The Compound Gallery is a (hidden?) gem of the Bay Area. It's *free* to enter/browse and there are…read morepieces here ranging from affordable to pricier. 1) I enjoyed David Fullarton's collection, "Everything's Getting Worse and I'm Not Helping," as well as browsing local artisans' pieces. The curation of this gallery feels cohesive. The pieces here are rich with meaning -- great conversation starters, so it's definitely an excellent place to bring a friend or two. 2) I wish I caught the name of the owner/director I met there yesterday -- he was so warm and a great host! It was my first time, and he took the time to briefly show me around the different areas of the gallery whilst entertaining my questions about the history of the gallery/its artists. He also shared upcoming events and exhibitions (artist talks, for instance), inviting me to stay connected! 3) Parking here is pretty great (I was at the gallery on the weekend). There's also a small park across the street -- great place to hang out and debrief after enjoying The Compound. I highly recommend The Compound Gallery -- I know I'll be back soon.

I was a member for a little over two years. I learned screen printing there and I'm genuinely…read moregrateful for that. There's a lot to like about Compound and I'm bummed that I got such a sour taste in my mouth right at the end. Pros: - Fantastic equipment covering a huge range of making and printing. REALLY nice setup for screen printing. Bummer that you can only do water based but it makes sense overall from a mess and fumes standpoint. - Open at all hours - which is nice - Matt and Lena are friendly and welcoming when you join and were generally friendly to be around Cons: - At $250 a month, I paid over $6,000 total even though times/eras would naturally happen and I'd not use it for 2-3 months. This really stings. Month after month it just felt like too much for what it actually was. - Often times, you end up having to wait a long time to get certified to use certain things. Was frustrating that something as simple as the conveyor drier needed a $50 course + waiting for many months when it could be taught in 5 min. - Communication is fairly slow on support tickets. When I was leaving I couldn't locate my flat pack storage area as I hadn't used it but wanted to make sure it was clear since my friend had missed clearing hers out entirely. The owners didn't know where it was either - Almost always empty. Great for working but not great for meeting people or feeling like part of a community. When I occasionally would talk to people , they would often say 'so odd that this place is always empty.' - The message board is pretty much only used for griping about cleanup vs. anything very inspirational or community oriented. Sour taste right at the end for me: I accidentally left a new thing of emulsion in the screen printing fridge. I emailed them, waited 5 days, then followed up, then waited another 5 days, messaged on Instagram, then biked over in person. I saw Lena in the gallery, tried to wave her down, and she ignored me and walked the other way. I asked the front desk if I could speak with her and was told she was busy, leave a note. I left a note. Never heard back. I eventually just ordered another one and moved on. It's not about the $30. That's obviously trivial. But it's just frickin harsh. I spent a lot of money at that place over two years, cleaned up, and was friendly and can't even get a basic response? I wasn't badgering them... I sent one email, waited, and followed up at a normal cadence. Even a 'sorry, we had to clean out the fridge!' Anything. The fridge was packed to the brim with old emulsion that no one bothered to clean up, if anything it would help to free up some space. My friend had a similar experience, she accidentally left something behind (I think in her flatpack area as well) and instead of a simple heads up email... they charged her extra months. She had to fight/plead to get that removed. How you treat people when they are suddenly no longer paying you $250 a month says a lot... The equipment is genuinely great and if you're going to use it constantly, I'd still say its worth it. It's a gem of a spot in many ways! But if not, I'd look into more focused + more affordable spaces elsewhere like ace makerspace or a slew of others that have popped up. And whatever you do, don't leave anything behind !

Highly skilled staff, great customer service, excellent quality work! Have been to both Oakland…read moreand Berkeley locations and they are both great!

