Our History
The nonprofit Aspen Chapel Gallery opened in 1985 and gives local Aspen and Roaring Fork Valley artists the ability to exhibit their work in a dedicated gallery space.
Each year there are 8 exhibitions with special artist talks. There have been 268 consecutive group or themed shows featuring the work of more than 1,250 valley artists. The gallery has also featured 5 different Roaring Fork Valley high schools showing 5,000 high school art students.
The Chapel Gallery is the longest continuing operating gallery in Aspen - showing local artists and building community one show at a time.
The Aspen Chapel Gallery is totally secular, has no spiritual or religious aspect, and there is no discrimination of any artist.
The mission of the Aspen Chapel Gallery
to Provide local Roaring Fork Valley artists a gallery to show and sell their artwork through eight annual organized exhibitions, including discussions about art, and creative workshops.
How the
Gallery Operates
The Aspen Chapel Gallery is a cooperative gallery. The artist pay a fee to be in shows and provide food for the opening receptions. Scholarships are available for artists. Volunteer curators make up the gallery committee and create the shows. They pick the theme, or art medium, the 10 or more participating artists, and the nonprofit partner. The co-directors organize all other aspects of the exhibition, coordinate the installation, and manage all financial matters.
The gallery is run by 2 co-directors, Tom Ward and Michael Bonds, along with Three curators. Tom has been with the gallery since its inception in 1985.
Michael, who is a graphic designer and potter, has been co-director since 2017. The co-directors are paid and the curators donate their time. The Gallery Committee meets regularly.
The Gallery provides local artists a dedicated gallery space to exhibit their work. Various exhibitions provide emerging and young artists the opportunity for their first public art exhibition.
For more information about the Aspen Chapel click below.
Annual Exhibitions/Curated shows
The Aspen Chapel Gallery has individual curators choose up to 10 artists for each of the shows that are created around a theme, specific medium, mixed media, or unique concept. Curators also pick a nonprofit partner for each show they curate.
The shows partner with different Roaring Fork Valley nonprofit organizations .
Interested in participating in a show?
Small Wonders
Small Wonders, is the annual holiday show of affordable artwork no larger than 12” X 12,” and priced under $250, features the work of 30 artists.
The artwork includes: oils, acrylic, pastel, ceramics, mixed media, watercolors, photography, collages, sculpture, and wood. The artists are chosen by the gallery curators and co-directors. This show started in 2007 and is a community event that is very popular among local buyers for holiday gifts.
The show partners with Holiday Baskets, a valley nonprofit serving approximately 250 valley families in need with food and gifts for the holidays.
High School Show
5 X 17 is the annual show of Roaring Fork Valley’s high schools’ featuring artwork by over 100 students from 5 valley high schools.
The show is in partnership and in support of 5 Valley High School Art Departments. The work is not for sale, but you can “adopt” one or more pieces with 75% of each $25 adoption going to the high school art departments. The artwork returns to the student’s portfolios .
4 Rivers Biennial
4 Rivers Biennial, a juried show, is open to all artists living in the river basins of the Roaring Fork, Frying Pan, Crystal and Colorado River valleys. Artists may submit multiple works.
The submitted work is chosen blindly by the jurors. The jury awards a Best of Show with a cash prize, and the public attending the opening reception awards a People’s Choice Award.
The show partners with a Roaring Fork Valley
nonprofit organization.
Artist Talks
Please check the Current Exhibition for the talk date.
The Aspen Chapel Gallery provides an Artist Talk after some curated exhibitions. The Artist Talk takes place about 3 weeks after the show opens and is a time for the artist to talk about their work that is displayed in the current show.
Andrew Travers, leads the discussion with questions about the concept of the show. The community is invited to participate and add to the discussion with their input on the exhibition. The Gallery provides light appetizers with wine or beer for the discussion.
Please check the Current Exhibition for the talk date.
Non Discrimination Policy
The Aspen Chapel Gallery ensures equal opportunities for local Aspen and Roaring Fork Valley artists without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, or any other characteristic. race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, or any other characteristic.
" The Aspen Chapel Gallery is free to the public
and gives our local artists a wonderful opportunity to show their works.
This ‘secret’ has been active for more than 40 years
in the lower level of the Aspen Chapel.
It’s a gem in Aspen’s cultural crown. "
Susan Marx, Art Enthusiast and
Gallery Sponsor.
Interested in Purchasing Art?
Would you like to buy a piece of art in the current exhibit
or have a question about the Aspen Chapel Gallery?