Walking through the doors of Art Group Gallery, visitors are immediately greeted with brightly colored paintings and pieces of all genres of art. Colors converge to create a cheerful and welcoming atmosphere. And the owners wouldn’t have it any other way.
After all, the owners are the artists at Art Group Gallery, and community is the focus.
“We want anyone who comes through the door to feel welcomed, relaxed and comfortable being in an art gallery. Judging by the number of people who stop in just because they think of our gallery as their ‘happy place,’ we seem to be accomplishing that goal,” says Shelley Gentry, one of the gallery managers.
Art Group Gallery is owned and operated by the artists whose pieces are displayed there. “There are no paid employees,” Shelley explains. “This arrangement is unlike a typical cooperative gallery where artists ‘rent’ display space from the gallery owner.”
The gallery artists, including five elected artist managers, work together to produce exhibitions, organize events and run the gallery daily. Holly Tilley, general manager, says this unique business model benefits both the collectors whom they serve and the artists themselves.
“Because we are an artist-run gallery, the collector has the opportunity to engage directly with the artists - learn about the inspiration and techniques involved in creating a piece of art and build trust in the art collecting process,” she says. “In addition, it is possible to pass along our best prices to our collectors because the artists control their pricing.
“As co-owners of the gallery, the artists have control over which pieces of their art are displayed and the pricing of their art. They also have a voice in designing solo or group shows within the gallery.”
The artists share their wisdom and talent with each other, which, in turn, makes them stronger in their craft.
“When you bring together 20-plus diverse artists, you have a rich opportunity to learn from each other,” Shelley says. “Our artists encourage one another; critique each other’s work; assist each other with show openings; show up for each other’s award ceremonies; and support each other in whatever way is needed to make the gallery and each artist within it successful.”
With community at its core, Art Group Gallery is committed to serving area art enthusiasts.
“Offering art classes in the gallery accomplishes this goal by fostering new relationships among people who are interested in art and enriching the lives of all who participate,” Holly says. “The gallery offers a variety of classes, including oil, watercolor, pastels and acrylics. Classes are taught by gallery artists, and our schedule is on the website.”
Another way in which Art Group Gallery is broadening its reach is through its partnership with the Little Rock Marriott.
“The gallery has claimed the Little Rock Marriott at 3 Statehouse Plaza as its satellite gallery space for the past seven years. Art Group Gallery paintings are hung in the main concourse, the Heritage Grille, the M Club and on the ballroom level in the hotel,” Shelley says. “Our Marriott partnership benefits both parties in that we have great exposure to downtown clientele, as well as Little Rock visitors, and the Marriott benefits by offering its patrons the opportunity to shop for local original art as an amenity within the hotel.”
Art Group Gallery has proven to be a successful collaboration of artists serving a community of art enthusiasts for more than a decade. The gallery owners continue to be grateful for the creative family they’ve curated.
“As a gallery,” Holly says, “we are most thankful for the opportunity to do what we love every day - create art, display it within a beautiful gallery space and build lasting relationships within our community.”
Art Group Gallery is located in Pleasant Ridge Town Center. For more information, visit artgrouparknasas.com.
“As a gallery, we are most thankful for the opportunity to do what we love every day - create art, display it within a beautiful gallery space and build lasting relationships within our community.”