The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is pleased to offer a Holiday Exhibit by gallery artists for our 22nd Anniversary.

The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is a small and intimate space located in the heart of Kirkland's waterfront district on Lake Street South. Opening first in Bellevue in 1985 as a resource for collectors looking to purchase original prints by International artists such as Chagall, Miro, Motherwell, and Warhol from a competent and honest art dealer it moved to it's current location in Kirkland in 1991. Since then, it has become one of Kirkland's oldest galleries. With an emphasis on whimsical and expressionist work, local patrons frequently choose the Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery as Kirkland's favorite gallery.

The family of artists that continue to show at the gallery are innovative, thoughtful, proficient and immensely talented. While the gallery continues to add new artists to its stable, many of the artists have been in association with the gallery since its beginning where loyalty continues to last and flourish.

One such artist is the regional painter, Bill Braun. Mr. Braun's Trompe l'Oeil paintings are amazing feats of hyperrealism that have been a constant source of conversation and amazement in the gallery for many years. Many bets for dinner have been lost at the gallery's window on a warm evening or a rainy afternoon as a gallery regular sucks in an unknowing victim. Braun's paintings of crinkled brown craft paper, with the illusion of brightly colored construction paper stapled and taped to it in shapes of flowers, crows and a variety of pedestrian images suitable for any third grade classroom wall project, it leaves no impression as to what it is other than just that. Shadows, wrinkles and a precise technical ability with paint leave the new and sometimes even experienced viewer to believe that they are looking at a three dimensional paper construction and not a painting. Your eyes see believable three dimension without fault and your mind agrees…. of course it is a child's construction project, why would you paint
it? Trompe l'Oeil at its very very best.

Quality, playfulness and a good sense of value have always been an important aspect of work exhibited in the gallery and each artist that is represented has their own quality that we believe in.

Come visit the Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery, it is a friendly and unimposing gallery of contemporary artwork and a must see while shopping for art in the Seattle area. Come in and let us meet your needs while making new friends.

The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is pleased to offer another combined exhibit of new paintings by two friends and noted northwest artists.

Holly Ballard Martz of Bremerton paints thoughtful and lyrical landscapes with messages in collage and iconography. These landscapes revolve around, trees, birds and structures that are juxtaposed in interesting and thoughtful placement. Martz has become a gallery favorite since her first exhibit in 2003.

Valaree Cox after 12 years of working in metal as a jeweler and several more doing assemblage art, has now turned to painting. "It is fulfilling for me to land in a place where I can combine those mediums on a 2-dimensional surface." "I love the process of building up on a surface starting with plaster, then paint and paper and using found objects to make my art. It makes for an interesting look, feel and the question, why is she using a rusty washer on a painting?"

Every single element in one of her paintings has a very specific significance to her. "I love the viewer to find there own meaning or just an emotional feeling from each piece of artwork. One they can love to look at over and over again."

We also wanted to include three new ceramic teapots by Seattle artist Randolph Sill. These amazing ceramic works are technically superior with tiny and intricate detail and a glaze that mimics the rust of Gas Works Park. Any of these are a must for any serious teapot collector.

The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is pleased to offer new paintings by Eastern Washington artist Kathleen Hooks and Seattle painter David Stevenson.

Kathleen Hooks resides in Pasco and paints moody, lush and romantic landscapes not only reminiscent of Eastern Washington, but also of the lush and deserted land found west of the mountains. Kathleen Hooks resides with her husband John and 2 children in the rural farmland east of Pasco, Washington. In 1996, after a lifelong interest in pursuing a career in art, Kathleen built a studio next to their home. With her husband's encouragement and construction complete, she studied artist's techniques and made a commitment to painting full-time  Her lovely landscapes and skyscapes have become a gallery favorite.

David Stevenson is new to the gallery and lives in Seattle, WA. His richly textured still-life paintings are bold but quiet representations of everyday objects: the classically beautiful, the unusual, and subjects whose appeal are less obvious and more nuanced.

For over ten years David has worked in the video game industry creating artwork for popular adventure titles such as Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events and most recently Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate.

His true passion, however, lies in the more tactile medium of oil on canvas.  "Among the things I enjoy most about painting a still life is the challenge of creating the illusion of texture and depth. For me, to successfully bring out the texture and shape of an orange is about as good as it gets".

His inspiration comes from what he sees in his neighborhood, from his wife's garden, and afternoons spent digging through the dusty, cramped shelves of the local junk shop in West Seattle. Not to mention his love of pastries, which is his most recent and exuberant endeavor.

He especially admires and is drawn to the work of old Dutch masters, as well as the greats from the Italian renaissance. His continuing search for knowledge has recently led him to Florence Italy where he participated in an extensive summer workshop at the Angel Academy.

"Made in China" The story of Pagau.

Playful and whimsical, Ellsworth's paintings of Pagau are views of this rescued puppy as it discovers life in America.

Additional works by Ellsworth are lovely little encaustics of more dogs and large oils of horses.

