Let's Go To These Two New Edmonds Art Galleries
Written by Whitney Popa
When we say we want you to explore Edmonds, we mean for a minimum of multiple days or for an entire lifetime.
Why? For one, because it’ll take you at least that long to linger over the beautiful art at all of the galleries in town.
And, naturally, we want you to make a whole day of it every time you come—build in time to eat and shop and gaze at the water. We want you to enjoy the full Edmonds experience. You can always give yourself a self-guided tour, or you can come during one of our many organized art events. We’ll get into those more below because they give you the opportunity to bop around, meet curators and artists, snack, and make friends.
But the pièces de résistance in this piece are the Q&As we did with the two newest galleries in town—one that mixes mountain-forward paintings and photography, and another that celebrates painting and calligraphy. Both are right downtown. Both showcase the depth of talent creating from their souls on the shores of the Salish Sea.
Monthly Edmonds Art Walk
As we mentioned, you can visit Edmonds art galleries pretty much anytime, but there are also organized events that make moseying even more fun. Art Walk Edmonds gives local artists a consistent platform to show off their work and offers visitors a very compelling reason (in our humble opinion) to stroll through the city while admiring beautiful works.
Born in 2002, this free monthly event showcases local artists in businesses throughout downtown all month long, with special Third Thursday evening gatherings from 5-8pm where you can meet the artists directly.
After earning its 501(c)(3) status in 2014, Art Walk Edmonds expanded to host events like Summer Edmonds Wine Walks (more on those below) and launched the acclaimed Mural Project Edmonds, which has added large-scale works like "A Mother's Love," "Returning Home," and "Journey of Salmon" around the city. There really is nothing like walking around downtown to find artful inspiration, and Art Walk gives visitors a recurring reason to do just that. We suggest you take us up on it.
Summer Wine Walks
Art + wine + sun = even more fun.
As an extension of Art Walk Edmonds' mission to celebrate local arts, Summer Wine Walks give visitors even more reasons to spend a summer evening strolling through downtown Edmonds—and with a wine glass in hand, but only inside. This isn’t Vegas, but you get our drift, yes?
Held at least twice each summer, these events combine wine tastings from Pacific Northwest boutique wineries with the chance to shop at local businesses and discover art throughout downtown.
Wine Walks also serve as Art Walk Edmonds' primary fundraiser, with proceeds supporting monthly art events, administrative costs, and public art installations like the murals that have become downtown landmarks. There really is nothing like combining local wine, local art, and local businesses into one perfect summer evening. Mark your calendars early!
Art Studio Tours
Want to see where the magic happens? The Edmonds Art Studio Tour opens the doors to approximately 20 private artist studios that are normally off-limits to the public, giving you an intimate look at how Edmonds artists live and work.
This free, self-guided tour happens once a year on the third weekend in September and showcases around 40 local artists across different mediums. You can purchase handmade work directly from the creators, watch art being made in real time, and chat with artists about everything from their process to their inspiration.
The Studio Tour started with just 29 artists in 16 studios in 2006 and has grown into one of Edmonds' most popular annual events. In recent years, Studio Tours has partnered with the Edmonds Arts Festival each June for a Preview Show, where you can get a taste of what's coming to the Festival, which has been such a cool addition.
Stepping into an artist's personal workspace is like seeing the inside of your favorite artists’ brains! Highly recommend.
(Hey, while we have you, we’re not going to cover the Arts Festival here, but we did cover it in a piece about Edmonds art history, and will probably give it another big day in the sun soon. If you want to read more about it—and learn about some major Edmonds arts organizations—check out the article here.)
Time To Go To These Two New Edmonds Arts Galleries
Both of the newest galleries we chatted with participate in all forms of Art Walk, which is why we wanted you to know about those events first. But now it’s time to go deeper.
Let’s get to know the owners and creators behind Sunlight Gallery + Studio and Young Gallery. First, we chatted with Laura and Devin from Sunlight. All answers have been edited just slightly for clarity.
Sunlight Gallery + Studio Q&A with Explore Edmonds
Q: Why did you choose Edmonds for your gallery?
A: Edmonds has always been a favorite pocket of the Northwest for us. We grew up close by, and Edmonds was where we went for beach hangs, ferry rides, and Art Walks alike, so opening a space in town was a long-time dream of ours. To be in the heart of such a thriving and engaged artistic community, Washington's first Creative District, and amidst so many other local small businesses, is truly an honor.
Q: What's been the best part of running your gallery in Edmonds?
A: Connecting with our community in real life has by far been the best part of this endeavor. Having real conversations, meeting people outside of the screen, and being a hub for creativity and connection was always the dream. We are so thankful to be living that dream now, in the most supportive town.
Q: Do you have any cool anecdotes or memorable customer encounters you'd like to share?
A: It's been so much fun to meet people IRL that we've interacted with for years over social media. We recently had someone come in who had been following us on social media from Germany and was so excited to see the work in person and be in the gallery.
Q: Are there other businesses in town that you love and recommend visitors stop into?
A: We love all of the other galleries and museums in town, but the first ones that come to mind are Cole Gallery and Crow, just down the street from us—they often show artists’ work that we love pairing with our own.
Q: Anything else you want to share?
A: We are so happy to have our own little corner of this wonderful seaside town and just really want it to feel like a warm and welcoming place to everyone who comes to town. Whether you are out walking the dog, catching up with friends, or grabbing a bite with your kids, we love seeing you, and we always try to offer a little something for everyone, not just original art.
We currently have a variety of creative events on our calendar—from art classes to photoshoots to live music!
Find Sunlight at 102 1/2 5th Ave N, Edmonds, WA 98020, and introduce yourself to Laura and Devin. They are wonderful!
Young Gallery + Studio Conversation with Explore Edmonds
Q: Why did you choose Edmonds for your gallery?
A: Edmonds holds a special place in my heart. It's a cozy, quaint city where I used to stroll with my now husband, enjoying the restaurants, shops, beautiful beach, and galleries—it felt like scenes from a romantic movie. Back then, I never imagined opening a gallery here. My interest in art sparked when my 70-year-old aunt had her art exhibition in South Korea. What began as curiosity grew into a passion.
For thirty years, I painted daily while managing two Asian restaurants in downtown Seattle's Columbia Center. I'd often visit my favorite Cole Gallery, getting lost in the amazing artwork and taking several classes there. After retiring, I searched for a studio where I could paint to my heart's content. Strolling around Main Street, my heart skipped a beat when I saw a small empty space that used to be a hair salon. I contacted the building owner, and my dream came true: opening a studio where I could display my art in my favorite city.
Q: Do you have any cool anecdotes or memorable customer encounters you'd like to share?
A: It's the best part of my retirement! I meet wonderful locals and visitors from all over. Seeing familiar faces visiting the gallery brings me such joy. Susan, a frequent customer, visits, calling me "sister" and giving me a warm embrace. Though my English is simple, I hope to connect with more people and artists in Edmonds. I'm grateful to the Edmonds Library for exhibiting my art this fall and the Edmonds Historical Museum for sharing my story. It's the caring, empathetic people that make this community so wonderful, and one of the reasons I love Edmonds.
Find Young Gallery at 218 Main St, Edmonds, WA 98020 and introduce yourself to Young Hee Lee when you step inside.
