I have really enjoyed all of the artists at Studios on High for many years. For full disclosure, I…read morehave known one of the founders for my whole life, but that means I have seen this place grow from a start-up idea to a mainstay in the Short North that has showcased dozens of local artists over the years in many different genres. DO go to this place if you want to see artists at work, affordable gifts, unique arts and crafts, and critters that will make you smile. DON'T go here if you expect pretentious art folks, art you can't understand, or art that is not appealling to a wide audience. Next time there is a hop or for a quick stop check out Studios on High!!

Studios on High is an artist collective. Artists come in and out of ownership of the gallery, but…read morethe average number of associated artists usually hovers around 15. I find that Studios On High has a female slant. Many of the artists are women, many of the themes in the work deal with femininity, and much of the work is aimed (in my opinion) at female buyers. A lot of the art features animals and nature as well. I most appreciate Studios On High for its history as a Columbus gallery; it's been around since the mid-1980s. Many of the artists who leave end up opening their own galleries, case in point, Jeff Hersey of Terra Gallery. If you visit, you'll catch a handful of the artists in the studio; sometimes they're in the process of creating something, or perhaps they're just knitting. The artists are very inviting and don't mind if you hang around to watch them work. My favorite pieces at Studios On High are always the blown glass vessels by husband and wife duo Scott Conover and Lisa Horkin. The tiny vessels are so colorful, and they all have great shapes. I saw Scott and Lisa last summer making the vessels on High St at a Gallery Hop. They also make bowels and vases. The colored pencil drawings by Rhonda Bartoe Tuckers are also phenomenal. They are so smooth that they look like they were painted. Since Studios On High is a collective, there's all kinds of art to be seen (in all kinds of genres): prints, paintings, jewelry, sculptures, paintings, drawings, knits, glass, ceramics, etc. The artwork changes often.

This gallery consistently blows me away with their vibrant and varied exhibitions. Glass and…read moreceramic pieces are definitely my favorite and they are all represented here, but there is something for everyone. Tonight, for example, we attended a dinner and wine pairing to celebrate a precious gemstones artisan and it was exquisite. The pieces of jewelry had great range, unique design and depth. It was interesting to learn about her inspiration for the pieces, how she sources the stones/materials and the process to create them. There is validated parking in the rear, street parking and nearby garages in terms of parking. The gallery is amongst other galleries, bars, restaurants, and Goodale Park.

Walking into Sherrie Gallerie is like going through the looking glass - sort of. There's always a…read moremix of whimsical/sardonic/wicked work there; it's what draws people through the doors. One of my favorite shows possibly ever in Columbus just ended at Sherrie Gallerie. I walked past one day to see these horridly fascinating human heads. In no time, I was inside, standing face-to-face with the creatures and studying the precision and craftsmanship of their teeth and skin. The heads, created by 'ceramicist' Tom Bartel, were dually nightmarish and comical. I have since become a huge fan of his macabre style. That's the beauty of Sherrie Gallerie. Sherrie brings the best work to Columbus, and people leave the gallery with curiosity. Sherrie leaves you wanting more. It's fantastic! Another awesome show from mid-summer: Problems in Sailing by John Balistreri. Seriously people, if you're the least bit into ceramics, check this place out. Balistreri had these huge pieces in the windows. They looked like planes that had crashed into the gallery floor. Oh, and the most alluring show of them all was a couple years ago. Sherrie had crayon installations by Christian Faur. They were large scale, and the premise was similar to that of a Lite-Brite but with a tinge of Holocaust sadness. The Christian Faur show was my deciding factor; right then, I knew I needed to move to Columbus.