Group exhibits often are methotically thought out with works paired for one reason or another to offer the patron a visual or intellectual journey. This August's group exhibit "Show me Again" couldn't be much further from that premise.

We have 20 artists that we regularly represent and support on an on going basis and sometimes their individual exhibits are stretched as far as a year and a half apart. With such a great amount of time between showings, it is important for us to find time during the year to concentrate on group exhibits and review some of their past works as we strive to support them as much as offer the collector always something new. Art isn't old after it's debut and has an on going appeal long after it is completed. We also purchase artwork all year long from various artists that we don't reguarly represent and inventory works are an important part of the gallery as well.

August is our slowest month in sales from our regular collectors who are vactioning elsewhere or preoccupied with summer, but Kirkland with it's charm and lakeside community has become a great draw and we are seeing more and more toursits come through during the summer months. Hopefully those visiting will get a glimpse of our gallery's direction and find something special to take home with them.

The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is pleased to introduce the new works by Northwest Painter Don Tiller. Staying true to our gallery's direction of playful and whimsical work, Tiller is a natural participant.

Residing on the Olympic Peninsula, Tiller is intrigued with the imprint left on the landscape when touched by mankind. With bold colors and simple shapes, he has given this new group of paintings his interpretation of man's attempt to initiate order in nature. Natural chaos provides interest balanced with geometric repetition.

This recent body of work is primarily composed of interesting shapes and bold colors. The paintings are snippets of warped remembrances allowing you a glimpse of the things he has seen and the places he has been. When someone quips "I think I've been there" or "I know where that is" he knows the connection between creator and viewer has been made.

Jaime Ellsworth is our newest addition to the gallery and we wanted you to have a preview of some of her works before the Summer gets here.

Simple forms are consistent in all her artwork and she enjoys working in series offering relationships, discovery and contrasts. "I create visual situations from everyday experiences and observations. Although I begin with a clear idea of what I am trying to achieve the paintings actually emerge from what I already know and what I learn along the way. Each new series directs the path I take and the journey is welcomed."

Look for a Fall show of addtional works by Jaime Ellsworth

The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is again pleased to offer the spectacular works by Northwest Trompe l'Oeil painter Bill Braun.

The paintings by Braun are amazing feats of illusion. What initially appears to be the art project constructed by a third grader is in reality a masterful painting of acrylic on canvas. The subject matter of cut out construction paper flowers and paper doll trees appear to be adhered by masking tape and staples to a crinkled background of brown kraft paper. These are the tease that invites the viewer further.

Upon seeing the work for the first time, the viewer can easily and immediately dismiss what he sees as what it "probably" is. "Of course it's not a painting, because why would you paint it" The definition of the work is superb and the likeness to real imagery is second only to the material itself. A second, third and frequently a fourth look is required to reassure ones self that what they are looking at isn't really a collage.

This years show revolves around a variety of subject matter from churches to flower gardens.

It is difficult to explain the success of good Trompe l'Oeil and it takes an actual face to face experience to completely understand these magnificent paintings. YES, THEY ARE PAINTINGS!

This is an review of past works shown in the gallery that are too good to be put away and forgotten. It has always been our philosophy to steadily support our artists and one exhibit a year just isn't enough for everyone to see some of these great works. This exhibit allows us to revisit some favorite works and support those that continually produce quality and collectable works.

To add more flavor and interest to this annual exhibit, it is also common for us to introduce a new artist to our gallery patrons. Kim Starr is new to the gallery and is a refreshing addition. While she is not new to the art world having shown her work for 25 years in Hawaii, she is now a Northwest artist living locally. It is our pleasure to offer the paintings by Kim Starr in Kirkland.

The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is again pleased to offer for the 14th year, the new paintings by well known western artist Thom Ross.

Ross is best known for his accurate and extremely whimsical portrayal of events taken from the Wild West era. His paintings are bright, bold and refreshing in their style, yet accurate in their history. Little known events or happenings are transformed into whimsical stories told by Ross in playful paint.

This year's exhibit reflects images of the west that don't specifically have a historical significance, but nonetheless are a part of history. Dogs roaming the range and a Murder of Crows are included in this exhibit along with some important events and individuals.

Ross is a master at research and thrives on finding little known events and adventures of the Wild West to revisit as paintings. He is frequently asked to speak at colleges on history of the Wild West and act in a variety of made for T.V. movies dealing with the west.

The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is pleased to offer a fun group exhibit revolving around the world of Fly Fishing. While, not a new sport by any means, Fly Fishing however has become a very popular activity that includes both men and women. From secret sepes to the Yakima River, Washington State has some of the best Fly Fishing spots around as well as an abundance of participants.

"Tie my Fly" includes some gallery favorites as well as some new comers as they explore their world as it relates to Fly Fishing and their art.

Artists included are: Bill Braun, Holly Ballard Martz, Milo Duke, Kathleen Hooks, Robert Ichter, John Moilanen, Ray Pelley, Thom Ross, Julia Ross, Mike Smith, Kelly Staton, Pat Tolle, Ken Thomas, Liang Wei and Catherine Young.

