I was in the gallery over thanksgiving. I selected two Steve Thomas prints. I have purchased over 20 prints at this gallery in the past 5 years. This was the first time I had interacted with the owner's daughter. When they were shipped to my home, they were not what I had purchased. I contacted the gallery, left a message but no response. My brother purchased artwork the previous year from the owner and same thing occurred. The owner doubted his experience and wanted him to keep what was sent and purchase what he originally wanted. I found a gallery in Pleasanton that carries Thomas's work so I will be purchasing from there. read more

The moment that we walked in, the owner McKinley greeted us cheerfully; the gallery displayed local arts and works of artists, it all beautifully done with bright color; McKinley took time to talk about some stories of SLO and sounding cities. It is a nice experience to visit this gallery no matter you want to purchase a piece of art or just walking around. read more

In the downtown SLO Mission Mall on Higuera Street, one finds the Just Looking Gallery. They offer the works of over fifteen artists in many different forms and styles of art works, such as mobiles, sculptures, along with original paintings & prints. The owner & staff are very welcoming, informative, and knowledgeable about the artists & their works. They offer many of Steve Thomas' vintage style travel ads which are quite nostalgic. Also available is a good selection of Tim Huhn's illustrative pop art, as well as his excellent creations of his 20th century art deco themed paintings & prints. The whimsical art works created by Will Bullas, will make you smile. We definitely recommend a visit to this small gallery the next time you are in SLO. read more

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Loved this gallery! Thanks to Ken, I learned the coolest new fact ever. I broadcasted it in my social media and I am now going to do it on Yelp! I walked from the Mission towards the shopping arcade where Just Looking is. I first noticed the touring artwork that had a retro look/vibe that I was familiar with. Curious as ever, I wander in and that is when I met Ken. I told him that I was intrigued by the California tourism posters. He said they are by an artist, Steve Thomas. I would better recognize his work from National Park posters, Cliff Bars, and... Star Tours posters at Disneyland!! Yes. Of course. My mind was BLOWN! I completely geeked out because I love National Parks AND Star Wars! Unfortunately they were sold out of Star Wars prints, but duly noted for next time. The prints of all the California destinations was definitely my favorite works in the gallery. To be quite honest, I don't recall what other artwork there was. Steve Thomas totally grasped my attention. In the end, I told Ken that I can definitely see this gallery in Orange County in Laguna Beach and Corona Del Mar. I hope they end up venturing out this way. That would surely make my day and give me a good reason to revamp my wall art at home! read more

Just Looking Gallery - Steve Thomas' prints - Art Galleries Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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what a awesome place, fantastic variety of art and artist. Must checkout if in this area.

Bought some art because I'm fancy. Seriously, this gallery was great. I loved the work on display from Steve Thomas- he has some great work depicting some of my favorite areas of the central coast exclusively available here. My wife and I ended up speaking with Ken and got a lot of great information. He does his job well. Shared a lot of interesting details and history on the pieces we were looking at. We ended up buying a couple limited prints- we're very happy with what we got an can't wait to go back and buy more to build our new collection. If you're in Downtown SLO and this sounds like your thing, check it out. Or if you're in downtown SLO now and reading this review to see if this gallery is actually legit- it is. read more

I always enjoy happening across a gallery I hadn't expected to visit. What was supposed to be a little walking before the train home turned into a happy surprise at Just Looking Gallery. There's definitely enough art inside that a brief morning just wouldn't cut it for a full walk through. I'll have to do some reading up on their artists before I go back - and plan a day around it. read more

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Until recently I believed this to be a tourist gallery. After all, they have "artwork" of the city and places of the Central Coast. Imagine my surprise when we traveled downtown and saw original fashion art by Gregory Weir-Quiton. These are the original artwork for Bullocks in Los Angeles. My wife fell in love with one graphic and had to have it for her office. If you are on Higuera Street, do wander in as you may be pleasantly surprised too. read more

Just Looking Gallery - Original fashion art work we purchased - Art Galleries Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

