Gallery at Somes Sound in Mt Desert

“When collectors come in, they can immediately see the influence of the greats,” says gallery owner Tyra Hanson, referencing names like James Krenov, Wendell Castle, and Jerry Osgood. These artists helped shape the studio furniture movement that inspired her gallery’s foundation. “Many of the woodworkers I represent were apprenticed by them,” she explains.

Hanson opened The Gallery at Somes Sound fifteen years ago with a clear vision: to showcase handcrafted furniture alongside fine art of equal caliber. Her initial focus was on studio furniture, pieces created one at a time in an artist’s own workshop. “When I first started using the term ‘studio furniture,’ people didn’t understand what it meant,” she says. “It’s furniture made by the artist, one piece at a time. Each design is original, and the wood is extraordinary.”

The gallery’s reputation grew quickly as collectors discovered the rarity and craftsmanship of the work on display. Today, The Gallery at Somes Sound ships both art and furniture across the country and overseas. “We’ve shipped to France, England, and Sweden,” Hanson says. “My mission has always been to educate and bring awareness to this art form, which was once nearly lost.”

The building, located just before the Somesville Bridge, has its own story. Once home to the Port in a Storm Bookstore, it sat vacant for years before Hanson saw its potential. “When I first visited, it was dark and cold, and I wasn’t sure it was right,” she recalls. “But when I came back on a bright spring day, the light poured in and I knew immediately this was where I belonged.”

Inside, the space reflects Hanson’s background in design and spatial planning. “I’ve always had a trained eye for how things should live together,” she says. “That sense of flow from my design work comes through in how I lay out the gallery.”

While furniture remains the heart of the gallery, the fine art collection has grown into something equally distinctive. “I look for artists whose personalities you can see in their work,” Hanson says. “You can tell when someone is painting from passion. It amazes me how a thought in an artist’s mind becomes something visible on canvas.”

Over time, the gallery has evolved into a community of artists connected by shared respect for craftsmanship and the landscape of Mount Desert Island. “They all know each other,” Hanson says. “It’s a close-knit group, and we’ve built friendships that will last for years.”

FAMOUS FOR:
Curating one of the finest collections of studio furniture and fine art in the United States, featuring museum-quality craftsmanship and artists whose work reflects the soul and landscape of Mount Desert Island.

ADDRESS:
1112 Main St in Mt Desert, ME

WEBSITE:
galleryatsomessound.com

photos by Peter Logue