Algesa became director of the Ten-Thirty Gallery in July 1946 and remained there until it’s closing in 1950. Under Algesa’s management, the Ten-Thirty Gallery expanded its repertoire to include important national and European artists, including newcomer Roy Lichtenstein, Yasuo Kunyioshi, and Josef Albers, thus exposing Clevelanders to important contemporary artists from outside the Western Reserve. Much later, in 1970, Algesa and friend Phyllis Sloane opened a gallery on Larchmere Avenue, just off Shaker Square. The Sloane-O’Sickey Gallery exhibited contemporary artists from New York and Europe as well as celebrated Cleveland artists. It also introduced Cleveland to the tribal arts of Africa. The gallery operated through 1972.
Algesa was a multi-faceted artist who was involved in many forms of art, including painting, soft sculpting, interior design, fashion illustration, costume design, and puppeteering. As a painter, she was equally versatile, working in oil, watercolor, and pastel. During her career Algesa’s artwork had been seen at the Ross Widen Gallery, The Play House Gallery, Lake Erie College, Canton Art Institute, Butler Institute of American Art and Hiram College, among others, along with being a frequent May Show exhibitor.
