Muse Gallery

A Muse is one of the few galleries in Columbus that has a parking lot (and a bathroom). One star for that alone.I made my first trip there earlier this week. It seemed like a strange location, under a bridge, just across from the Parking Solutions office.This is definitely a female bent establishment. The themes were all about femininity and trees. The art was okay. It definitely wasn't bad, but I don't think it was all the way there yet. I didn't see one piece that I downright enjoyed or that drew on any kind of emotion. There was a piece with a girl and some eggplants. I thought that was skillfully done, and I contemplated the meaning for a while. It held my attention, but it's not something I would want to own. There were also some aviator statues with no arms, but, once again, they were just almost there.The gallery is large though, and it's very inviting. They seem to represent a lot of artists. They have two locations, and they just celebrated their 10 year anniversary. The curator was there, and she was helpful and friendly - almost too helpful and friendly. She asked us how we were doing three times. I wasn't sure if she was suspicious, if she wanted us to leave, or if she just thought we really looked like we needed help.My favorite part of A Muse was the shop dog, shadow. He looked like an aging Great Dane/Black Lab mix. There were two love birds in the office, literal love birds. They were very chirpy.If you go, be sure to go back to the office because there's more art for show back there.

After a few years in Vic Village and a few too many Gallery Hops, local exhibitions have mostly lost their luster. It takes something special to catch my eye, and it happened that a recent erotica show captured my interest.The space was small, like most of the surrounding architecture, but modern and airy. Each of the pieces were well-lit, thanks to large windows and carefully placed artificial light, and the art was thought-provoking. The interior is split among two rooms, which feels awkward at first, but lends itself to a comfortable meandering. Their featured artist Chas Ray Krider was present, and he was kind enough walk us through some of his work. It was a real treat, and shed some light on the subject matter and his creative process.I didn't find the location to be remote, it was full of viewers on our Sunday visit, and my husband and I had a nice lunch afterwards at the neighboring Brown Bag Deli. I also didn't find the curator overly friendly - personable and polite, yes, but certainly not pushy. If you're looking for an artistic afternoon in German Village, the Muse Gallery provides. But you might want to check the exhibit's theme before you visit.

I am a lifetime lover and collector of art, but my wife was not... until she met Caren at Muse Gallery. Caren took the time to educate both of us on building a collection as well as displaying and caring for art. Her passion for art and working with artists overflows when talking with her. The selection of artists at Muse is refined. I am a huge fan of many of the artists. I am not in love with all of the art, but it is all of high quality. After all, art evokes emotion and emotions have a range. If you dig for details on the artists that are represented, you will find that many are found in prestigious collections, museums and exhibitions nation wide as well as throughout the world. Caren's careful selection of local and regional artists, mixed with talent from Santa Fe, Paris and so on make for a wonderful experience when walking through or considering a piece. My wife and I are in our young 30s , we started collecting in our mid-20s, and we are not your typical collectors. We are often overlooked and blown off when we walk into galleries around the country, but not at Muse. Caren took the time to get to know us and that has made all the difference in our perspective of art. Caren and Hali have created a true treasure in the Midwest with Muse Gallery.

This is our favorite gallery in Columbus. The woman who owns the gallery has such a wonderful eye for unique art. I can't wait till I am done paying for our kids college so we can afford one of her pieces. She is friendly, knowledgeable and informative. I am sure she knows we are not yet in a position to purchase yet she treats us like any other customer. Some of our favorite pieces are by Whiting and Prather and some great paintings as well. One of our favorites is an artist named LaGro. Check it out!