Who and What We Are
Blue Skies Gallery looked a lot like a pipe dream when it opened in a small, out-of-the-way space in downtown Hampton in 1990. Customers and artists alike had to climb a steep, seemingly endless flight of steps to get to the shop on the second-floor of the old Hoffman building. And when they opened the big heavy door at the top of the landing, what they found was a tightly packed sales room not much bigger than the stairway.
Twenty years after that ambitious opening, however, the original group of 40 artists - including about a half-dozen founding owners - get to have the last laugh on their doubters. Originally not much more than 500 square feet, Blues Skies has grown more than 10 times in size - and migrated all the way to the center of the downtown business district after moving to two successively larger locations in the 1990s.
Some 65 artists display their work in the more than 5,000-square-foot shop, grabbing the eyes with everything from Jean Harrison's wearables to painting, photography and ceramics as well as glass, metal, wood and jewelry.
Member artists join the co-owners in running the store by working behind the sales counter, designing and creating the signs and organizing monthly shows. This lowers the gallery's costs, making it easier to offer reduced fees and sales commissions.
Though about half of the artists form a core group of long-term veterans, another 20 percent consists of newcomers selected by a monthly jurying process. The aim is to enrich the mix with new, high-quality work and ensure good matches with the older talent.
The gallery caters to young and old, with an emphasis on “something for everyone”. Each artist rents a space in the gallery and displays their work for sale usually with a varied price range to appeal to all who come in. Each artist works in the gallery once a month meeting our customers to help them select a unique piece of art, this communication of artist to art collector benifits both. The gallery is well known for the quality and craftsmanship of the work displayed and customers enjoy the fact that they are supporting local artists with their purchase. In a mass production world, customers can rest assured they are purchasing one of a kind art pieces.
Vision Statement
Blue Skies Gallery is the premier fine art and fine craft membership gallery in Southeastern Virginia, acknowledged by citizens and organizations alike as their gallery of choice for patronage.
As a key asset to the region, Blue Skies is maintained as a home for the display and sale of the best work of artists in this area, as a venue for literary and performing arts experiences, and as an environment for nurturing the appreciation of art by young and old alike. Blue Skies is a leader and a strong force in opening the joys of art and craft to the widest possible extent in the Hampton Roads area.
Blue Skies Gallery is proud to be a supporter of local artists in the Hampton Roads area and is involved with the Downtown Hampton Development Partnership to help Hampton grow and develop into a thriving community for its citizens and businesses.