This gallery is a true gem in downtown San Luis Obispo and we really enjoyed our time chatting with the owner Mr Ken McGavin. They have quite a unique selection of prints and works by renowned Californian artists at very fair prices. The owner is very knowledgeable and friendly and not pushy at all. Unfortunately we were running late for a dinner and do not leave in San Luis Obispo but already noted a future visit (and possibly purchase) next time we are in town. read more

I have nothing but good things to say about this art gallery and the people who work there. Growing up in the area, I have always seen this art gallery and the paintings done by Steve Thomas so when I moved into a new house I knew I wanted some paintings from here. Stevie, the manager, and Ralph, the owner, were both extremely helpful and went above and beyond in helping me pick what paintings I wanted. I was originally planning on buying only 3 paintings but ended up buying more. Stevie rearranged the paintings on the wall so I could see what ones looked best next to each other and gave me his suggestions. I am very happy with my purchases and will definitely be buying more paintings from here in the future. read more

Just Looking Gallery - Stevie was extremely helpful and moved the paintings around so I could see how they would look next to each other. - Art Galleries Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

What a fun eclectic collection of art. I absolutely love their collection of Steve Thomas' art deco inspired tourism posters! Also, Michael Vistia's brightly colorful fun and clever dog paintings... I wish I owned more breeds of dogs... although precious in the individuality, they're even more incredible in a group setting of 4 or more. WOW. Lastly, the whimsical pun art of Todd Goldman is very clever... more meme-like than a lot of art, but definitely FUN! A fantastic MUST VISIT art store in SLOtown! read more

I had such a fantastic experience visiting this gallery. The work is absolutely captivating and high quality. I was particularly interested in their Steve Thomas collection, which has an America-esque 1930's feel, portraying the emotion and landscapes of California's Central Coast. The gallery manager, Ken, is honest, hospitable and personal. Great guy to chat with on any of your art questions and he's super passionate about the work. The feel of the shop is no-pressure, and they encourage browsing. Maybe that's why they call it "Just Looking"? I left with my first four pieces of art and can't wait to start a collection. Can't wait to see new pieces when they come out. read more

Just Looking Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Definitely one of the greatest experiences I've had buying art. Ken McGavin assisted us and we are so fortunate he did. He was so knowledgeable about the artists and the history of the paintings, and he's a Cal Poly grad so he scores extra points for that. We ended up going with a few paintings from Steve Thomas' collection which will fit our beach themed home perfectly. They also have great deal of meaning since all the areas are so special to me. I highly encourage you to stop by on your next visit to San Luis Obispo. Additional tip: No sales tax if you're out of state! read more

Nothing but high praise for this cool gallery. Knowledgeable staff, and especially helpful. They were able to arrange for the artist to include a personalized signature on the back of a piece for my daughter's birthday. And they turned the pickup into an experience. We learned all about the art, it's genesis, the artist, the painting techniques and proper care. Just go! read more

Really great gallery. Loved so much of the stock. Vintage style posters, cool graphics. Inviting ambiance. Helpful staff.

if i ever want to purchase an ACTUAL nagel painting, i now know where to go. thank god i cleared that up! read more

One of my favorite places in downtown SLO. My husband and I grew up in SLO and went to Cal Poly. We now live in the LA area, but anytime we are up visiting family we always stop the gallery. Ken is the nicest guy!!! We love working with Ken on our purchases. The Steve Thomas collection is our favorite and my husband also enjoys art deco pieces by Tim Huhn. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

I love this gallery so much! not only do I love it, but my mom adores this establishment. For her birthday, I wanted to get her a Steve Thomas print but on the website it said that the print I wanted was sold out. With a little bit of hope, I called the gallery asking if it was possible that they had any of the prints left and the manager, Ken, told me that there was a possibility that they would have a copy soon. The customer service I received was so outstanding that I will most definitely purchase from this gallery again and again and again. If you are in the SLO area and are looking for an amazing art experience, I highly recommend looking into visiting this gallery. read more

Best gallery I have ever been to. The owner and gallery director are both very friendly and knowledgable and the work they carry is spectacular. Definitely check it out whether you're interested in building an art collection or just appreciate browsing unique pieces. read more