This gallery is right at the corner of 1st and E street, just after that dip in the road off the freeway in DTDavis. It's in an old house structure 3 stories high or more. Inside it is an Art Gallery, and also a multipurpose activity/community space. Through the front door, which is located at the corner of 1st and E streets past some large art sculptures, is a book store of published art books, and to the left corner is a info/cashier counter and person. Past that opens up to a large multistory atrium area, filled with art, but also a couple of tables with 4-5 chairs each. In the hot Davis summers, this is a cool place to hang out, literally, as there is OPAC available for you (Other People's AC), and WiFi! Currently the artist featured on this floor is Mark Bullwinkle, an American artist with SF Bay Area roots and metal quirky sculpture installations, particularly in Emeryville and Berkeley, that he created with a blowtorch. Up the stairs or elevator to floor 2, there is a study/lounge that over looks the atrium below, with other artists' work in the nooks and crannies around the staircase and little rooms. The 3rd floor is a full art floor, with mostly ceramic sculptures from various artists. It is free to enter. I did an event here a year ago, a UC Davis student's birthday party with entertainment in the atrium space. And more recently I came here with 2 friends to chill in the OPAC and tables/chairs in the 1st floor Atrium before heading on to dinner on a lazy Sunday afternoon road trip. read more

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My employee gave me a recommendation that this gallery had free wifi and you could work there, so we headed to the gallery after grabbing a smoothie. Outside this location you'll notice two large structures: a cat and a dog. When you enter the gallery you'll see a front desk to your left, one of the staff members greeted us. There are pieces all over the gallery from artwork to sculptures. On the second floor there are multiple metal tables and chairs where you can have a seat and work. There was also a bathroom on the second floor. There was classical music playing throughout the building. It was a nice departure from working in my hotel room and I enjoyed seeing some of the artwork and sculptures on display. read more

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A very cool place to explore and zone out and just quiet out the cluster in my mind. They also recently added more tables and chairs for working and studying. Staff are super nice and will help you if you need anything. They have a gift shop on the first floor perfect for picking up a gift~ I enjoy coming here often because they do have new art on display all the time. So you can enjoy the classics (non rotating long staying pieces) and new ones. Highly recommend this gem of an art gallery! read more

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We came to Davis today to participate in the: California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Arts (CCACA). I love this event and we come to it every year from the past x number of years. This year they gathered 99.9% of all the student exhibits into the old Whole Foods store across the street from John Natsoulas Gallery. It was a perfect location. Instead of searching all over Davis trying not to miss and exhibit it was all in one place this time. It put off a differnt vibe, which was unique of course. The connivence was great, but I do miss having them divided up so you could focus on one school a a time. This new format has its pros and cons. I love the student exhibits of this Conference the best. You can sign up for demonstrations and lectures if you want, I haven't yet, but many people do and it's a wonderful opportunity. Schools all over California visit. The farthest school we came across is San Diego, but there may be farther schools. Both High Schools and Collage participate. I love them both. Some of those High School students are amazing and out do the Collage Students. All students come and look around for further inspiration. Years ago I used to dabble in ceramics. As a kid I loved taking Ceramics classes in the Community Center. As an adult I used to go to Verge Gallery of the Arts and participated in their open ceramics studio, which I loved. I really should get back into it. I had fun back in the day. There were several schools that created chains out of class. I found that really fascinating. I'd like to try that technique out. One of the Walnut Creek exhibitors crocheted a basket out of yarn and dipped it in Slip (LiquId Clay), and stuck a balloon it it so when it dried it would be poofy. It was so facinating. read more

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I went to the open reception for Jeff Myers art last night. This was my first open reception at this gallery. First the owner John was on site and a pleasure to talk with. The gallery was very large with 4 floors including a roof top deck and the whole building had a lot of great art to view. If you haven't seen Jeff Myers work then you are missing out. I really enjoyed his art and his exhibit will be open until September 27 2025. I highly recommend you see his work and explore all that this gallery has to offer. Thanks for the great night, we will be back! read more

INTERESTING! As an Art History major, I always nerd out on galleries and art-related places. I enjoy the welcoming sculptures on the outside. The gallery entrance is the store wherein you can buy books/small works of art as unique convenient gifts. The price point is a bit high but there are fun postcards and small knicknacks too. The owner saw me needing to charge my phone and graciously offered me a place to charge up. He is high energy and direct when speaking to people. My kid loves to go up the elevator and or walk up the stairs to see the myriad of paintings filling up the walls! It's quite a fun experience. If you want to go on a quick date, this is a cute place for you and your loved one(s) to stop by. They used to have poetry night which I hope they bring back. They now offer some kids programming which I appreciate! BONUS: The rooftop is a great private place to chat with friends in moderate weather!! read more

