The Voss Gallery, a contemporary art gallery that has been a fixture in San Francisco's Mission District for six years, officially closed its physical storefront on August 31st. Owner Ashley Voss decided against renewing her lease for the gallery space located at 3344 24th Street, just one block from the 24th Street BART station, citing economic factors and a desire to reassess her resource allocation.
"Economics, I think, plays a part in everyone's story, especially now," Voss explained regarding her decision to close the physical location. "But it was more of the lease coming to an end and that made me want to pause and rethink how I'm allocating my resources rather than committing to another long-term lease." Despite the closure of the brick-and-mortar space, the gallery continues to operate fully online, where approximately 70 percent of its sales already take place.
The closure will allow Voss to focus more attention on her other ventures, particularly the SF Art Guide, an art calendar she launched two years ago to connect art enthusiasts with events throughout San Francisco. Mission Local currently links to this guide in its museum listings, and Voss is exploring the possibility of establishing a nonprofit organization to support this type of community art work. The popular Voss Collectors Club, which organizes visits to art fairs, artist studios, and mural walks for its members, will continue to operate despite the gallery's physical closure.
Voss, who has single-handedly managed and owned the gallery since its opening in 2019, believes that closing the physical space will provide her with both financial flexibility and additional time for new projects. "Sometimes we get so caught up in the groove that we don't have time for reflection," she noted. "I'm curious to see how else I can better support artists without being tied to a physical location, without having to manage, operate and run the gallery space."
During its six-year run at the corner location on 24th Street, Voss Gallery showcased numerous talented artists and achieved notable successes. The gallery featured work by artists such as Khari Turner, whose exhibition of 12 paintings sold out completely within six hours, local art powerhouse The Tracy Piper, and acclaimed local muralist Jordan Herren. These exhibitions helped establish the gallery as an important cultural venue in the Mission District's vibrant arts scene.
Looking toward the future, Voss plans to continue representing artists through what she describes as "nomadic" operations. She is actively planning collaborations at various locations throughout the city, including the Ferry Building, where artist Jordan Herren has created a mural. Additionally, Voss expects to organize pop-up exhibitions in partnership with local businesses and real estate companies, bringing art directly to different communities and venues across San Francisco.
Voss has confirmed her intention to maintain a presence at major art events, including SF Art Week scheduled for January and other art fairs that visit the city. "Expect some fun things," Voss said optimistically about her gallery's future endeavors. "We're not done yet. I would just say, stay tuned." This transition represents a shift in how contemporary galleries can operate in an increasingly expensive urban environment while continuing to support artists and engage with the community.
