjoying it all. After a couple years there we headed to my hometown of Philadelphia. Home of Rocky, the cheesesteak and our Founding Fathers. It was a great move as the buying in Philly was particularly strong. We then went North and explored the South Shore of Boston for a spell - only to be greeted with one of the harshest winters on record and enjoyed about ten feet of snow in that first year! As always, I made the best of it and found some really wonderful places to source great vintage, modern and antique finds. But, my heart drew me and my family back to New York City! With a great (small) two bedroom apartment on the Upper East Side and a storage / showroom on East 91st Street - 20th Century by HKFA / Modern Look Book / Heather Karlie Fine Art is back where it all began!!! Life and business are always running at a fast clip. My showroom is mobile, that is why I'm always on the move. Buying and flipping, selling at shows, selling on 1stdibs. You know, a rolling stone gathers no moss. I'll be looking forward to seeing you! All the best, Heather

20th Century by HKFA... Designer 20th Century Furniture. American Art. Mid-Century Paintings. Antique and Modernist Picture Frames. Vintage Industrial. 19th Century Antiques. Lighting, Lamps, Chandeliers, Sconces. 20th Century Designer Works. Garden Furniture. Important American Paintings and More...

Tags: Heather Karlie Vieira, Antiques, Vintage