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Some folks and I went to listen to an artist talk, there were some hiccups with tech but nothing that the audience couldn't look past. During the question and answer portion of the talk John Natsoulas proceeded to interrupt the artist by speaking during her replies, turning off the mic and breaking down various equipment. While he was walking to the front of the building he annoyingly exclaimed that he couldn't believe this was still going on (the artist discussion). When I asked the woman who curated the show, she made an excuse for his behavior, once again women are put in a position to protect toxic male behavior. He was really pushing the signing and selling of books, so much so that his behavior diminished the artist he was hosting. Do better John, change your distorted narrative. read more

If you've ever wanted a niche study spot or a quiet enclave away from the run-of-the-mill college student hotspots, John Natsoulas Gallery is a sanctuary I don't hesitate to recommend. Hidden in plain sight, this local art gallery has not only free wifi, but also free coffee, a clean restroom (wow!1!!1), and cozy seating galore. I say "in plain sight", because for the majority of my time in Davis, I'd passed by the giant cat-tile-mural-sculpture-behemoth without a second glance, unaware of the treasure it guarded. As an newcomer to art, I'll admit I'd initially perceived art galleries as having something of a snobbish air about them-- not so! The staff at John Natsoulas are down-to-earth & eager to explain the gallery to all visitors. From conversations, I've learned that the gallery is actually historically acclaimed for its featuring of notable artists in the past 30+ years. Deep stuff. It's a gorgeous venue overall, a place to simply take in the creativity. What to expect: -eclectic music. Like, beyond "that hipster stuff that Philz plays" kind of eclectic -the most lovely and friendly staff -local and renowned artists' work displayed side-by-side -3 floors overflowing with artwork in various mediums -book hoard! Quirky, philosophical, introspective-- or all of the above-- lots of books for sale -a rooftop "sculpture garden", sometimes open, sometimes closed. If you're lucky, you'll get a charming view over a corner of downtown Sometimes artist shows and student exhibitions are held here, the latter presumably from design or art majors. Really neat and intimate experience. The pieces displayed are cycled in and out intermittently. I love it a bunch, hope everyone in Davis has a chance to check this place out! read more

Beautiful Mid-Size Art Gallery Set-Up In Downtown Davis SETUP John Natsoulas Gallery is Located on the corner of 1st & F Streets in Downtown Davis, and it is part of a long line of houses that I knew (and looks like still is to) the "Fraternity Row" that was in my hood when I was in graduate school there. But now this art gallery - and it's partner Pachamama Davis Coffee Cooperative - is part of a bigger & expanded complex taking over a larger part of this block. SPACE CONFIGURATION The beautiful John Natsoulas Gallery has quite the layout that I got to enjoy recently while at a Holiday Party - I got to see the entire layout of the building structure which included the following: = The street-level where though the 1st Street entrance their partner Pachamama Davis Coffee Cooperative is located and they take over about half of the ground floor = The back part of the ground floor where the Art Gallery begins and there is another entrance along F Street = The second level where art, tables & balcony space co-exist in a dynamic hybrid joint-use format - ideal for study groups. = The large open air 3rd level floor which leads up to the lovely rooftop balcony. A lot of usable space for both students chilling with some coffee while studying, and for patrons moving from level to level to take in the art. THE ART The art is quite beautiful and they feature a lot of different mediums, though what I noted the most were the sculptures and the large paintings. Though preference is directed to highlight the works of local and regional artists, it has featured artists of national note. EVENT SPACE Because of the beautiful and lush surroundings, the gallery works perfectly as an event-space for meetings even for a wedding that was held here. So there is a lot of ways to enjoy this gallery. THE LOWDOWN An energetic & dynamic art gallery that may be utilized for a lot of beautiful and exciting purposes. read more

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Very unique art/artists. Dr. Andy's poetry events are brilliant. Great location and space.