I am absolutely shocked that the SN Gallery Hop hasn't been reviewed in 3+ years! While this year…read morethey obviously had to pivot and go virtual, this art hop is just one of the many things that makes this neighborhood so special. I'm currently really missing the hustle and bustle on High St. that occurs on this first Saturday of the month celebration. Between musicians busking on the street to the art galleries opening their doors and the creative works that come out of the artists in our beautiful city, it's pure magic. A lot of the bars and restaurants will also have specials and fun promotions going on. It's my favorite to simply walk up and down the sidewalk, admiring the fun. I used to have a studio and participate in an art walk in my hometown of Zanesville and I really miss being on the artist side of things. That being said, I'm glad Columbus celebrates art all year around. I can't wait until the in-real-life hops start up again. I can only imagine the artwork that came out of the year that was 2020.

Another month, another Gallery Hop! I'm beginning to think that I had fallen victim to a bad case…read moreof 'local syndrome' in regard to the Gallery Hop. You know, that feeling of been there, done that, over it, ugh. But this time, a group of us made our way from a Kentucky Derby party down to the Gallery hop with a friend who had never been before. It was refreshing to see the Hop through the eyes of a newbie! And it definitely sparked my enthusiasm in the event again! We got down there fairly late (and so full of food and alcohol from the party) so we didn't stay long - just long enough to walk from the Cap to the White Castle, cross over, and walk back, all whilst stopping at a few shops and galleries. Its definitely much more fun in the warmer weather and I'm so glad that Columbus has decided to come out hibernation! Even though we didn't have a whole night of things planned, it was a fun outing. I prefer to make an evening of it. Getting dinner (pick a restaurant, any restaurant, they are all fun), doing a little shopping (window shopping most of the time!), after dinner coffee at Impero (http://www.yelp.com/biz/impero-coffee-roasters-columbus), *drool* any and all flavors at Jeni's *drool* (http://www.yelp.com/biz/jenis-ice-creams-columbus-2), and then a bit of alcoholic libation. I've never had any trouble finding parking since I realized I could park over at Goodale Park and walk. You gotta burn off that ice cream you know...

Sharon's Gallery is one of the best in our fair city!…read more Sharon is personable, kind, knowledgeable & an art collector, too. In addition to the regular new artist rotation for the monthly Gallery Hops, Sharon often adds new artwork into the existing collection. I feel Sharon's Gallery, along with Marcia's & Studios on High, are holding the line to keep the Short North a viable Arts District.

When went into Sharon Weiss Gallery and spoke with owner Sharon Weiss, she told me that antique…read morecollecting is in her blood, that it's a trait she inherited from her mother and grandmother. She said her true love is Americana, but her gallery is not overwhelmed with the stuff, which was good for me because it's not really my bag. Alongside antiques, Sharon showcases contemporary art by Ohio artists. Mediums shown include pastels, oils, watercolors, prints, and sculpture. The paintings feature many colorful landscape and still-life scenes. The gallery is stylized to reflect a home. The idea is that it will make the white walls less sterile, making it easier for shoppers to envision the pieces in their own homes. Amongst artists exhibited in the gallery is Daniel Ferlan, whose works were named in the "Best Visual Arts Events" article in The Columbus Dispatch; Sharon proudly displays the article in her storefront window. Personally, I love Daniel's stuff: big-headed children running traveling through nightmare fairytales. I'm big on oxymorons. On special Gallery Hops, if you manage to make it around the swarm of people waiting in line at Jeni's Ice Creams and down E Lincoln St, you'll see artists, maybe a painter or a potter, making art in Sharon's window. I love works in progress.

FUNKY & UNIQUE pieces!…read more Found this gallery on my walk from the hotel to the restaurant strip and decided to stop in. The shop owner was staying late since it was a busy evening so I got to parooz and admire all the works of art. I really liked the layout of the gallery, was very mindfully laid out and not too packed but still enough pieces to keep you interested for quite a while. I liked that there was also a section of photography so that kind of gave the gallery some variety. There was also a nice variety of functional ceramic pieces along with some classic decor pieces and also some super funky and eclectic decor pieces! The owner mentioned they hold shows and rotate artists through monthly so that's super cool to keep the gallery interesting and worth frequent trips! Prices were high, as to be expected with any specialty art, but not insanely high. For someone wanting to purchase art I think the prices were reasonable and affordable to most people who want to prioritize a purchase on artwork. Great gallery and worth a stop!!!

