Olson-Larsen Galleries
This Valley Junction mainstay has been in the neighborhood for almost 29 years. It’s definitely not your run-of-the-mill gallery, offering local artist works with up to eight shows a year.

“We work with more than 70 different artists,” says manager Susan Watts. “It’s a challenge to get everybody on the wall.”

Before owner Marlene Olson purchased the store, Janice Shotwell had her art gallery in the space. Shotwell is credited for turning Valley Junction into an artsy district.

“We get a wide range of customers,” Watts says. “But we have a great reputation and our service keeps clients happy.”

Growing and cultivating the gallery in Valley Junction has lead to nothing but great success.

“It’s a great location, more and more galleries are popping up,” Watts says. “There are a lot of great artists in the area, and they deserve to get coverage.”

Fitch Gallery
Making their home in downtown Des Moines, Fitch Gallery is creating their own scene. Along with Artdive, Fitch Gallery has changed their corner from a rundown area to a hotbed of artist involvement, as the building also houses four floors of artist studios. Fitch Gallery is a little different than your normal gallery — they are available for rent.

“We have a stable of artists we represent,” says co-owner Jeffrey Morgan. “But we like to offer a good representation of the different styles of art in the area. We offer a great venue for artists to present their work to the public.”

Morgan and co-owner David Llewelyn opened the gallery in 2005, with a goal of offering an innovative event-driven art gallery, established to provide passionate emergent and mature artists a venue for exposure and promotion.

“Des Moines is hungry for art,” Morgan says. “There is a re-urbanization of the art culture going on. The town has a deep tradition, but we are seeing the next generation of artists starting to grow.”

Moberg Gallery
Moberg Gallery has a reputation for offering a home to out-of-the-ordinary shows and artists, and is located in a part of town that needs no revival. One of the more untraditional galleries in the area, they pride themselves on being a contemporary gallery representing fine Midwest artists working in mediums including paintings, metalwork, wood, ceramic, glass, and mixed media.

“We offer a large variety of sculptural works, both exterior and interior,” says co-owner TJ Moberg. “We enjoy the diversity of businesses and patrons on Ingersoll Ave., [and] we have strong residential support on both sides of the street.”

Some of their upcoming shows include Chris Vance in March, Bev Gegen in April, Toby Penney in June and Wendell Mohr in August.

Hentschel Art Gallery
After leaving the corporate world, Joan Hentschel wanted something more out of life and in May of last year, she got it.

“I have always had passion for the arts, and I’m inspired by other artists and family,” she says. “I was looking for a space, and this one became available. It’s a great destination location.”

Hentschel Art Gallery features everything from drawings, paintings, and sculptures, along with featuring both local and international artists.

“I pride myself on having fine art,” she says. “My intent is to offer original works of art.”

Hentschel enjoys the whole concept of buying art as a gift.

“I strongly encourage a piece of art for the home,” she says. “It does amazing things for a room — much more than a print can do. It adds different dimension to the room.”

Upcoming shows include: Jan.5-Feb. 19, Land, Water and Cityscapes, works by Philip R. Jackson, Joseph Lombardo and Rodgers Naylor; Feb.22-April 8, Topographic Delusions by Travis Rice; April 11-May 27, New Works by Nancy Purington; and May 30-July 18, New Works by Larry Roots.

The Great Frame Up
“We wanted a place that felt like a community,” says Angela Williams. “Where you can walk around and shop, eat, and get to know people. West Glen in West Des Moines appealed to me. It reminded me of an old western town.”

After opening two years ago, The Great Frame Up is an ideal framing destination. Offering more than 1,000 prints, along with carrying local art, they offer both needs in one store.

“We offer more than just prints,” Williams says. “We carry a lot of original local art, and we can frame anything.”

Williams says they receive a lot of browsers, but when people come to them they already have an idea of what they want in their mind.

“Art is personal thing,” she says. “When you see something you like, you know if it will look good hanging on a wall.”

