There’s no denying it: Summer brings with it an undue pressure to spend time outdoors, to savor the days that dazzle in such stark relief with our punishing winters, and to participate, whenever possible, in activities that always seem to involve apparatus or equipment that must be hauled, or pedaled, or rowed, or pitched.
But what of the more indoor-inclined on these brilliant summer days? Those who prefer a book, or a film, or a scratchy album to an alpine start? Thankfully, the gallery scene is booming this time of year, with no end of exhibitions, openings, artist Q&As, and—most importantly—compelling work made by exquisite local artists and the scores of international talent who choose to show in Maine.
The galleries we’ve collected here are the perfect places to stroll at leisure on these balmy afternoons. No Deet required.
Moss Galleries
Falmouth & Portland
Since opening in 2004, Moss Galleries has pursued one mission: to celebrate Maine’s role in American art. With the addition of a second gallery in downtown Portland, they have broadened their scope to include internationally recognized artists alongside their diverse roster of Maine-based talent. The gallery boasts a wide range of artistic styles and subjects, spanning from abstraction to traditional seascapes. Owner Elizabeth Moss’s 20 years of experience has earned this gallery both national and international recognition, including being named one of North America’s top 500 Galleries. In addition to the Falmouth space, Moss Galleries has a second location at 100 Fore Street, Suite B, Portland, ME.
The Willard Gallery
South Portland
This petite space delivers a big, individualized experience. “Appointment-only viewing allows me to tailor the gallery toward a particular style, artist, or subject, depending on the client,” says owner Meredith Perdue. “People come in, and the pieces they want are already on the walls. It’s your own private gallery.” On certain summer days, weather permitting, Meredith extends the gallery through the first floor of her own home, hanging more art throughout her 1750s cottage on the same property.
Casco Bay Auctions
Freeport
“The difference between us and a standard gallery is that we’re only open one week a month as a preview to an upcoming sale,” says auctioneer Andrew Davis. “Though, we are open daily for consignments.” Monthly auctions are live-streamed internationally and typically feature 400-600 items in one of three categories: Antiques, Modern, or Fashion. “I have a modern sale coming up with a Warhol, a Lichtenstein, some Keith Haring,” Andrew says. “Then I also have some Japanese helmets from World War II that are pretty rare, just to give an idea of our range.”
Chris Becker Gallery
Kennebunkport
Chris Becker was primarily a travel photographer before moving to Maine. “I focused a lot more on my fine art after that,” Chris says. He began shooting “ethereal, surreal images of nature,” as he describes them, plus a smattering of urban images (he’s got a delightful series showing the back office of a mechanic shop overcrowded with paperwork). Arriving in Kennebunkport via NYC, Chris set up shop a mile off Dock Square—“The very last shop on Ocean Avenue,” as he puts it—and the gallery doubles as his studio.
Gallery B.
Castine
Gallery b. is a bit off the beaten path. “You’ve got to have a lot of faith to drive down that seventeen-mile road of twists and bumps to find us,” says Goody-B Wiseman, “But we’ve been here 14 years, so I suppose we’re doing something right.” Right indeed, the reward is worth it. Representing over 30 artists of local and international acclaim, gallery b. has made its mission to advance the work of excellent woman artists—painters like Louise Bourne, Shelley Mansel, and Hannah Bureau. Goody says, “Bureau is a favorite of interior designers.”
Yarmouth Frame and Gallery
Yarmouth
Husband-and-wife business partners Lee and Beth Newman love every aspect of running an arts business. Beyond its museum-quality framing services, the gallery programs five exhibitions annually, the first being an Earth Day show followed by a variety of different themed shows. They also work closely with interior designers and landscapers for art and sculpture.
KW Contemporary Art
Kennebunk
Our collection is truly international,” says owner and curator Kiersten Wilcox. “These are pieces you’d find at galleries in Los Angeles or Paris.” Kiersten is looking forward to the gallery’s upcoming solo exhibition for Chinese-Canadian artist YangYang Pan. Additionally, she expresses admiration for the captivating creations of Maria Laura Ribeiro, a Brazilian artist currently residing in Florida. “Ribeiro’s pieces depict iconic women with a blend of pop-art aesthetics and refined luxury, often incorporating intriguing mixed media elements.”
The Cygnet Gallery
Southwest Harbor
“We try to make the gallery a community gathering space. We encourage locals to visit just as much as the tourists,” says Emily Miller of The Cygnet Gallery. This July will see the gallery’s first solo exhibition of Canada-based painter Dorothy Feeley. “We focus on solo shows because they allow people to build strong connections with a particular artist’s work,” Emily says. Summer also brings a series of pop-up trunk sales hosted by J. McVeigh Jewelry (Eyes peeled on Instagram for dates!).
Kerr+Jones Gallery
East Boothbay
As artists and curators, Diana Kerr and Kathleen Jones had long envisioned a gallery featuring, first and foremost, exceptional works from Maine’s vast fine art and craft community. Visitors to this beguiling gallery in historic East Boothbay might be surprised to see “uncommon goods” such as Berber rugs and handwoven textiles juxtaposed with coastal seascapes. They are part and parcel of the owners’ unique vision which also includes intriguing garden sculptures in an idyllic setting.” Open from early June through mid-October, Wednesday through Sunday.
Archipelago
Rockland
Director Lisa Mossel prides herself on Archipelago’s commitment to Maine-made art. “All of our artists actually live in the state,” she says. “Maine has a rich history of inspiring and engaging artists.” Purchases at Archipelago support The Island Institute’s Creative Economy Program, which provides makers with workshops and conferences on how to monetize their work. “Whether they’re making soap or rock lamps,” Lisa says, “we want to help them understand a business model that will work for them.”