I learned about the grand opening of the John Natsoulas Gallery from Yelp's UYE event posting. This grand opening exhibit presented a collection of various artists representations of California's landscapes and the outdoors. The venue is pretty easy to find as it is on 1st Street in Davis, which is the main thoroughfare most people drive on when arriving from the highway. The gallery is located in a large 3 - story house with a tower which has a 4th floor. There is artwork on each floor. The primary media was oil or water color on canvas, however the 3rd floor had plenty of 3-dimensional sculptures. Wine was served in the reception area for all who attended the grand opening. I sipped a Cabernet Sauv while I read through and studied every piece. It took me nearly 2 hours to go through the entire exhibit, but I read and study everything. I take a long time because I do not want to miss a thing. To me this exhibit displayed how several different artists depict California in all her beauty. I was completely enamored. My absolute favorite artist in this exhibit is Richard B. Morall. And my favorite painting by him are Olivehurst Castle, Elements, and Aguascalientes. I was pissed. I wanted to buy one of his paintings. But I would have to sell a lung to afford it. The 3rd floor had several 3-dimensional art pieces. I really enjoyed artist Amber Aguirre's dog series...they were hot! With that said, I found it comical when I heard an elderly group of women discussing the ludicrous sexuality depicted in her pieces I, on the other hand, fucking loved it. If you come to visit Davis the John Natsoulas Gallery is a must. This would be a great place to go for a dinner - museum - then coffee date. read more

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I have never been to this gallery and called to get information so I could go and see an exhibit. I spoke with "Steve". He rattled oft the days and hours so quickly I could only write down Wed, Thurs. I apologized and said could he please repeat it as he spoke so fast. He again rattled so fast I could not write down information. Again, asked him to please slow down. He then proceeded to mock me by going extremely slow. It was a miserable conversation that just left me in tears with the way he treated me. I told him he was being extremely rude and he then hung up on me. I had a high school student who I was planning on taking and I am just shocked at how rude "Steve" was over the phone. I am not sure I will step foot in this gallery. Something must be seriously wrong with "Steve" to treat people the way he treated me. Steve/John - I am sorry for whatever you are going through. Please get help and stop abusing people. After reading other reviews I believe that "Steve" is actually John and he lied to me when I asked whom I was speaking with. read more

So glad I decided to stop by this gallery. It is full of unique and creative artwork; I could easily spend all day perusing the pieces. I especially loved the haunting surrealism work by Avery Palmer and Asian-inspired sculptures by Esther Shimazu, but there were also lots of fascinating one-offs. Definitely worth a visit and I would love to come back again. read more

John Natsoulas Gallery has a national reputation for being an excellent gallery. They carry the finest artists in the area. They are known for their knowledge and excellence in their presentation. It is definitely worth a visit to the gallery. I work with the best art galleries nation wide this gallery is well respected. read more

John Natsoulas is a jerk. He was behind the counter when I first arrived with my family. He was yelling at someone over the phone because of a service issue, and instead of being discretely professional, he was passive aggressive and loud as hell. It completely caught us off guard. When he hung up the phone, he continued his tirade by berating the poor woman who was working with him for at least 20 minutes. I though maybe he was having a bad day, but he just kept going. One rude comment and loud yelling match after another. He flippantly addressed us when we arrived and that was it. I also heard him yelling at another young man who was helping him. It is completely unacceptable to berate and abuse your employees just because you're having a hard time. I was really looking forward to this place. The exhibits are fantastic and the art is amazing. I would have really enjoyed my visit if it hadn't been for John. The gallery has four floors of art and there are several cozy study areas. I would love to study here but I just don't know if I feel comfortable now. I hope that the woman I was working is okay and I hope that John chills out. read more

Even before entering the gallery I was impressed. A giant, multi-colored metal statue stands on the street in front of the entrance to the downstairs Pachamama coffee shop and is unavoidable when entering Davis. Venture inside, grab a coffee and then peruse their shop - all before entering the gallery. Unless you detest art in any form, you'll be impressed once inside. It's three levels of modern, open and clean white space adorned with an evolving selection of artworks from both local and more national artists. It's great for an event, and that's exactly why I decided to throw an event there. If you are visiting for the first time, I suggest going Thursday evenings when they usually have some live music and folks to greet you. You'll wonder why you didn't visit long beforehand. read more

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This place is fricken awesome. The outside isn't much, and after knowing its an art gallery no one ever gives it a second look. Today me and my friends decided to be adventurous and go inside. Once inside we were greeted by John and he was a very friendly. The gallery is separated into 3 floors and and multiple galleries. You can go all the way to the top of the building where there is a large ceramics gallery. On the 2nd floor they have a loft type area overlooking the 1st floor gallery, with tables and chairs for people to study. Did I mention there is free wifi!! What I recommend: -Walk around and enjoy the art its very entertaining. -Check out the bathroom, everything in there is art. -Study and chill read more

