Nevada County is a creative wonderland teeming with California local art galleries, street fairs, music festivals, colorful murals, historical museums, art walks, studio tours and poetry slams. If you’re visiting, be sure to check out our local art galleries where you’ll find a dazzling collection of local talent and maybe even take home a treasure or two! Follow Nevada County Arts Council for all the latest news and events!
How It All Began
An art renaissance began to flourish in these hills during the 1960s when a host of authors and musicians settled here, including Beat poet Gary Snyder and labor organizer and folk singer Utah Phillips. Today, cultural events like Nevada City Film Festival, Wild and Scenic Film Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, First Friday Art Walks downtown Nevada City, Sierra Storytelling Festival, Sierra Poetry Festival, Community of Writers Writing Workshops and more draw thousands of arts, literary & culture lovers to our community every year. We’re considered such a cultural mecca that the California Arts Council bestowed upon us the great honor of being home to two, count them TWO, of the 14 state-designated Cultural District – Grass Valley-Nevada City and Truckee!
Explore Nevada County’s Art Galleries
Here’s a sampling of the vibrant art scene happening in Nevada County.
Nevada City
‘Uba Seo
Visit Uba Seo Website
Social media tag: @nevadacityrancherianisenan
225 Broad Street
(530) 559-6115
‘Uba Seo Gallery brings visibility to the history and culture of the Nisenan Tribe who for thousands of years made their home in Nevada County, their Ancestral Homelands. Exhibit curators Shelly Covert and Mira Clark use art to create community conversations that are thought-provoking and educational. The gallery is a project of the California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project or CHIRP.
Crush
Visit Crush Website
@crushnevadacity
405 Commercial St
Part roller skate shop, part fine art gallery and workshop space for creatives. This eclectic venue features handmade pottery and fine art with a nod to a hip & thriving roller skate community. Yes, you can get your custom skates, your taxidermy and your ceramics all in one place!
Grass Valley
Artworks Gallery
Visit Artworks Gallery Workshop
@artworksgallerygrassvalley
113 Mill St
(530) 477-1600
Located on Mill Street in downtown Grass Valley, this artist cooperative is a gallery showcasing the center of a vibrant visual and performing arts community. Meet and talk with artists and explore over thirty juried artists who present their work in a beautifully restored 19th-century building.
The Chambers Project
Visit Chambers Project Website
@the_chambers_project
627 E Main St
(530) 777-0330
If psychedelic is your jam, don’t miss The Chambers Project, a “world premiere psychedelic art gallery” representing influential contemporary artists like Ralph Steadman, Roger Dean, the Rick Griffin Estate, Oliver Vernon and Mars 1. Get ready to blow your mind with solo and group exhibitions that consistently push mediums and pioneer the future, bridging the gap between a once countercultural phenomenon to the progressively integrated contemporary mainstream.
The Granucci Gallery
The Center for the Arts
@thecenterforthearts
314 W Main St
(530) 274-8384
A rotating lineup of celebrated visual artists from painters to sculptors can be found at this high-end gallery located within The Center for the Arts in the heart of downtown Grass Valley. Not to be missed! Stop by for a visit and be sure to purchase tickets to a live show for authentic Grass Valley nightlife!
Truckee
Mountain Arts Collective
Visit The Mountain Arts Collective Website
@mountainartscollective
10065 Donner Pass Rd #2
(530) 563-5110
Looking for high-end statement pieces or affordable arts & gifts? Stop by the Mountain Arts Collective located at the Train Depot in the heart of Historic Downtown Truckee. Started in 2017 by three local artists who wanted to create a welcoming space with a collection of art that captures the beauty of the Truckee-Tahoe area. Find something that speaks to your style today!
Gallery 5830’ Artist Collective
Visit 5830′ Gallery Website
@gallery5830
10060 Donner Pass Rd
(207) 890-8787
Gallery 5830’ is a new Truckee artist collective named after the elevation of Truckee. The space features a collection of artistic styles, hand-crafted jewelry and unique gifts, sourced locally and from neighboring regions, representing more than 20 contemporary and traditional artists!
Riverside Studios
Visit Riverside Studios Website
@riversidestudios
10076 Donner Pass Rd
(530) 587-3789
For the past 16 years, the owners have been working hard to cultivate artistic growth in the Truckee Community through their unique art gallery. Riverside Studios has something for every discerning eye, from award-winning handcrafted goods to pottery and jewelry. Accepts Sustainable Truckee Gift Cards, a community-based card that supports Truckee stewardship projects.
Piper J Gallery
Visit Piper Gallery Website
Social media tag: @piperjgallery
10153 W River St
(530) 386-7735
With an emphasis on contemporary art for modern mountain living, Piper J Gallery shows work by some of the region’s finest artists and seeks to inspire collectors while supporting and encouraging local and regional artists in a fresh and modern atmosphere. With a new exhibit focusing on two artists every month, it’s never boring! Accepts Sustainable Truckee Gift Cards, a community-based card that supports Truckee stewardship projects.
