For over one hundred years, Pike Place Market has been known by many as the “Soul of Seattle” because of its vibrant art scene. Inspired by the Seattle-based market, in 1994, talented art curator Nanette Amis brought a little piece of the famous marketplace to Salt Lake City.  

Amis’ Utah Art Market has popped up in various locations throughout Utah for over 30 years, including in her home and in her backyard. Finally, in October 2024, Amis realized the dream of offering her large, devoted clientele a full-time brick-and-mortar shop. The Four Lemons – Art within Reach is now home to the artwork of over one hundred thirty local and international artists and crafters.   

Amis told the Journal she has no plans to throw fish over the counter as they used to do at the well-known seaside market in Seattle, but she definitely plans to provide art that resonates deeply with each customer and at prices accessible to most. 

“I’m trying to reach out to the people that love original art and don’t think they can afford it,” Amis said. “A single mom came into the store a few weeks ago and fell in love with an original painting. Financially, it was simply out of her reach. The mission of Four Lemons is to make art accessible to everyone. I told her if you can pay toward it each month, I’ll hang on to the piece for you. I want to do everything I can to help people have an original piece of art in their home. It brings me so much happiness.”

The expansive 7,000-square-foot space showcases pottery, jewelry, woodworking, original paintings and prints, homemade jelly, woodcuts, fiber and wool arts, inviting all to explore pieces starting around $6 and with selections ascending to over $1,000.

Several well-known artists display their pieces at Four Lemons. Clint Whiting’s impressionistic realism art has received numerous awards and also “best of show” at events in New York City, New Jersey, Naples, Milan and Rome. 

Oil and acrylic painter Tricia Cook’s simple, clean lines and balanced colors, shapes, and textures bring out the beauty in her simplistic artistic scenes and are easily incorporated into a home setting.

Sarah Winegar’s nod to the Byzantine period is evident in many of her inspirational pieces. Her relief woodcut prints of the Last Supper bring human figures together, flowing in unity, each with his own story to tell. The unseen feelings of the individuals are portrayed in the fine, detailed cuts in the wood.

Primarily, a botanical and landscape artist, Rachel Nelson has a large following of devoted collectors. She strives for an overall painting composition that combines the detailed light and color techniques of realism and the loose brush strokes of impressionism.

Amis began collecting African art about 10 years ago. She wanted to promote emerging artists from developing countries as a humanitarian effort. She ordered handmade baskets from a family in Ghana. Also, she decided to contact Muramuzi John Bosco, a Ugandan contemporary artist based in Kampala in eastern Africa. Amis ordered 15 pieces of his art for the store. He shipped them from Africa. Amis framed and sold half of them. 

In January, Amis and her husband visited friends who were living in Nairobi, her first experience visiting Africa. 

“When I was in Nairobi, we went out for dinner one night at the restaurant where Muramuzi displays his art,” Amis said. “I had no idea Muramuzi would be there. He only comes to Nairobi twice a year, and I only visit Nairobi once in a lifetime. What an unbelievable coincidence!” 

Muramuzi shared in a conversation at dinner that the proceeds from the art sales at Four Lemons has been used to build a Christian school for the children in his community. Now, every piece of his art that is sold, helps a student for one year.  

How to become a Four Lemon’s art vendor

Amis shares on her website that if you’d like to join the Four Lemons family, you are encouraged to apply for the Utah Art Market first. If your products are well-received by Utah Art Market customers, an invitation will be extended to showcase your work at Four Lemons.

Finding an art style to become a collector

During a recent appearance on Studio 5 KSL, Amis encouraged viewers to explore, discover, and find their own art style as a collector. She presented some simple ways to begin.

1. Discover what you like by following artists on social media, visiting galleries and paying attention to what draws you in to a piece of art.

2. Identify a preference of style such as traditional, impressionistic, abstract or realism.

3. Find inspiration for identifying a style and beginning an art collection in things you enjoy doing and personal interests. 

4. Reflect on colors you are drawn to.

5. You don’t have to pick just one style. It works to mix and match styles, create themed collections or gallery walls. 

“We offer many different services at Four Lemons,” Amis said. “We have people at our store who can help you hang gallery walls if you feel intimidated by creating a gallery or themed collection.”

A place for community to gather and make connections

Art is a powerful catalyst that brings people together, creating meaningful connections. It weaves the shared stories of communities, igniting reflection and encouraging dialogue. In the future, Amis envisions Four Lemons as a gathering place for small communities, including book clubs, art events, and various gatherings. The Utah Art Market will be held four times a year at the store, and art education classes will be offered monthly by Four Lemon artists.

“I love the idea of looking toward this becoming a place of community where people can gather to meet, connect and find common ground,” Amis said. “I think little groups of community could gather at Four Lemons to share interests. I am an inclusive person and I love nothing more than for people to meet artists and artists to meet collectors and artists to meet each other creating a space of community.” 

The importance of collecting art

According to Amis, an original piece of art is timeless and something to be kept forever. She suggests not many material things bought in a lifetime last and are special enough to be handed down from generation to generation. Art can be hung on a wall, set out on a table to be enjoyed, or given to someone else to enjoy their entire life, which Amis feels is the true beauty of art.

“When I was newly married, I couldn’t afford to buy original art. One Christmas, my brother David gave me a still-life painting that he had bought at Dolores Chase Gallery in downtown Salt Lake. The painting was of four lemons on a windowsill created by Rebecca Wagstaff. It was the first piece of original art I had owned. I was really taken aback by his giving me such a treasured gift. Knowing I now owned a piece of original art felt so important. Because this painting holds such sentimental value, I decided to name my store Four Lemons.”

For now, the painting of the four little lemons sitting on the windowsill can be found on the counter right next to the cash register. It extends a warm welcome to each patron who enters the store. Many years from now, when the store lights have dimmed, and the door whispers closed for the last time, the small four lemon painting will move on, finding a cherished place in the home of one of Nanette’s children to love across the generations to come with a piece of art.

Location

4850 South Highland Drive,
Holladay, Utah

Hours

Tuesday - Saturday 

10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Contact

(385) 228-9434

fourlemonsart@gmail.com

To learn more about the Utah Art Market and how to become a vendor, visit www.utahartmarket.com. λ