Fredericksburg Art Gallery is located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. The picturesque  Main Street  setting is easily accessible to the many art lovers who visit the gallery daily. Fredericksburg, Texas was named in 2004 among the “Top Five –  Western Art Towns”  by Southwest Art Magazine.

The gallery, now in its ninth year of operation at their new location,  314 East Main Street  in  Fredericksburg , is owned and operated by Jim and Donna Strickland. Jim and Donna have turned the space that was once a patio for the adjacent restaurant, into a magical and active haven for art lovers everywhere. Tourists seem to be entranced by the original works of art that line the walls and they are tickled by the heart-warming books that are popular among loving grandparents and Christian friends.

Donna  celebrates over 30 years in the art business. She started her first little gallery in Odessa in 1976 called Donnas Art Gallery & Gifts with her mom and dad, Joye and Gary Porter. Her parents owned another business at the time but then came to work at the gallery full time a few years later and changed the name to Frontier Galleries. It is still open today in Odessa  and is owned and operated by Donnas’ niece and her husband, Natalie & Jason Palmer. Donna moved to the hill country in 1983 to open Holland Art Gallery in Kerrville and then opened the Fredericksburg gallery in 1986. 

The gallery has three Annual Invitational Art Shows each year.

Art Lovers' Show & Sale showcases as many as 30 Nationally & Regionally Acclaimed Artists. To be held the first weekend in February. Each artist will have three new original works of art, two of which will be miniatures. No advanced previews for this exhibit.

"Kay Walton, One Woman Show" features her new original works of art. Ms. Walton is known throughout the Southwest for her rendition of the Texas hill country specializing in bluebonnet landscape paintings. To be held the first weekend in May.

"Contemporary Masters Invitational" Art Show and Sale showcases a dazzling dozen of Texas finest award winning artists. To be held the second weekend in November. Friday the show starts off with the reservation only Artists Reception, Cocktails & Heavy Hors d'oeuvres and the Preview Art Show & Sale. Saturday and Sunday is free admission and everyone is invited to the Art Show & Sale which will include Artists Demonstrations, Casual Art Talks, Lectures, Story Telling, Artists Reception, Judges & Collectors Choice Awards and Wine & Cheese.

In addition to fine art, Fredericksburg Art Gallery carries a large selection of ready-made frames and the best custom picture framing in the area. Jim has had many years of experience framing artwork and has completed several workshops on state-of-the-art framing technology and techniques. He does each job with skill and care as if the piece were his own. The gallery has three great part time employees, Valerie Kneeland, is a skilled picture framer and artist. Also working part time is Sherryl Brown. She is a retired teacher and full time art lover, and knows the gallery artists inside and out. Ivy Holland, the owner's daughter, also works part time at the gallery and is a big help with our special events.

We may see less of Jim at the gallery in the future. He has started another business with Adam Sheffield called “JAM Customs” which specialize in customizing motorcycles. Jim is an awesome airbrush artist and they also do fabrication, pipes and handlebars. Everything to make your bike a One of a Kind!

Fredericksburg Art Gallery hosts a large collection of original paintings and bronzes by acclaimed Southwestern wildlife, western, still life, and landscape artists including: Charlotte Curry, Travis Keese, Royce Roberts, Earlayne Chance, Cynthia Bryant, Norma Brown, Loveta Strickland, Kay Walton, David MacSmith, Al Moore, Mike Mahon, June Dudley, Marvin Flynn, Mike Irvin, Gaye Kelly, Valerie Kneeland, Moano Ponder, Barbara Larimore, Dale Russell Smith, Larry Tarrillion, Glenn Lyles, Jack Bryant, Jr., C.J. Latta, Bill Scheidt, C.S. Talley, Milbie Benge, Betty Rhodes, Chuck Rawle, Patti Miller, Joyce Combs, Rebecca Weatherford, Fran Rowe, Phil Bob Borman, Greg Glowka, Darnell Jones and other fine artists.

Children are always warmly welcomed at the gallery. Jim and Donna have made a space for the kids to create their own artwork while they visit the gallery. Fredericksburg artist, Patti Miller, has donated the pastels for the “Kids Corner”. Most children have never used pastels, so this gives them a new medium to try while they are here. The kids can either leave their original artwork for the gallery to display for a short time or take it home.

The Gallery also offers Christian gifts, inspirational & encouraging books, picture lights, in addition to custom picture framing, ready-made frames, original paintings and bronze sculpture.

Fredericksburg's been discovered by a wave of lifestyle refugees attracted by the town's architectural style, new restaurants, interior design community, and the occasional presence of film stars. Long timers tend to look upon these newcomers fondly, realizing that anything is a good thing. At its heart, Fredericksburg hasn't lost touch with its unique combination of rodeo traditions, German cuisine, Hill Country style, and friendliness. ... While Fredericksburg has several highly regarded art galleries and a German Community Chorus, its strongest art card is the Fredericksburg Theatre Company, which presents a half-dozen productions during its year-round season.

Above Credit "John Villani, Countryman Press"