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owner is a huge jerk, watched him make a teenager cry. underpays and undervalues his workers while forcing them to use personal vehicles to move art, seems like a damage risk. gallery itself is small. the art is nice but the management should not be patronized read more

April 27 and 28 CCACA exhibits were amazing. Found a ceramic artist, Dan Del Bino, that has a twist on glaze and is taking his technique to new extremes. Interesting guy to talk with too. stop by the exhibit in the log cabin across from the gallery to see his work. read more

John Natsoulas Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Davis, California

I gotta say I've always been indifferent to all the Natsoulas stuff. Seemed to be wildly popular around the area but never really did it for me. I studied under Wayne Thiebaud and many of the other faculty at UCD but other than those works, they never achieved the level of exhibitions you would in the SF area. read more

hollatcha! MY FIRST non-restaurant review. I've only been to this place once, but it brought me great memories. It was 2 years ago during sophomore year of college. 3 friends and I walked in after eating at Plutos (you can read my review for that). Mm... I'll write a few highlights. Back then, there were sculptures on the first floor (pretty interesting). If you're all blinggged out, you can even buy them, (they have a price tag). I advise against it though, they had a SOCK exhibition, clay socks for $500 each! On the second floor, there's paintings, and when I was last there, this artist drew on all his rejection letters (before he made it big) so they had a whole wall dedicated to him. My favorite part, is a hidden secret, haha, all you lovers out there should come here. There's somethanggg special for you. So feel free to ask me, and I'll let you know. Why put the secret here, when revealing the secret will no longer keep it a secret? Yes Brian, you just used 3 secret's in one line. Super secret, that's why. I give it 5 stars, and let me explain my rating. I am only rating it in the realms of Davis, in comparison with the other art centers. It would've been a 4 without that secret place. Why not rate it against other places? Boys and girls, I've been to other musuems all over and even in Paris. So this art museum in comparison with the Louvre or Orsay? 1 star easily. MMhmm! read more

Luci N. & I visited this three-story gallery on Festivus night and it was packed! Its location, at the gateway to Davis' stroll-friendly downtown, is made even better with the addition of the new Pachamama cafe. The third floor was my favorite, flooded with light, and high ceilings offering the wall acreage needed for those really large art works. If you're in town and the weather's nice, bring the bikes or rent em just a couple blocks away. The nearby Davis Arboretum offers miles of walking (or a scenic and non-workout bike ride) and it's also a perfect place for your picnic lunch. read more

Hmm. I like that the gallery's building stands out among the surrounding places - after all, it's an art gallery on a corner of a street filled with food shops and restaurants in a quiet cow town. This gallery has many levels, and lots of various art pieces. There are hilarious pieces as well as serious intense ones - a guy took all his rejection letters from all these different galleries and centers, and altered them and turned them into an art collaboration. They are done by local artists. There are postcards, various knick-knacks, and books for sale in the first floor. The people that work there are super-friendly and very informative. read more

This was probably the highlight of my short visit to Davis over Christmas. While half the stores and restaurants were closed for Christmas break, these guys were fighting the good fight, keeping the lights on. Speaking of which, they can probably charge a couple of bucks admission b/c there's a ton to see in here. There are multiple floors and a million pieces of art so the entertainment value alone is up there, even if you aren't all that much into art - its all very accessible. There's some rooftop area too but it was rainy and i think it was closed. I imagine people go up there to get loaded and think of something sweet to paint, but at the time it was a couple of lonely bistro tables and art installations. I highly recommend stopping by at least once. read more

I prefer the other more "modern" art gallery in Davis but this place retains the vintage feel of what Old Davis used to be. I have been here on several Saturday's after Farmer's Market excursions and just wandered aimlessly into this gallery. I don't think I'd ever come in here on purpose, not to say that this place isn't pretty neat though in its own way. They feature many- and I do mean A LOT of different art pieces; they have one staircase that is just filled with a ridiculous amount of art just laying around on the floor waiting to be hung up. But their focus on the new and emerging art is always appreciated. They have a cafe downstairs and have live music sporadically; it's a great place to hang out. Love it! read more

I love this gallery! Although I've visited this place a handful of times, it always feels like a new adventure. With each floor, it's like entering a new world and it's just so exciting! My favorite floor is the 2nd floor where there's loose wood boards that creeks when you walk across it. I don't know why, but it makes the experience that much funner! I always love ending my journey by checking out the roof. There's amazing mosaic tile sculptures, which also double as chairs. Not to mention the view! read more

