| Gunnar Nordstrom Fine Arts was established in 1985
as a resource for collectors looking to purchase original prints by
International artists such as Chagall, Miro, Motherwell, and Warhol from a
competent and honest art dealer in the Pacific Northwest. Previously, Gunnar
Nordstrom had graduated from Washington State University in 1980 with a degree
in Fine Arts and Education. After two years of teaching Social Studies and
Washington State History in Vancouver, he spent the next 3 years with a regional
gallery in Bellevue as director. Learning the art business in a fast paced,
highly merchandised gallery, it didn’t take long before defining a direction and
moving on to open an office of his own.
 The first location was on Lake Bellevue in a lovely office suite with a small
showroom. It was here that the educational emphasis of his philosophy was born.
During the next 5 years, Gunnar Nordstrom drew upon his teaching experience and
love of art to educate his clients on a variety of subjects associated with the
art world. Using case shows and outside dealers in a controlled environment, he
regularly held formal presentations of artwork that were overwhelmingly
appreciated and successful. During these case shows, collectors where educated
on the variety of mediums, styles and accessibility of collectable art. Many of
the dealers that Gunnar aligned himself with for these shows were also of the
same integrity as he and offered a wonderful selection of international artwork
at good values that weren’t readily available in Seattle galleries. Coming to an
evening show at Gunnar Nordstrom Fine Arts was an event that was looked forward
to by many clients. How often can you be entertained for an evening by the likes
of Picasso, Miro, Chagall, totally new artists on their rise to stardom and
learn how a mezzotint is created.
 With the blossoming regional art scene the Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery was
established in 1991 in the heart of downtown Kirkland on the waterfront to
showcase some of these outstanding painters and printmakers. While it was
difficult to leave Lake Bellevue and “the womb”, it was a necessary move to grow
and flourish. The first show at Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery was a solo exhibit by
nationally known painter Loren Salazar. The show was hugely successful and
Salazar continues to be represented by the gallery to this day.
The gallery continues to offer all of its services of the past, such as on
going case shows and educational seminars as well as additional ability to
rotate excellent regional and International artwork through the gallery 12 times
each year.
 Kirkland has grown from 2 galleries when Nordstrom arrived to 14 as of this
writing. This beautiful waterfront community which is only 10 minutes (without
traffic) from downtown Seattle, is now looked upon as an Arts destination and
has an excellent selection of artwork with each gallery specializing in
something different. There are monthly artwalks on the second Thursday that
feature openings of a new show in each gallery.
Gunnar Nordstrom doesn’t stop at only running the gallery, but participates
actively in the Kirkland community. He is a founding board member of the KDL
(Kirkland Downtown on the Lake) the local Mainstreet merchants association, a
past board member of the Kirkland Arts Center a non profit arts education
facility housed in the historic Peter Kirk building, a representative on the DAT
(Downtown Action Team) formed from the Strategic Planning Commission for a
“future vision of downtown Kirkland” and he is currently serving as Vice
President of the Kirkland Gallery Association where he has been an active member
since 1991.
Being a part of the community is an important as aspect to any retailer in a
town and Gunnar Nordstrom not only believes that, but acts upon it with
enthusiasm.
What is next the next step for Gunnar Nordstrom…check the Gallery News for
current updates. top
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The
Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is a small and intimate space located in the heart of
Kirkland’s waterfront district on Lake Street South. It opened in 1991 as venue
for regional painters and printmakers and has become one of Kirkland’s oldest
galleries. With an emphasis on whimsical and expressionist work, local patrons
frequently choose the Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery as Kirkland’s favorite gallery.
One
such artist is the regional painter, Bill Braun. Mr. Braun’s trompe l’oeil
paintings are amazing feats of hyperrealism that have been a constant source of
conversation and amazement in the gallery for many years. Many bets for dinner
have been lost at the gallery’s window on a warm evening or a rainy afternoon as
a gallery regular sucks in an unknowing victim. Braun’s paintings of crinkled
brown craft paper, with the illusion of brightly colored construction paper
stapled and taped to it in shapes of flowers, crows and a variety of pedestrian
images suitable for any third grade classroom wall project, it leaves no
impression as to what it is other than just that. Shadows, wrinkles and a
precise technical ability with paint leave the new and sometimes even
experienced viewer to believe that they are looking at a three dimensional paper
construction and not a painting. Your eyes see believable three dimension
without fault and your mind agrees…. of course it is a child’s construction
project, why would you paint 
Quality,
playfulness and a good sense of value have always been an important aspect of
work exhibited in the gallery and each artist that is represented has their own
quality that we believe in. 
Come visit the Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery, it is a friendly and unimposing gallery
of contemporary artwork and a must see while shopping for art in the Seattle
area. Come in and let us meet your needs while making new friends.
