The Stillwater Art Guild Gallery is located on Main Street in the Isaac Staples Sawmill building. Photos: Jessica Lynne-Bennett
Owner Jessica Lynne-Bennett will pen the gallery’s next page.
The Stillwater Art Guild Gallery has been a part of the bustling downtown Stillwater community for nearly three decades. Home to over 90 artists, the gallery represents a wide variety of mediums from glasswork and jewelry to painting, photography and pottery. “The Stillwater Art Guild Gallery is a collective of talented, creative artists,” owner Jessica Lynne-Bennett says. Since taking over the local creative hub at the start of this year, the painter says she has worked to build a more mindful gallery where each artist feels valued. “I believe a content, appreciated individual is a happy artist,” Lynne-Bennett says.
Lynne-Bennett has been a part of the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery since 2019, and becoming the owner is a full-circle moment for her. “When the former owner made the decision to sell, he approached me and told me that he wished I could take over the gallery. He liked my ambition and initiative and thought I could do a lot of good here,” Lynne-Bennett says.
We followed up with Lynne-Bennett to learn more about her path and the future of the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery.
What led you to join the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery in 2019?
I joined the Stillwater Art [Guild] Gallery in 2019 after I had started painting full time in 2014 and built up a collection of art to be a serious painter. I volunteered to work shifts during COVID-19 in 2020. The gallery was looking for artists with a healthcare background to volunteer, and I had a background in elder care and hospice.
Do you have any upcoming art shows planned?
We have a Birds and Bloom show coming up for the month of May, with an open house scheduled for May 2.
How do you plan on promoting the gallery?
We are planning a painted rock hunt for the Stillwater community for summer 2026, hiding colorful rocks for the community to find and return to the gallery for prizes or discounts. I’m hoping to stir up some fun and build goodwill in our community.
What do you hope people experience when they visit the gallery?
When people come to the gallery, I want them to feel appreciated. They could be anywhere, and they chose to come look at our gallery. I hope customers can visit and look around without the worries of the world and simply enjoy the peace of experiencing artwork. They can relax, calm their nerves and shop unhindered. Strolling through our gallery is a walking meditation. When they leave, they might feel a little lighter than when they entered.
What is the process for artists interested in joining the guild and showing their work at the gallery?
For anyone wishing to become an artist at the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery, come in and fill out an application and talk with me. I am there most days. We are always open to helping artists find a way to sell their work.
Stillwater Art Guild Gallery
Instagram: @stillwaterartguildgallery
