Frankly, we’re spoiled. As the summer gallery season kicks off, we find ourselves once again in awe of the sheer volume of art and arts programming available to Mainers each gallery season. It’s enough to leave even the most culture-soaked Manhattanite feeling shortchanged.
We spoke with dozens of artists, curators, and administrators, and to a one, they dashed off events, openings, exhibitions, visiting artists, art walks, screenings, demos, and galas as if it were a matter of course, as if it’s just the way things are done here. And miraculously, it is.
As you spend these summer months working your way through this year’s gallery guide, (listed here in order from north to south) we hope you feel some of the same deep gratitude that we do—gratitude for you, the patrons who support and keep Maine’s vibrant arts community alive, and gratitude for the community itself, that works tirelessly, year-round, often unseen, to ensure that Maine remains a place where the arts are alive and well.
Littlefield Gallery
- Winter Harbor
When Jane and Kelly Littlefield retired, they moved from southern Maine to Winter Harbor, choosing the lifestyle in a small coastal community. This is where the dream of having their own gallery came to fruition eighteen years ago. Their home is their gallery, encompassing the first two floors as well as a 750-square-foot, white-walled annex. The unpretentious environment and the enthusiasm that comes from sharing the work of several of Maine’s most celebrated sculptors and painters have led to the gallery becoming a destination spot. “Having the gallery in our home has lent itself to forming wonderful relationships with art lovers from all over the country. It’s not work, it’s a joy,” Kelly says of the gallery’s success.
Argosy Gallery
- Bar Harbor
You don’t stay in business for thirty-one years without doing a few things right. Gallery owner Amy Stapleton Sidman credits a simple formula: “We’re in a great location, we work really hard, and we have fantastic artists,” she says. It seems to be working. After thirty-one seasons, Argosy continues to thrive. August 1 marks the opening of Our Maine Artists: Respected Masters and Rising Stars, featuring work by seven of the gallery artists. The exhibition kicks off with a gala reception at the Bar Harbor Inn. (Pro tip: the gala is invitation-only, but I’m told you can snag an invite by calling the gallery.)
Artemis Gallery
- Northeast Harbor
The Thursday night openings at Artemis are a killer hang. Starting May 21 (the Thursday before Memorial Day) and running through September, the gallery hosts a new show nearly every two weeks (June18, July 2, and July 16 are the first batch of dates, and the rest can be found online). The variety of art on display is enormous, and the openings frequently include gallery artists in attendance, live music, casual bites and wine. Walking under the stars through Artemis’ expansive sculpture garden will connect you to other neighboring businesses joining in the festivities. “It really is a scene,” says owner Deirdre Artemis Swords. “It’s not a full-on art walk, but it’s our own little Northeasy, kind of energetic scene.” Year-round community members and summer visitors alike mingle in the gallery and open air, partaking in the incredible rotation of art, good food, music, and conversation. All the good things.
Gallery at Somes Sound
- Mount Desert
In addition to its remarkable fine art selection, this longstanding gallery on the quiet side of Mount Desert Island features one of the most robust studio furniture programs in the state. Furniture makers like Joseph Tracy and John Cameron, both of whom apprenticed under the founders of the studio furniture movement, show their work frequently.
On the painting side, It’s Not What You Look At, But What You See, a show highlighting some of Maine’s most exciting realists (Ernest McMullen, Rett Sturman, and David Vickery to name a few), opens August 19 and runs through October. Well worth checking out.
Cynthia Winings Gallery
- Blue Hill
It’s no secret that the modern world conspires against slowness. Slowness, however, is exactly what Cynthia Winings is after this season at her Blue Hill gallery. “Of course there are times when you’re rushing and trying to see everything,” she says, “but when I have students visit the gallery, one of the exercises we do—and I do this myself—is to stand in front of apiece for ten seconds, to look at it and literally count ten. The things that will emerge from a piece, even in ten seconds, are astounding. Maybe what you see lets you stick it out another ten seconds. And another. It’s a different kind of noticing that can’t happen if you don’t take that initial ten seconds.” You can practice slowing down for yourself when the gallery opens its summer show, Gathering Here on June 28, co-curated with artist Lari Washburn and inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin’s essay, “The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction.”
gallery b.
- Castine
It’s remote, but don’t let that fool you. gallery b. would feel at home in any major city. “It’s always gratifying to see how surprised people are when they see the quality and the breadth of the work we offer,” says owner Goody-B Wiseman. This season, it’s community that has Goody-B’s creative juices flowing. First with the Castine Historical Society. “They do a magnificent house and garden tour—twelve houses of architectural or historical significance, and three gardens” she says. “So I decided to meet that event with an exhibition centered around interiors and florals, work that is thematically aligned with the tour.” (The tour is July 24, and the show will open July 21.) In addition, a collaboration with Annex Arts will bring painters Sara MacCulloch and Hannah Bureau to Castine, along with others, for extended residencies. Guests are invited to meet and interact with these artists-in-residence, gaining intimate insight into their creative practices.
Jill Hoy Gallery
- Stonington
Plein air painters have always been drawn to Maine for the light. “It’s very sharp,” says artist Jill Hoy. “The forces that you contend with here, and how you translate them into paint, interest me immensely.” When approaching one of the pieces that will eventually end up in her gallery, Jill prefers to work without preliminary sketches, letting the subtle shifts of nature dictate what winds upon the canvas. “Out in the elements, everything is moving, and you’re picking and choosing in the moment. Maybe there are vertical reflections in the water from the clouds, but then the clouds move and they’re gone. It’s a rhythm of plucking moments that are here and then gone, knitting them into a unit. I’m finding it as I go, and I find that enlivens the painting enormously.” She’s right. The work trembles at a frequency both familiar and all its own.