The Gallery at Somes Sound
MDI
Studio furniture lovers will definitely want to stop for this collection. “Studio furniture is a title that was given to a custom-made furniture movement back in the ’50s and ’60s,” owner Tyra Hanson explains. She’s a studio furniture lover and aficionado. “This is furniture made by hand, one piece at a time. Each piece is a unique design, inspired by the wood itself.” Several of the makers Tyra represents, now masters themselves, once apprenticed with the very same mid-century artists who founded the studio furniture movement. “The history and tradition behind each maker and their furniture are second to none,” she says.
La Marée Art
Brunswick
Artist Meghan Surette’s epoxy-resin oceanscapes seek to capture the spirit of two distinct bodies of water: the Mediterranean, on which she lived as an art therapy student in France, and, as a native Mainer, the Atlantic. “No matter where I’ve lived, any time I feel big emotions, I always find myself at the water,” she says. “Of course, the Mediterranean is so sandy and turquoise and so different from the Maine coast I grew up on, but the feelings are the same, and I wanted that sense in the things I make.”
Black River Gallery
Boothbay Harbor
“We have a lot of gift items, and we make sure you can’t find them anywhere else in Boothbay Harbor,” says Sue Kenney, photographer and co-owner of Black River Gallery alongside Catherine Day. “We make sure everything is unique.” Since leaving a successful but significantly smaller space in New Jersey (350 square feet), Sue and Catherine have enjoyed spreading out in Maine, using their new gallery’s extra space (1,800 square feet) to house a slew of guest artists, including award-winning pastel painter Jeanne Rosier Smith.
Argosy Gallery
Bar Harbor
With clients in all 50 states as well as 13 countries, it is no surprise to find Argosy in its 29th successful year, offering the work of artists dedicated to painting the Acadia region. This summer’s major show—titled Going the Distance and opening July 27th with a gala reception at the Bar Harbor Inn—will feature Scott Moore, along with seven additional artists that have exhibited with Argosy for twenty-plus years. Congrats!
Maine Art Hill
Kennebunk
Seven galleries spread across three adjacent buildings make Maine Art Hill more of an art compound, or an art campus, than a traditional gallery. The multi-medium establishment is a place to make time for. And between the properties, check out a display of more than 100 wind sculptures by artist Lyman Whitaker, a stunning and one-of-kind “wind forest.” It’s not a stretch: Maine Art Hill has something for everyone.
Artemis Gallery
Northeast Harbor
In the heart of Northeast Harbor, Artemis Gallery can be deceiving to the eye as the building is a 100-year-old house. Owner Deirdre Artemis Swords says this is her favorite thing about the gallery. “I love curating our multi-artists shows in this space as the art feels like it is already hanging in someone’s home.” Step inside and you’ll be surprised to find a wide range of artwork from over 60 different Maine based artists. The shows change every other week during the summer so there is always something new to see.
Bayview Gallery
Brunswick
Exhibiting an impressive collection of landscapes, seascapes, and marine art in styles ranging from Realist to Impressionist, Bayview is committed to personalized service. “We forge relationships—assisting clients in their search for the perfect addition to their home or office,” say owners John Starr and Susan Robertson-Starr. “We make house calls when feasible, and we send art on approval when distance prevents direct interaction.” With 28 years of continuous ownership, Bayview boasts an impressive roster of accomplished artists.
Artemis Gallery
Northeast Harbor
In the heart of Northeast Harbor, Artemis Gallery can be deceiving to the eye as the building is a 100-year-old house. Owner Deirdre Artemis Swords says this is her favorite thing about the gallery. “I love curating our multi-artists shows in this space as the art feels like it is already hanging in someone’s home.” Step inside and you’ll be surprised to find a wide range of artwork from over 60 different Maine based artists. The shows change every other week during the summer so there is always something new to see.
Courthouse Gallery Fine Art
Ellsworth
Step into a historic setting and discover an array of contemporary fine art and sculpture handsomely displayed in two beautifully restored 1830s Greek Revival buildings. Founded in 2006, rotating exhibitions by established and emerging artists make Courthouse Gallery a must-see destination. Upcoming solo shows include The Wood Engravings of Siri Beckman, Philip Barter (1939–2024): Paintings from the 1980s and 1990s, and new work by Philip Frey, William Irvine, Rick Fox, Tom Curry, Linda Packard, Joseph Keiffer, and Jeffery Becton.
Cynthia Winings Gallery
Blue Hill
In June 2013, Cynthia Winings opened her gallery in Blue Hill, in a building that was once a barn and the site of the former Leighton gallery. This year she celebrates her twelfth season. Cynthia designs her shows with the intent of “carrying on a kind of visual dialogue from wall to wall,” and indeed, the gallery’s extensive programming has made it a prized cultural venue. Poke around on the website for a selection of fascinating videos from previously hosted artist lectures.
Aperto Fine Art
Bridgton
New kid on the block alert! Opened in 2022, Aperto reps “Artists who push the edges of their work, who dare to stand in unfamiliar creative space, whose work challenges, and questions, and demands our attention,” says owner Linda LaCroix. To foster a safe environment for artistic experimentation, Linda and partner Jim Kidder provide a permanent creative home to six artists. “Art has to come from your soul,” says Linda, “and they all have that. Lots of people can be skilled, but then there are those who truly give all of themselves.”
Follow the Art
From Southern Maine to Downeast, explore the best of Maine’s art galleries with our curated list.
@apertofineart
Archipelago
thearchipelago.net
@archipelagomaine
Argosy Gallery
argosygallery.com
Artemis Gallery
artemisgalleryme.com
@artemisgalleryme
Bayview Gallery
bayviewgallery.com
@bayviewgallerymaine
Black River Gallery
blackrivergallery.com
@blackrivergallery
Casco Bay Auctions
cascobayauctions.com
