Thomas was born in Connecticut and raised both there and in Colorado. He graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in photography, a minor in Art History and a deep love of abstract art and old buildings. When he moved to New York City in the early 90s, Thomas was confronted with a cold, exclusive art world which at the time was migrating from Soho to Chelsea. Longing for a more open, accepting and experimental environment, Thomas started his gallery Brooklyn Fire Proof Inc. in Williamsburg as a place to showcase artwork he loved, much of which was outside of what established galleries deemed salable. When he moved the business to Bushwick, it was with the intention of creating jobs and building a community so that makers of all kinds and persuasions could survive and thrive.

After a seven-year-hiatus dedicated to building Brooklyn Fire Proof, Thomas has returned to his own art-making practice, and is fully aware of the difficulty of balancing creation and the requirements of paying bills. As an insider to the art world, rather than an outside developer, Thomas has earned trust from his community in Bushwick and East Williamsburg, and is now determined to help others survive and prosper in this challenging economic environment. BFP is both a victim and a beneficiary of gentrification, and Thomas has been actively searching for possible solutions to maintain the integrity of the creative incubators that have made New York City the center of the artistic galaxy. Thomas is currently an NPA (Newburgh Preservation Association) board member and is looking forward to a deeper understanding of Newburgh’s’ rich history.

Pearl considers herself to be a New York City native even though she was born and raised in a small suburban town in Connecticut. Her parents immigrated from Korea to become doctors of medicine, but they greatly appreciated art and culture and they raised their eight children with a love for the arts as well. Throughout her childhood, Pearl’s parents planned trips into New York City; to museum shows, Broadway openings, performances at Lincoln Center, often followed by late night dinners in Chinatown. Her family outings and the city itself deeply inspired her. After completing her BA at Cornell University, she came to New York to pursue a second degree in fashion design at Parsons School of Design.

Fashion became her life, but after 9/11 and a decade-long career working for Ralph Lauren, she was looking for a change. She took her first subway ride out to Brooklyn one night with a friend who introduced her to Burr. Her life changed soon after. At first she volunteered at Thomas’ art gallery Brooklyn Fire Proof in Williamsburg while still moonlighting in fashion. Nine years later, Pearl and Thomas moved the company to Bushwick and expanded, working together in every step as a couple and a tag-team. Shortly after that, they started a family and are now raising their two children while running Brooklyn Fire Proof and its affiliated companies.