Lincoln’s Art Galleries

by Sriyani Tidball

Burkholder Project

Selected as the Best Gallery in Nebraska by American Art Awards several years ago, this wonderful gallery showcases great artists’ work and their studios all under one roof. One of the city’s first Haymarket galleries, the Burkholder Project is owned and directed by Anne Burkholder. She shares her gallery studios with local artists whose artwork includes paintings, photography, sculpture, mixed media, dolls and jewelry.

Anne Burkeholder displays her own work in her studio—-mostly amazing Nebraska landscapes. If you take a walk into the gallery during working hours, you will likely bump into this talented artist, who always has time for visitors. The gallery draws people in on First Fridays, a popular monthly event that showcases art exhibits in Lincoln.

Recently a beautiful, whimsical wall art project has sprouted all down the alley adjoining the gallery—as though the art has escaped the building and is on display for anyone strolling by.

The gallery, which features a new show monthly, is at 710 P Street in the Haymarket District. For details, visit the website at www.BurkholderProject.com

Sheldon Museum of Art

Located on the downtown UNL campus, Sheldon houses a major collection of American art in a breath-taking building designed by American architect Philip Johnson. It is the largest gallery in the state. Their collection includes works by artists such as John Singer Sargent, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol.

In addition, visitors to the UNL campus can now experience a new public art corridor. Superstructure on 4 by David Smith, has been moved from the west side of the museum to the east side where it marks the first part of the corridor.

The corridor begins at 12th and Q Streets, where Torn Notebook, by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, sits on the east side of the street. The Sheldon has commissioned a tall sculpture from Richard Hunt, an internationally known sculptor, to be installed at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, across from the Torn Notebook.

The corridor runs north onto the UNL campus, with Smith’s piece corresponding with Jacques Lipchitz’s Bather (Baigneuse) that sits immediately in front of Sheldon. Other new pieces will join the sculptures already on campus to complete the art corridor.

Great Plains Art Gallery

A sculpture of prairie pioneers greets visitors as they enter the Great Plains Art Gallery located at the corner of 12th and Q Streets edging the UNL campus, close to the Sheldon Art Gallery. The Museum houses the Christlieb Collection of western art that, among others, includes works by Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. It also hosts exhibits of art, video, and photography as well as First Friday events.

Exhibits cover a wide range of topics relating to the Great Plains. For a complete list of exhibits or gallery hours call 402-472-6220 or visit www.unl.edu/plains/.  

Gallery 9 Professional Artists Affiliation

Gallery 9 celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2014 by inviting past members to show artwork and attend a First Friday opening. Known as a contemporary art and fine crafts gallery, the gallery showcases paintings, ceramics, metal sculpture, glass and jewelry.

During the holiday season, shoppers can choose from a variety of gifts on display at the gallery. In July, the gallery features a group invitational show.

Gallery 9 is located in the historic Mission Arts Building at 124 South 9th Street.

For details, call 402-477-2822 or visit the website at gallerynine.wordpress.com/.

Keichel Fine Art Expands Its Gallery Space

Keichel Fine Art at 1208 O Street in downtown Lincoln has recently completed a $1.344 million renovation. Colored LED lights dramatically accent the four-story building and a projector in the awning can project images of paintings or special events on the sidewalk in front of the gallery.

Gallery owner Buck Keichel has made this space very welcoming. And once visitors enter, the changes in the gallery are evident. The renovation includes the third and fourth floors for more gallery space plus a rooftop art and sculpture garden. The private garden will be open periodically to the public. The first floor features modern art and the second floor features mid-century artists active in Middle America. Works on paper will be displayed on the third floor.

Keichel said the lighting tastefully illuminates the building. It’s all part of the plan to improve his world-class gallery, he said. “And having more space means we can have several shows that offer a taste of everything.”

Darger HQ Gallery

Darger HQ is a new contemporary art gallery in the Parrish Studios on the second floor at 14th and O Streets. Gallery owner Launa Bacon moved back to Nebraska from Los Angeles where she managed Darger HG as an online gallery. “I saw what was going on here and I wanted to bring true, contemporary international and U.S. art to Lincoln,” Bacon said. “I also wanted to provide an incubator space for emerging local artists.”