As soon as you walk in to the gallery, the space is so inviting. The owner and the studio assistant…read moreare so nice. They are always switching things around in there so everything is really fresh. They also offer throwing classes and open studio, which I love because I have been looking for somewhere to throw and this is the best option. It gets a lot of light and the windows are very big. It's really a wonderful space. You have to check it out and pop in if you ever want to throw like I did.

There's a really great show at Lindsay right now. I'm not sure when it ends, but I think it just…read morewent up before the Hop. The artists are Shaun Engel and Amber Groome. Shaun is an inmate in Lima and Amber has a bipolar disorder. Their art reflects their respective situations. The show is titled something like 'Scary? You have no idea,' Duff's way of correlating with Halloween. The tiny polymer clay dolls are amazing, and there are so many of them. I could have stayed in there for hours looking at them.

I have purchased multiple pieces from Brandt Roberts Gallery. Michelle, Christine and Colleen are…read moretrue professionals making each experience personal and professional. Any collector will tell you "art is personal" and Michelle and her staff remember each piece I have purchased, why I was drawn to the piece and even arranged opportunities for me to meet my favorite artists. Brandt Robert's makes the process of acquiring art for your space enjoyable and exciting. I give Brandt Roberts my highest recommendation and wish them nothing but continued success in the future.

My partner Chad and I have great experiences with Michelle and the entire team at Brandt-Roberts…read more They have done custom frames for us for several photographs and original paintings. We also really appreciate the sense of community that BRG is building with their artist receptions. We've certainly benefitted from the insights and inspirations at their openings and events. And of course it's always a pleasure to stop in during Gallery Hop!

Very cool gallery that I wish had a little more popularity…read more It's a small space but you still see a good number of paintings and sculptures. I came a little past 1 on a Saturday for an exhibition and it was only us and a volunteer and an intern. They said that they typically don't get many people here unless they have a huge event in which the artist brings their friends to the reception. Still, I wish more people knew about it. They do events here once a month and have an annual festival in early September! Be sure to follow their Instagram and Facebook for more updates! It's volunteer-run, so if you're interested in helping them out they welcome it! They had a few appetizers out, coffee, and juice. The juice was very refreshing! There are a few murals around it and on the building itself. There's a parking lot to the right of it that I think is theirs or you can do street parking on Starr Ave. I'm coming back again next month!

Went to this gallery for a friend's album release, stayed for the eclectic art exhibition that was…read moremaintained in several rooms. Being that I was there for a specific music event I didn't get to spend as much time with the art as I would have liked to but I have every intention on changing that. I love the painting on the outside of the building and the architecture itself is very interesting.

The Pizzuti Collection is now home to Bar Room, a really cool Jamaican permanent art installation…read moreand working bar located inside of the museum. It is an homage to Skankland, Columbus' first reggae bar, and a nod to Roots Records, Columbus' first and only reggae focused record shop. Both of these businesses are gone now, which is what makes this bar so very cool. The atmosphere is joyous and just very special. The drinks are all very good, and they have a really good Jamaican menu featuring jerked chicken, ox tail and vegetarian pies. All delicious. There is a $5 admission fee if you are not a Columbus Museum of Art member, but I renewed our membership because this place made it so worth it. You might be able to get a free pass through the Columbus Metropolitan Library too, but I seriously recommend getting a CMA annual membership to support great art like this.

Attended a reception at the Columbus Museum of Art at The Pizzuti during a conference last week…read more The current museum exhibition (Las Vegas Ikebana: Maren Hassinger and Senga Nengudi) showcased some interesting works, including several dance-related pieces, a seesaw titled "See-See Riders", Sadness be Gone! Forever (ink on paper), and a video focusing on the color green. The setup of the displays made the rooms feel bare, but it was good for a quick walkthrough. I was actually more captivated by the lovely sculptures outside, surrounding the building. There were about 4 or 5 that I was able to check out while I was there (Jim Hodges' artwork is particularly unique and impressive).