I collaborated with Paul at Artistic Picture Framing (meaning Paul did all the work) on a special…read moreproject framing my horse's award buckles from the 2018 Appaloosa Reining Horse Association World Show. We went with a sort of ruggedized shadow box style using glare-proof museum acrylic (that won't shatter like glass), and the end-result is beautiful and totally exceeded my expectations! Paul (who's such a nice guy and a pleasure to work with) listened carefully and then applied his creativity and skill to capture exactly the look I wanted...sort of rustic with an authentic Western feel. He chose the perfect colors and textures for the backing and frame to make the silver buckles really stand out. The craftsmanship is just exceptional, with each buckle perfectly aligned and very securely mounted (he put a lot of work into this), showing real precision, balance and a real sense of skill and pride. The overall result feels solid/sturdy and looks artful and clean. He even installed heavy-duty hardware so that I can mount it to my horse's stall. It was fun discussing the project with Paul. He wanted to understand the meaning and significance of of the pieces being framed up and the theme and look I wanted and he absolutely nailed it. The turnaround was quick, the quality amazing and the display looks like something out of a Western art gallery even though it'll hang right where it belongs, on the wall of my horse's stall!

Faultline is a brand new 6000 sq ft art space on the edge of the Fruitvale Station neighborhood in…read moreOakland, California. They have 2800 sq ft of personal studio space for artists, and a drawing room for live drawing, social events, and collaborative projects. They also have a gallery space, and a wood shop where they make environmentally friendly panels and canvas for other artists in the San Francisco Bay Area. Faultline has a complete screen printing setup, which is a focus of their space, along with murals and large scale painting and drawing. Currently they are under construction, they just finished the studio walls and have artists moving in. The space is ALREADY so beautiful, great light, good energy, and fun people to share in the progress and creativity. It is transforming daily, you only need to stop by for a visit to see the changes!

BEWARE! According to a September letter from the DTSC (Department of Toxic Substances and Control)…read morethere are unsafe levels of mercury in the Faultline Artspace. They've been testing the building on a regular basis for many years. They've given 'some' tenants 30 days notice, but haven't told 90% of the building. Tenants can lease the 'unsafe studio spaces' for storage only with 1 hour access a day. And oh the relief, they've put in fans! The mercury laden studio spaces are on the same floor as dozens of other spaces that artists come and go from. They've offered no relocation help. Clearly this is a safety concern for the whole building and a violation of tenant rights. If you want to know more, Shelly at High Street Studios is the person you want to talk to. High Street Studios owns the building.

This is my first time here. I decided to walk around and found this gallery. Now, I like Art and…read moreI immediately saw a pencil drawing of Jim Morrisson from The Doors. Wooooo, that piqued my interest and decided to scroll through the rest of the stack. This artist had The Rolling Stones, John Lennon, janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia. All great work. The small ones were $40.00 while the large ones were $100 already matted. I was so tempted to buy one, but then I had to remember how in the heck can I carry that on the train without it getting bent. I decided not to buy right away and just browse, admire the ART in this gallery. There is a cool photography exhibit of Oakland from the 1960's. Nothing has changed, it showed protestors with signs wanting equal rights, pay, and protection. The same issues that are going on today. The photographer is Howard Harawitz and it's worth checking out. Next I turned the corner and saw some surreal art of Humpty Dumpty by Brian Clarke/Les Toil. Then turn to my right and there's this bright, vibrant Art from Pete Escobedo. Now if you don't know who he is, then you're living under a rock. Not only he is an Oakland, Bay area native, he's also one of best Latin Percussionist of all time and the father of Sheila E. His art is just as colorful as his Timbale playing. Next on the wall is Art representing San Franciso, Oakland landmarks such as The Grand, Castro, and The Fox theaters. Wow, she's pricey on canvas, but they're really good. The one with Golden Gate bridge on Canvas and framed is selling for $3500. See attached pictures for her wall section and prices. Walk a little further and I see more colorful ART and it's very familiar to me, like I've this artwork on some Album covers for some rockbands. The artist name is Stanley Mouse and under his name is a poster for a rock festival and the Pegasus used on one of Steve Miller's album covers. Keep on Rockin' me Baby. Wow this is some cool stuff if you have a Vinyl room. I kept walking and saw this wall sculputue/wall art made of wire. That artis name is Diane Komater. This probably took a long time and looks harder to make than the average person thinks. All it is, is a wire. Yah, but it's unique. Go on Diane with your creative self. :) I did find something I could take and it's postcards of Oakland's Grafitti called Oaktown Be Mine by Malcolm Ryder. I dont know about you, but I'm not scared by grafitti art, I actually like it and can appreciate the time and thought that goes into some of these pieces. Whoever these night time creative elfs are, I appreciate yah. That's it for Oakland Art appreciation day at the Grand Gallery. Next time you're at Yoshi's or the World Market stop by and pay a visit. See you some more on Yelp 2026