Williams says her store offers a unique, different, and fresh approach to the basic framing shop.

“I do this because it’s fun,” Williams says. “You can come in with your idea, or we can share ideas that we have as a design team.”

From Our Hands
This East Village gallery/shop has been open more than a year, and has already created buzz.

“I don’t really do too much with prints,” says owner Ann Harmon. “I try to offer all handmade work. I wanted a wide variety that would appeal to a lot of different people.”

Harmon says her store offers everything from funny to beautiful, to nice pieces of art.

“We offer a lot of great gift ideas,” she says. “I try to find really nice things in an affordable price range.”

Most of the artwork comes from Midwestern artists. From Our Hands offers two to four shows a year.

“We don’t really plan anything,” she says. “It depends on who walks through the front door.”

Being located in the hip, trendy neighborhood has its advantages.

“It’s a very artistic area,” Harmon says. “The scene is growing. Iowa is not the easiest place to open a gallery — but this is the location for it to succeed.”

Des Moines Art Center
This year the Des Moines Art Center celebrates their 60th anniversary. They present thought-provoking exhibitions and educational programs, as well as hands-on studio art classes. The museum offers world-class architecture and an outstanding permanent collection. Their restaurant boasts a 5-star rating, and the museum shop is a source for great gifts, contemporary items, jewelry, greeting cards, and art-related books.

“I think we are in a good, recognizable location,” says Marketing director Christine Doolittle. “We strive to be a community center. We try to bring contemporary art to community educational activities.”

In 2003, a downtown branch opened, located at 9th and Walnut. It offers a more intimate setting than the large museum.

“With the recent growth, the downtown presence was ideal for a branch location,” Doolittle says.

The center offers more than just art — educational classes are taught throughout the year.

“We have classes for children and adults, painting and ceramics,” Doolittle says. “We have educational programs tied into the exhibitions, and workshops for students to complete projects based on displays.”

They also offer gallery talks with the curator, conversations on art where artists speak about their work, as well as museum lectures. General admission is free at both locations.

“I came back to town 10 years ago, and the scene had grown,” Doolittle says. “Now there are art events every weekend, and Des Moines is full of really talented artists. Our goal is to offer new, exciting, and innovative artists not just to Des Moines, but to all the states.”

Pegasus Gallery/Frame Ups
After opening a frame shop in 1989, Pat and Nancy Graves sold it in 1994, only to buy it back in 1998. They changed from just a frame shop to a gallery/frame shop.

“Before, we were a frame shop with a little bit of art,” Pat Graves says. “But after we bought it back, we changed it to a more contemporary gallery, adding furniture, sculptures, and interior design, along with the custom framing.”

This change shifted Pegasus into one-stop shopping for any art fan. With more than 40 years of experience, the employees are more than ready to frame your next purchase.

“A lot of the other galleries in town don’t frame,” Graves says. “We are very competitively priced compared to most other frame shops. We are more design-orientated, reworking things so they will fit into a customer’s available space.”

Although they don’t feature a lot of local artists, the work they offer is very lively and could brighten any room.

“A lot of people buy either on-line or through the artist directly,” he says. “But we are fortunate — we have a very loyal existing customer base that travels from out of town, as well as out of state, to get here.”

Deck the Walls
This family-run business has been framing up Merle Hay Mall since 1991. After purchasing the franchise, Tim McCann and his family put a lot of hard work and effort into making the store the best it could be.

“We had no art experience when we started,” McCann says. “But we turned the worst store of the franchise into the number two store nationwide.”

Even though framing is not a seasonal job, October through December keeps McCann and his staff very busy.

“We offer a lot more than framing,” McCann says. “We have decorator art and local photography. We want the customer to have affordable choices for their walls at home or the office.”

Being in the business for a while, McCann has seen trends come and go.

“Contemporary art is really popular now,” he says. “We used to have a lot of landscapes and wildlife, now we offer more abstract.”

McCann likes to find and offer artists from the coast to his Midwest customers.

