Ellen's studio, gallery and learning center (at right) may be visited year-round by appointment to fit your and the artist's schedules. There is ample free parking. Call (302) 539-3405 to schedule a visit. Same day appointments are often available. No fees and no purchases are required.
One of '10 Must-See Galleries and Museums in Delaware' - The Culture Trip
Purposeful change
When Ellen Rice opened her gallery in the spring of 1999 with a small collection of her paintings and prints and the handmade creations of a handful of artisans she knew whose work she loved, it was with the desire to "create a place away from the hustle and bustle of tourist traffic where people could come and browse at their leisure and be inspired and uplifted among my paintings and myriad other beautiful art forms."
With no backing or retail experience, but remaining dedicated to her initial idea, within three years of opening, her gallery had become one of the most successful galleries its size in the country.
A national NICHE Top Retailer Award finalist, the Ellen Rice Gallery had come to represent more than 160 of the country's finest artisans working in a variety of mediums, from glass to metal and fine gemstones to wood, leather and ceramics, all hand chosen by Ellen for their uplifting nature and quality of workmanship. Each season brought fresh works from these artists and introduces new artists to the mix.
With no backing or retail experience, but remaining dedicated to her initial idea, within three years of opening, her gallery had become one of the most successful galleries its size in the country.
A national NICHE Top Retailer Award finalist, the Ellen Rice Gallery had come to represent more than 160 of the country's finest artisans working in a variety of mediums, from glass to metal and fine gemstones to wood, leather and ceramics, all hand chosen by Ellen for their uplifting nature and quality of workmanship. Each season brought fresh works from these artists and introduces new artists to the mix.
The Culture Trip, an award-winning international art, culture, food and travel advisory group with over 2 million readers and offices in major cities around the globe, recently said of Ellen's gallery in part:
"The number of small galleries established by independent, native Delawarean artists and devoted solely to their work is admirable. One of the finest examples is the Ellen Rice Gallery...."
The gallery has transitioned with changing times. Having survived the great recession and more than four years of road construction, it is Covid that has forced a new way of offering Ellen's and her artisans' works to you: a purposefully built studio and showroom on the artist's property on edge of the James Farm Ecological Preserve on the outskirts of Ocean View, Delaware.
During your visit you'll find the handmade gifts of multiple artisans and the complete collection of Ellen's beautiful and uplifting original paintings and fine art reproductions on paper and canvas. A return to giving private lessons is awaiting the end of the pandemic.
Beyond the present health challenge, who knows? Prayer and listening lead the way.
See a few pics of the studio's ongoing development above and below.
"The number of small galleries established by independent, native Delawarean artists and devoted solely to their work is admirable. One of the finest examples is the Ellen Rice Gallery...."
The gallery has transitioned with changing times. Having survived the great recession and more than four years of road construction, it is Covid that has forced a new way of offering Ellen's and her artisans' works to you: a purposefully built studio and showroom on the artist's property on edge of the James Farm Ecological Preserve on the outskirts of Ocean View, Delaware.
During your visit you'll find the handmade gifts of multiple artisans and the complete collection of Ellen's beautiful and uplifting original paintings and fine art reproductions on paper and canvas. A return to giving private lessons is awaiting the end of the pandemic.
Beyond the present health challenge, who knows? Prayer and listening lead the way.
See a few pics of the studio's ongoing development above and below.