Maine Art Gallery
- Wiscasset
“There’s a lot of good energy here,” says gallery manager Jacqueline Crucet. Since its inception nearly seventy years ago, Maine Art Gallery (among Maine’s longest-running arts organizations) highlights the work of established and burgeoning artists through exhibitions and programs run almost exclusively on the dedication of volunteers and the involvement of members. “It’s a place run by and for artists and art lovers,” Jacqueline says. This summer, Song of the Wild: Honoring the Natural Beauty of Maine features the work of ten Maine artists, each expressing their own visual interpretation of the state’s wilderness (June 18–July 26). The Gallery also offers classes for different skill sets in a variety of media. Stop by July 9 for a demonstration of Gyotkau, a traditional Japanese printmaking style that uses real fish dipped in ink.
Kerr+Jones Gallery
- East Boothbay
It’s a cliché, but clichés sometimes hold true: there really is something for everyone at Kerr+Jones. Owners Diana Kerr and Kathleen Jones oversee ever-evolving collections designed to appeal to a wide array of artistic tastes and media. With fine art at the forefront, ceramics, sculpture, woodworking, and “uncommon goods” are certain to intrigue and delight. This season, the gallery will feature two exhibitions: the stunning paintings of Ralf Feyl in July and, in August, the photographs of legendary Maine photographer Peter Ralston, who documented the Wyeth family and their lifestyle for many years. The gallery is warm and welcoming, so grab a cappuccino at the East Boothbay General Store (just a few doors down) and stop into browse.
Black River Gallery
- Boothbay Harbor
Now in its ninth season, Black River remains a true destination gallery for art lovers. This summer, owners Sue Kenney and Catherine Day (both exquisite nature photographers) are excited to unveil a series of bird images entitled Avian Antics. The photos are vast and striking, capturing a variety of species in the wild. (We especially love one nicknamed Luciano, who inspired the series logo.) “It’s new for us,” Sue says. “We’ll have the birds in prints, on cards, and other gifts.” The gallery also hosts guest artists from an assortment of media (pastel master Jeanne Rosier Smith is currently among them). Keep an eye on Black River’s socials for upcoming events, artist meet-and-greets, and demos.
Sidle House
- Freeport
A relative newcomer to the Maine gallery ecosystem (it opened in 2023), Sidle House has already established itself as a major player. This season alone will feature eight exhibitions—”We do exhibitions,” owner and curator Maddy Vertenten emphasizes, “this isn’t a giftshop”—including solo shows by Anne Hebebrand and Marjorie Moore, a project with guest curator Ashley Page, and the gallery’s popular juried S.N.O.W. program this winter (Small New Original Works). Housed in a charm-laden historic barn, this gallery is modern all the way. After only three years, Sidle House already feels like a legacy institution.
La Marée Art
- Portland
Artist Meghan Miller wants you to ditch that nasty old plastic cutting board you’ve had for years. “You know, the one you’re strangely attached to, even though you know it’s toxic,” she says. Meghan’s space is dedicated to “the quiet beauty of functional objects,” as she puts it, “objects that elevate the everyday.” The shop is a feast of handmade wooden kitchenware, each piece crafted with the goal of longevity, aesthetic enhancement, and usefulness. We especially love the Morning Ritual Tray, designed to keep your coffee (or tea!) equipment organized and in one place. “There’s something about putting items on a tray,” Meghan says, “that elevates them in some way. They’re literally elevated, sure, but they also look nicer. Suddenly, there’s intention rather than a bunch of stuff strewn all over the island—and you can feel that.”
The Willard Gallery
- South Portland
Appointments are required at The Willard Gallery, but the experience is as personal as they come. After a brief consultation, the gallery is hung with a selection of work chosen exclusively for the client. “Some people have a certain style in mind, or subject matter, or a particular artist or artists, or they just want something to commemorate their vacation,” says owner Meredith Perdue. “I love when clients surprise me with some combination of pieces I would never have come to on my own.” Recently, Willard has also partnered with the Old Port’s Weldon Hotel. A selection of pieces is on view in the hotel lobby and is set to rotate twice a year.
Maine Art Hill
- Kennebunk
With more than forty artists represented across five distinct galleries, there is a great deal to take in at Maine Art Hill. “We present a large number of works throughout our spaces, allowing guests to experience a wide range of artists in one visit,” says gallery manager Abby Daggett. So this summer, they’re mixing things up. It’s called the Summer Spotlight Series, and the premise is simple: ten artists, ten weeks, ten works each. The idea is to scale back and slow down, giving visitors the time and space to truly connect without the frantic sense of rushing to see everything. “We want guests to really stop and enjoy the paintings,” Abby says. “That’s our hope with the Summer Spotlight Series.” The first spotlight kicks off June 20 with realist William B. Hoyt and will turn over each week for ten weeks. We can’t wait.
George Marshall Store Gallery
- York
This tastefully repurposed general store (est.1867!) has two floors of showroom space, both focused exclusively on original works by contemporary New England artists. In June, the main floor will host four solo exhibitions by gallery artists Sarah Faragher, Trevor Toney, Alicia Ethridge, and Sarah Steedman, while the lower floor rotates work continually from the gallery’s diverse collection. “We exhibit emerging and established artists in all types of media, from paintings and fine craft to site-specific installations,” says owner and curator Kate Rasche. “Works rotate frequently, so it feels like a new space every time you visit.” Between the gallery, a working lobster dock down the street where fresh lobsters are sold right off the boats, and the numerous walking trails along the York River, it’s a spot worth leaving time for.
Summer by way of Art
From far-flung island galleries to southern coastal standouts, here’s your insider’s guide to Maine’s art scene
Littlefield Gallery
Argosy Gallery
Artemis Gallery
Gallery at Somes Sound
Cynthia Winings Gallery
