Aurora Fine Art Review

Always a great experience! Great representation of many talented local artists and adds a dash of class to downtown!

Beautiful Gallery!!!
Located in mid downtown on the corner with tons of window viewing. Incredible representation of Local Artists. Best Gallery besides Zoe's (on same street) in Anchorage. If you want to see collectible art that you won't see everywhere else, then this is your store. The owner has been around for years and has supported the Alaskan Artists with her whole heart! Its "must see" gallery!

A really unnecessarily unfriendly owner! Too bad and so unfortunate....especially for the artists who have their work on display there. I typically do not give reviews but I felt the way we as guests in the store with a genuine interest in several of the artists were treated that it really motivated me to want to spread word-of-mouth for others to go elsewhere for a better experience. Looking at art and buying is always certainly more enjoyable when there is a friendly and knowledgeable staff member/owner to enhance the shopping experience.

An artist vendor myself, I travel the US to vend at different events and like to see local galleries to talk with local artists for my artist interview show. As someone who done sculpting from bone and fossils I wanted to get the name of an artist who sculpted a fantastic bear from a whale fossil. I got a picture of the artist's name to message him later but a female employee yelled at me for that.

As an art vendor myself I apologized and deleted the photo. I apologize saying I didn't see a no photos sign which some other galleries had since all the ones I went to so far allowed photos. I normally have a no photos sign myself I explained, but her response was, "Do I need a sign telling you not to poop in my store?" Not sure why she needed to aggressively use the word "poop" in a family friendly store. I was nothing but respectful, polite, and continued apologizing over and over, and did so sign my other friends were trying to make a big purchase with another employee and didn't want to hurt this individual's commission. It was awkward because the female employee kept pestering me, wanting to know about my job income, used the term "savage" and "poop" a few more times, before bringing up my military jacket. I think she was anti-military because that is what she pestered me on for minutes. She was asking about my military academy jacket and past but didn't seem to be listening or care about the stories I told her. She tried to keep saying I was being disrespectful again when I pointed out I was nothing but apologetic, addressed her in a calm tone, addressed her as ma'am, said I only took a photo of the artist's name, offered to delete the photo, said I didn't see a sign that said no photos, and was not the one who used the word "poop". She seemed to then strongly recommend my friends and I leave, despite them in the middle of making a purchase so I left not to cause trouble.

The funny thing is I do lectures and how to classes for other artists and vendors on how to sell art and show the right and wrong way how to treat customers. I even mention using a sign if you don't want photos being taking but if you don't have a sign be respectful and tell them no without jumping on them screaming like this Aurora Fine Art employee, especially don't use the word "poop" and savage in a public place. I will add her to my updated lectures on how not to treat customers.

I do want to point out the other employee was nice and respectful and seemed to be embarrassed how his coworker was acting, but because we weren't able to finish our purchases have to give this place 1 star. For a nice similar art gallery with less pretentious prices I recommend the fantastic Sevigny Studio, for amazing native Alaskan art and fossil, bone and ivory carvings I recommend the Alaska Fur Exchange.

After Thought: In retrospect I remember being surprised the store went out of its way to get 5 high quality vinyl signs advertising a musical for tonight only, the money spent to make a one day use sign that's going to be thrown away. If they could afford that surprised the wasn't one for their photography rules like the other galleries in town or one that said "No Service Dogs Allowed" since apparently service dogs aren't allowed inside as per another customer.

Lady should be lobbying for the open pit Pebble Mine instead of degrading art. You can't have both.

Love the collection of art on display here. With such a wide variety, I can truly say there is something for everyone at this gallery.

I recently moved to Fairbanks and took a trip down here since I was looking for a gallery to showcase some of my artwork, but the employees here didn't have any personality just acted like they wanted their shift to be over, and then some rude lady was questioning me about my art, like it was police interrogation. I thought she was some crazy customer who didn't know anything about art and wanted to understand more of my process. It was only later I found out she was the manager or owner.

Yeah not really friendly employees, somewhat pretentious and not helpful went asked questions. I wish I knew I would be treated like a suspect when I walked in here, because they kept staring at me as if I was a homeless guy off the street or some shady character.

Sad, they call themselves a fine art gallery but there is nothing "fine" art about this place. Half the stuff here is ugly, low resolution photographs, very touristy in nature like souvenir shops trying to sell cheap photos and postcards. And the other stuff is crude stuff. The few good items made by local artisans, well I feel bad for them. I am in town to do research for my history book on Anchorage and interviewing and showcasing local artists would have been great to include in the book, Unfortunately the staff refused to give me the contact information of the artists they feature and if I tried to take a picture of the business cards of the artists they threaten to kick me out. What are they afraid I am some other gallery who would snipe up their artists? I won't be surprised if that was the case since these artists deserve to be featured in a real art gallery not some tacky tourist giftshop.

Beautiful pieces, but for people with deeper pockets than me. It's still nice to look around though.

I do an art podcast and visited this place for an art night to chat with some of the artists. Well the owner was upset that the artists were handing out their business cards and information. When myself and others were saying they might be interested in buying the displaying artists' stuff online, the owner (?) or employee seemed to threaten that if we want to buy, we buy through the gallery not online. I feel bad for artists who might lose business because of these unprofessional employees.

Stopped in to check on Chad because I was informed he had been in a accident. Well, that turned into an interrogation and ultimately was sized up as a thief or perhaps just casing the place. I'm not sure what's wrong with this lady but very very unprofessional! I mean if you are picking and choosing who visits your store then by all means say so. I'm just working class who has in the past purchased a few nice things from you. Also have a layaway I wanted to pick up but I guess that's out of the question! I cant believe the behavior displayed by this individual! She ultimately asked me to leave and as I approached the door she said she was calling the police and did pick up her phone. So, in this social media world we live in I took the liberty to take a photo of her as she was calling the police! I did nothing wrong but walk in
to the place to do business and just that!
I do hope Chad is recovering and will be back in the future! Until then I will just walk by with my head down .completely appalled at the behavior of this woman. Seems like she might need professional help! Good riddance!