New work this year by Smith revolves around the garden and his love of flowers and pastels of mythical horses galloping and playing.

Smith continues to have a never ending imagination capturing his favorite subjects at play or rest.

The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is pleased to offer a group exhibit by gallery artists in celebration of the Holidays and our 21^st Anniversary. Can you believe it...We are finally 21!

The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is a small and intimate space located in the heart of Kirkland's waterfront district on Lake Street South. Opening first in Bellevue in 1985 as a resource for collectors looking to purchase original prints by International artists such as Chagall, Miro, Motherwell, and Warhol from a competent and honest art dealer it moved to it's current location in Kirkland in 1991. Since then, it has become one of Kirkland's oldest galleries. With an emphasis on whimsical and expressionist work., local patrons frequently choose the Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery as Kirkland's favorite gallery.

The families of artists that continue to show at the gallery are innovative, thoughtful, proficient and immensely talented. While the gallery continues to add new artists to its stable, many of the artists have been in association with the gallery since its beginning where loyalty continues to last and flourish.

One such artist is the regional painter, Bill Braun. Mr. Braun's Trompe l'Oeil paintings are amazing feats of hyperrealism that have been a constant source of conversation and amazement in the gallery for many years. Many bets for dinner have been lost at the gallery's window on a warm evening or a rainy afternoon as a gallery regular sucks in an unknowing victim. Braun's paintings of crinkled brown craft paper, with the illusion of brightly colored construction paper stapled and taped to it in shapes of flowers, crows and a variety of pedestrian images suitable for any third grade classroom wall project, it leaves no impression as to what it is other than just that. Shadows, wrinkles and a precise technical ability with paint leave the new and sometimes even experienced viewer to believe that they are looking at a three dimensional paper construction and not a painting. Your eyes see believable three dimension without fault and your mind agrees…. of course it is a child's construction project, why would you paint
it? Trompe l'Oeil at its very very best.

Quality, playfulness and a good sense of value have always been an important aspect of work exhibited in the gallery and each artist that is represented has their own quality that we believe in.

Come visit the Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery, it is a friendly and unimposing gallery of contemporary artwork and a must see while shopping for art in the Seattle area. Come in and let us meet your needs while making new friends.

Our Previous month's exhibit of works by Gallery artist Holly Ballard Martz and new addition Valaree Cox were very well received and we have several works up for the current month's show.

Holly Ballard Martz of Bremerton paints thoughtful and lyrical landscapes with messages in collage and iconography. These landscapes revolve around, trees, birds and structures that are juxtaposed in interesting and thoughtful placement. Martz has become a gallery favorite since her first exhibit in 2003.

Valaree Cox after 12 years of working in metal as a jeweler and several more doing assemblage art, has now turned to painting. "It is fulfilling for me to land in a place where I can combine those mediums on a 2-dimensional surface." "I love the process of building up on a surface starting with plaster, then paint and paper and using found objects to make my art. It makes for an interesting look, feel and the question, why is she using a rusty washer on a painting?"

Every single element in one of her paintings has a very specific significance to her. "I love the viewer to find there own meaning or just an emotional feeling from each piece of artwork. One they can love to look at over and over again."

The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is pleased to exhibit new paintings by Southern artist Bob Ichter and Northwest painter Liang Wei.

We are pleased to offer for the month of October, new paintings by two northwest artists.

Holly Ballard Martz of Bremerton paints thoughtful and lyrical landscapes with messages in collage and iconography. These landscapes revolve around, trees, birds and structures that are juxtaposed in interesting and thoughtful placement. Martz has become a gallery favorite since her first exhibit in 2003.

Valaree Cox after 12 years of working in metal as a jeweler and several more doing assemblage art, has now turned to painting. "It is fulfilling for me to land in a place where I can combine those mediums on a 2-dimensional surface." "I love the process of building up on a surface starting with plaster, then paint and paper and using found objects to make my art. It makes for an interesting look, feel and the question, why is she using a rusty washer on a painting?"

Every single element in one of her paintings has a very specific significance to her. "I love the viewer to find there own meaning or just an emotional feeling from each piece of artwork. One they can love to look at over and over again."

The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is pleased to introduce two artists from British Columbia who not only relate to each other well, but also to the gallery’s direction.

While neither artist knows each other, both Robert Cerins and Chrissanda Neustaedter have a playful and carefree style that works well together.

Cerins, a musician, jewelry designer and painter exhibits widely in the USA and Canada focusing on his acrylic landscape paintings, both in fantasy and playful representation. Loose and colorful, Cerins takes you on a journey that leaves you smiling along the way.

Chrissandra Neustaedter also has a playful approach to her interiors and landscapes, but her use of mixed media and very interesting application of texture first makes you wonder as to what she has done to create such an interesting surface appearance and then takes you on the journey.

She uses “secret” ingredients and manipulates the wet application as she moulds a scene and then goes through a laborious process to finish the surface, creating a unique and interesting finished painting.

The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is pleased to offer a two person exhibit by Northwest photo realist painters, Misty Martin and Ray Pelley.