6 best art galleries around Vail Valley

Art speaks in many forms across Vail Valley, where creativity thrives alongside alpine beauty. The region’s galleries give locals and visitors alike a glimpse into its vibrant artistic community—one that reflects mountain life through paint, sculpture, metal, glass, and photography. The Best of Vail Valley contest highlights these destinations where fine art meets imagination and craftsmanship.

ARTSPaCE Workshop+Gallery – EagleARTS Nonprofit: Located in Eagle, this nonprofit gallery operated by EagleARTS serves as a studio, gallery, and community hub. According to its website, ARTSPaCE features more than 15 local artists working in jewelry, ceramics, and fine art, and rents workspace to in-house creators. The gallery also hosts events like Second Friday Gallery Nights and community-driven initiatives such as a bench-painting project and a community piano. As a winner in the Best of Vail Valley contest, it stands out for connecting the artistic process with the region’s creative economy.

Claggett/Rey Gallery: With a legacy spanning more than three decades, this Edwards gallery has built a strong reputation for fine art in multiple mediums. Claggett/Rey Gallery has represented some of North America’s finest living artists and specializes in helping clients find pieces that “enhance lives through creative energy.” The gallery relocated to Edwards in 2020 for a more expansive space and remains rooted in its mission of showcasing high-quality work.

J. Cotter Gallery: Established in 1970 in Vail, this gallery specializes in contemporary designer jewelry and fine art under the direction of artist-founder Jim Cotter. Early recognition of jewelry as an art form is part of the gallery’s history, and over decades it has become a fixture of the Vail art scene.

Vail Valley Art Guild – Art Guild at Avon: A nonprofit organization dedicated to visual-arts education and community engagement, the Art Guild at Avon serves Avon and the wider Vail Valley region. According to the organization’s mission, it connects local artists with the community through exhibitions, workshops, and classes for youth and underserved populations. Its gallery space provides both exhibition opportunities and hands-on learning, underscoring the category’s broader importance beyond sales and display.

Raitman Gallery: Founded by the Raitman family and expanded into Vail, this gallery emphasizes museum-quality fine art that reflects place, memory, and the environment. The team focuses on works that “make the world a better place” and partners with collectors seeking meaningful pieces. The gallery’s Vail location grew into a 2,500-square-foot space and integrates regional character into a broader fine-art dialogue.

Vail International Gallery: Since its founding in 2005, this gallery has built a reputation for exhibiting both historic masters and emerging artists, including strong representation of Russian and Soviet-era art alongside contemporary works from the U.S. and Europe. The gallery intentionally built its international focus to broaden Vail’s art-scene reach while maintaining a welcoming mountain-town setting for collectors and visitors alike.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor drawn to the mountain-town lifestyle, the galleries recognized in this year’s Best of Vail Valley contest span from community-driven art hubs to international fine-art destinations. Each one shapes the visual-culture landscape of the region in its own way.