“People want to have the latest and greatest things for their home,” he says. “That’s why I tour around, looking for what’s popular and following upcoming trends.”

Beyond offering the newest trends, McCann knows that great service brings customers back.

“We have a great, friendly, and knowledgeable staff,” McCann says. “We know our customers by their first name, and take care of their work. We take pride in what we do and create quality products.”

For a listing of galleries in Des Moines turn to page 12.



The following is a list of galleries and framing shops in Des Moines that are looking forward to offering premier artists, both local and national, in 2008:

Court Avenue District (DSM)
Polk County Heritage Art Gallery, 1111 Court Ave., (515) 286-2242, www.heritagegallery.org

The Lift, 222 4th St.,
(515) 991-3450, www.dmlift.com

Des Moines
Gallery V, 300 4th St.,
West Des Moines, (515) 279-3141

Heartland Gallery,
3330 Westown Parkway, (515) 223-0500,
www.heartland-studio.com

Kenneth Paul Gallery, 6600 Douglas Ave.,
(515) 278-4378, www.kennethpaulgallery.com

The Great Frame Up, 5515 Mills Civic Pkwy.,
Suite 150, West Des Moines, (515) 226-2310,
www.westdesmoines.thegreatframup.com

Larry Anderson Art Gallery,
1427 Army Post Rd., (515) 256-9097

Dot’s Gallery & Frame Shop, 4223 Fleur Dr.,
(515) 285-1994, www.dotsgalleryframe.com

Anderson Gallery, Harmon Fine Arts Center,
Drake University, (515) 271-1994,
www.drake.edu/andersongallery

Art 316, 316 S.W. 5th St.,
(515) 309-3244, www.art316dsm.com

Deck The Halls, Merle Hay Mall,
(515) 253-0218, www.merlehaymall.deckthewalls.com

Terri’s Frame Shop and Art,
3824 100th St., Urbandale, (515) 251-7727

Historical East Village Cultural District/Downtown (DSM)
Arte Gallery, 400 E. Locust St. #3, (515) 284-8882

From Our Hands, 400 E. Locust St., Suite 8,
(515) 282-3496, www.from-our-hands.com

Sticks East Village, 521 E. Locust St.,
(515) 282-0844, www.sticks.com

Artdive,1417 Walnut St.,
(515) 240-9396, www.artdive.com

Downtown Art Studio, 800 Walnut St.,
(515) 557-6109, www.desmoinesartcenter.org

Fitch Studio Building, 304 15th St., (515) 288-1185

Robert Spellman Gallery, 1727 Grand Ave.,
(515) 979-6158 www.robertspellmangallery.com

Ingersoll Avenue (DSM)
Moberg Gallery, 2921 Ingersoll Ave.,
(515) 279-9191, www.moberggallery.com

Tandem Brick Gallery, 2722 Ingersoll Ave.,
(515) 282-1031, www.tandembrick.com

Maynard Reece Gallery, 3512 Ingersoll Ave.
(515) 274-1880, www.maynardreecegallery.com

Roosevelt Cultural District (DSM)
Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave.,
(515) 277-4405, www.desmoinesartcenter.org

Hentschel Art Gallery, 835 42nd St.,
(515) 277-3200, www.hentschelartgallery.com

Elements Ltd., 837 42nd St.,
(515) 277-7421, www.customdesignerjewelry.com

Valley Junction
Cultural District (DSM)
Fair World Gallery, 116 5th St.,
(515) 277-7550, www.fairworldgallery.com

FolkArt, 333 5th St., (515) 274-1419

Kavanaugh Art Gallery, 131 5th St.,
(515) 279-8682, www.kavanaughgallery.com

Olson-Larsen Galleries, 203 5th St.,
(515) 277-6734, www.olsonlarsen.com

The Crystal Gallery, 130 5th St.,
(515) 282-5555, www.thecrystalgallery.com

Pegasus Gallery/Frame Ups, 218 5th St.,
(515) 277-3245