Lexington, Kentucky – As the holiday season approaches, ArtHouse Kentucky is positioning itself as a sanctuary for community members amid a potentially tumultuous period. Founded by Mark Johnson, the gallery serves as the retail arm of Art Inc. Kentucky, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping local artists with essential tools and educational resources for successful entrepreneurship.
Currently representing 57 artists across the state, Johnson emphasizes maintaining a tranquil atmosphere within the gallery. He explains, “There’s been a lot of stuff going on in the political world, and there’s a lot of division out there. I think here, art tends to be a common factor. There’s no blue and red in here — there just tends to be beautiful art.” Visitors are encouraged to leave external tensions behind as they immerse themselves in the creative experience.
Originally established as a small gift shop in the historic Lyric Theater in January 2020, ArtHouse Kentucky moved to its current independent location at 576 East 3rd Street Suite 120 in June 2021. The gallery operates Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and has weekend hours that include 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. Special holiday hours will be observed on Christmas Eve, with the gallery open from 10 a.m. to noon.
ArtHouse Kentucky features original, handmade art from Kentucky artists and adheres to a 70/30 commission split, favoring the artists. Johnson, a Lexington native and experienced glass artist, founded the organization as a way to pay forward the support he received early in his career, stating, “Someone took a chance on me and took me under their wing. I want to just pass that on.”
The gallery’s unique prominence comes from its association with two sister programs: The Artists Studios, offering studio space for rent, and The Artists Village, a live/work community for artists in Lexington. Johnson believes these initiatives significantly contribute to the local arts scene, particularly given the rich history linked to the Lyric Theater.
As ArtHouse Kentucky enters the 2024 holiday season, Johnson highlights that the past two months have marked the most successful period in the gallery’s brief history. While the holiday season typically sees increased foot traffic, this year has shown a particularly optimistic trend, with substantial growth recorded from October 2023 to October 2024.
Looking ahead, Johnson hopes to enhance the gallery’s online presence as online purchases continue to rise. He aims for a successful holiday season to be defined by increased sales for the gallery’s represented artists rather than mere revenue growth.
