Agree, the colours don't zing of the pages.
Also the reltionship between text and image is unbalanced.
It is an art site, therefore show the work, don't procrastinate about it.
Good commercial design is about the balance and understanding between the written word and the imagery. A picture tells a thousand words.
Also hate AKA...... so trite!
It's going to be a stylish site for sure. But don't forget what it's there for... to showcase work, not bore you to death.