The basics: Only happened to drop in here for the 2013 Yelp Festivus for the Restivus. Seems like it is a nice little local gallery with plenty of room to wander around during a normal day. The gallery is bright and clean and in a pretty neat building. I myself only went through 3 floors, but I understand there was a 4th floor or roof I didn't make it too. What works: Location was nice. The building is bright and open. What to improve: Nothing I can think to mention The short version: A nice little local gallery that is close to all the action in Davis. Likely worth a stop while you are wandering around. read more

Four years and a quarter in college, and I can't count how many papers I have written on the couches overlooking the main gallery hall. This review is not about a one time experience, but about the home this five story madhouse represents to me. The Natsoulas gallery has offered a sanctuary from the school library, cramped coffee shops, and even my own home. It offers a quiet (but not too quiet) environment, people-watching to jog the creative juices, and room to pace if that's just how you roll. The workers at the gallery are always friendly, helpful, and willing to give up the wifi password. The coffeeshop is well stocked with juices, snacks, and yeah, the coffee's pretty good. I always enjoy stumbling in during the evenings when there is a reading, open-mic night, or any other event. They're always well attended and maintains a level of unexpectedness. To me this building represents work, creativity, and even a monumental first date. Maybe you will find something similar. read more

Natsoulas is pretty much the center of local contemporary art. They display and feature artists in Davis as well as the greater Sacramento areas. However, that isn't to say they are limited by their locality. Its definitely worth dropping by if you have a few minutes to spare if you haven't already. I find it a pretty nice study space, especially at their loft on the second floor and their rooftop. I'm not sure what their schedules are, but I've been by during the summer where they have live music and poetry readings outside, and these are the kind of local events that I enjoy most about in living in a small town. Its not usually the place to go for busy college students, but I think its nice to hang around locals and just enjoy what Davis has to offer. read more

Ever in the artsy fartsy mood? Natsoulas is the place for you! And now they have a liquor license so you have another excuse to booze up before noon. Bigger than it seems on the outside, still cute and quaint, some cool and free events, and of course, interesting art. (Please no hate for describing something, especially art, as "interesting": it's 4 AM, unfortunately my late night banter doesn't come with any creative juices) Try to stop by if you're in the area. read more

It's close, cool, and cheap! CCC I thought it was a lot of fun to walk through, and with the right company, going through the multi-level maze is a blast. read more

interesting place to say the least. been in Davis for almost 3 years and never stepped foot in there until recently. ‍

This is a fun spot to go to on weekends or when they are holding an event. The roof top garden and the different floors of art was a wonderful experience. I went in when they were having a music event and I saw that they also have coffee which I will come back for. It is a great space for events and I would be happy to come back any time. The only thing is that their event are not the easiest to find, I only popped in because I was walking by an open door, but it was a great surprise. read more

The gallery looks small from the outside but it houses quite a bit of work. Some done by local artists other work by bigger but not the biggest names. There is no fee to enter. read more

Multiple stories of gorgeous art. You can really get lost here. I especially loved the landscape paintings by Sean Sutter that were up in January. read more

One of the best galleries in town. It's five stories tall and full of a wide selection of art pieces. Even if you don't like everything (and there is some crap on the walls) there's something there for everyone. read more

One of my favorite places to view contemporary art. UC Davis's first generation of art department faculty achieved some recognition- people like Robert Arneson, Manual Neri, Wayne Thiebaud, Roland Peterson, etc. So Davis has been known for it's faculty, then later the students who came from there. Robert Arneson was a central figure in the California funk ceramic sculpture movement, which was irreverant and humorous and elevated the lowly ceramics to an acceptable sculptural medium. This gallery started out showcasing a lot of the first and second generation folks coming out of the ceramics department, as many others peripherally part of the Davis and Valley art scene. It's important and very Northern California (in a good way). It's regional without being provincial. It's different than LA, different than NY. I like it. There's always interesting work to see here and they've added a good book section too. read more

features wonderful artists and exhibits are current and interesting

A truly great gallery, 4 floors of cool art, some quite inexpensive, but all world class stuff. Great lighting, lots of room, and right now a great sculpture show with just about every media from bronze to paper. Definitely the best art space in the area. Lots of good local artists and a few world famous ones. Closed Mon and Tuesday. read more