This place is cute. I actually wanted to buy a painting until I turned the corner and saw an entire…read morewall of AI generated slop. For those who don't know, AI generated images exist because the machines that render them steal actual artists' work. They also use an extraordinary amount of power and water which drains our resources and makes our utilities more expensive. It's trash and it doesn't belong next to human art work. I can't believe the other artists displaying there accept this.

Thelma Harris is a boss -- and this gallery is in a class of its own…read more As someone who follows the Bay Area art scene closely, I can say Thelma occupies a segment nobody else locally holds: museum-quality Harlem Renaissance and WPA-era historical works alongside emerging and established contemporary artists, plus exclusive estate representation of William Tolliver. While most competitors focus solely on contemporary work, Thelma offers collectors real historical depth. She also holds the longest continuous track record of any African American gallery in the Bay Area -- over 35 years and counting, a legacy recognized by the Oakland Public Library and confirmed by the 2025 "Best Gallery in Oakland" award. Beyond the inventory, it's Thelma's warmth and professionalism that keep collectors coming back. She takes time to educate, guide, and build your collection with you. If you're serious about African American art -- or just discovering it -- this is THE destination in Northern California.

I was actually at the gallery because owners goddaughter was throwing her baby shower here (awesome…read moreand classy idea RIGHT!?!) That being said I met a lot of family and was able to explore the location, it's beautiful. Big beautiful and clean windows offer a great view of the main street and passerby. The gallery is an eclectic mix and I like that there's something everyone can get behind. The temperature was my favorite as the tile entry got a little chilly and it was a crispier day, but inside the gallery with windows facing the sun it was perfect with seating spread out for you to just warm up and contemplate the various pieces. It was beautiful and I'm thankful for the experience with this beautiful family!

I came by here for a street fair, and full disclosure, I worked for the founder in my first job out…read moreof college at another art center. The event went til 6, but was over about an hour or so before that. I was greeted by a nice young man who does transportation for some of the artists. They have art that I've seen before in my other visits. I'm not sure of the value because I'm not fully familiar with their inventory, nor do I know the artists. I know that they do work with professionals to collaborate and complete their art. It was fun, and I'd go to another opening if they had one.

Just saw a segment on CBS Sunday Morning about this group. The story was inspiring and uplifting. I…read morehad never heard of it. And the artists are amazing individuals who create beautiful unique pieces.

One of the best mid century spots in the bay!…read more We were in the market for dining chairs. We fell in love with the green mid century Danish chair from JL Moller. He also gave a color lesson to us when we paid a visit! Definitely worth coming back!

My wife and I went in to just browse and left with a beautiful dining table and chairs. Brad has…read moreextensive knowledge on pieces you may be looking for and has a great inventory mix of vintage and modern quality pieces.

There is so much amazing art at this place and at all different prices. The jewelry created by…read moreSara Edge is often inspired by the collection of monsters her partner makes, Dave Sylvester. Colorful, sweet monsters that are adored by children as well as adults. A living legend resides at 3Dot, Bill Weber who is an established muralist and fine artist in the bay area. He has done several murals in San Francisco too. His parnter Arianna Siegel paints whimsical and often dark themed, Alice In Wonderland, type of work and has created amazing oracle decks that you can purchase right there. A unique peice of her art on each card! Don't miss this Alameda treasure!

Awesome gallery, awesome people who run it, not your highbrow snob dive, full of down to earth…read morecreative powerhouses!