Darger HQ distinguishes itself from other galleries by exhibiting true contemporary art, instead of more traditional art. An artist herself, Bacon shows her collages and oil paintings in the gallery. She also creates videos, installations and sculpture.

The gallery draws people in on First Fridays as well as on Wednesday evening for lectures, as well as workshops and classes. Classes offer instruction in a variety of media such as photography, drawing, oil painting, street art or installation work.

More information about exhibits, lectures, classes and workshops can be found at dargerhq.com.

Parrish Studios

Parrish Studios feature studio spaces for small galleries and businesses. The studios’ intent is to foster the creative community. It is home to several art galleries, art studios, photographers, and apparel shops.

A popular destination on First Fridays, Parrish Studios host 600-800 people the first Friday of every month. The Parrish Studios are on the second floor at 14th and O Street.

The Eisentrager Howard Gallery.

The Eisentrager Howard Gallery features the art of faculty and students in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

It is located in Richards Hall on Stadium Drive and T Street. For more information call 502-472-3550.

The Kruger Collection

The Kruger Collection of Miniature Furnishings and Decorative Arts is located in the College of Architecture at UNL and features four centuries of miniatures in one space. The collection is made up of 20,000 art miniatures. Admission is free to see this collection that is entertaining for all ages. Call 402-472-3560 for more information.

Rotunda Gallery

This small gallery is in the Nebraska Union at 12th and R Streets and holds exhibitions throughout the year. Call 402-472-9749 for more information.

Robert Hillestad Textile Gallery

This gallery is devoted to textiles from art and apparel, from East to West. Their collection spans many centuries and features the work of a variety of famous and emerging designers. Call 402-472-2911 for details on exhibitions.

Lux Center for the Arts

Exhibits at the Lux Center feature artwork of local, regional, and national artists. You can explore your creativity by taking classes in pottery, printmaking, jewelry, glass or fiber. Classes are held for children and adults. The gallery participates in the First Friday Artwalk and is located in the Historic University Place at 2601 North 48th Street. For more information, visit luxcenter.org.

Noyes Art Gallery

A mainstay in the art community, Noyes represents up to 50 artists who show a variety of original painting, photos, pottery, clothing and jewelry.

Noyes Gallery has a new show each month, and a reception on the first Friday evening of every month. It is located at 119 South 9th Street. Call 402-475-1061 for more information.

Live Yes Studio and Gallery

Live Yes is an alternative arts-based day program for adults with developmental disabilities at 330 S. 13th Street. The gallery is open for First Fridays offering music, food, art and good company. Call 402-904-4218 for more information.

The International Quilt Study Center

The International Quilt Study Center & Museum located on UNL’s east Campus at 33rd and Holdrege streets has a mission to inspire an understanding of the cultural and artistic significance of quilts by collecting, preserving, studying, exhibiting and promoting discovery of quilts and quilt-making traditions from many cultures, countries and times. The collection is comprehensive. Visitors and quilters can enjoy the collection of quilts, related textiles and documents that they have access to.

It was the generosity of the Robert and Ardis James Foundation that made this gallery a possibility.

The additional space recently opened that helps the Quilt House accomplish its mission as an international museum by allowing more international collecting and research. 

Iron Tail Gallery

Iron Tail Gallery features a new artist each month with openings on First Fridays. Iron Tail also does custom framing, commissioned artwork, hand-painted signs and in-home curating. Located at 2120 Winthrop Road, next to Henrys on South, the gallery participates in First Fridays with live music, food and drink.

For more details, call 402-580-0333 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/irontailgallery.

The Metro Gallery

The Metro Gallery offers an amazing collection of diverse art in a relatively small space in downtown Lincoln. Each piece is personally selected by owner and lifelong art lover, Dean Settle. He represents local, national and international artists—both professionals and amateurs that include a heady selection of outsider art. This is a gallery of accessible and often affordable fine art.

Visit the Metro at 1316 N St.; www.metrogallerynebraska.com or call (402) 202-7549