Our first storefront at 820 Massachusetts St., 1982
How We Began
With the desire to provide the local community with handmade artwork, Laurie Culling and Linda Hixon teamed up with Judy Gerling Paley and Bette Kelley, who ran Phoenix Art Glass. Together, after renovating the space and recruiting various local artists, the Phoenix Gallery had its grandopening on April 3rd, 1982 at 820 Massachusetts St. What started as a cooperative of about 20 local artists, the Phoenix Gallery included a variety of mediums, including ceramics, paintings, jewelry, blown glass, and fiber arts. With the Phoenix Gallery located in the front of the building, and Phoenix Art Glass with their stained glass studio in the back, 820 Massachusetts attracted customers throughout Lawrence and neighboring cities with its fine art.
Under construction, our shop at 820 Massachusetts St., 1982
Founding Members
The local artists in this cooperative initially included Laurie Culling, Linda Hixon, Judy Gerling Paley, Lora Lee Johnston, Bette Kelly, Dorothy Newman, Grace Carmody, Carol Duermeier, Marion Dyer, Jan Gaumnitz, Bob Gent, Karen Gould, Colleen Zacharias Gregoire, Susan Hoisington, Laura Nufire, Marion O’Dwyer, Dick Rector, Leni Salkind, Jim Slough, Dave Van Hee, Wendy Vertacnik, and more. However as the years passed, more artists joined to display and sell their artwork
Our shop at 919 Massachusetts St., 2011
A Growing Business
After some time, the Phoenix Gallery moved to 812 Massachusetts St., then again to 919 Massachusetts St. in 1989. With the help of the new owner and one of its founding members, Marion O’Dwyer, the Phoenix Gallery grew to include regional and national artists as well. Marion opened a second store in 1990 in the Brookwood Shopping Center in Topeka, KS, however that store closed near the end of 2011. The Phoenix Gallery had another location on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, MO, that was open from November of 2014 until the end of 2017. Since then, the Phoenix Gallery has had only one brick and mortar shop, located in the Historic Downtown Lawrence.
Sue and Dr. Ranjbar at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for our new spot at 825 Massachusetts St., March 4th, 2011
The Phoenix Gallery Today
On February 11, 2011, the Phoenix Gallery moved to its current and only location, the recently renovated Art Deco Ranjbar building at 825 Massachusetts St. In November of 2016, the Phoenix Underground was opened as well as the lower level that holds multiple art galleries and where the monthly Final Friday gallery openings are held. With Dr. Dan Ranjbar as the new owner and Sue Shoemaker-Shea as the Gallery Director, the Phoenix Gallery grew to the shop you see today. Over 400 local, regional, and national artists call the Phoenix Gallery home, and we are thrilled to have each and every one of them.
from the Phoenix: Lawrence Community Celebration events calendar (1982)
Our Mission
The Phoenix Gallery is dedicated to providing our local community with handmade works by artisans from around the country. We aim to carry pieces at a variety of price points because we believe art doesn't have to be a luxury item. We regularly participate in local events that support our arts community, such as Final Friday Art Walks, Art in the Park, and other charitable events. As a locally owned and operated small business, we value being a part of the vibrant Downtown Lawrence community. While you're here, stop by our fellow small businesses that make Lawrence so special!