American Art Company, Tacoma

American Art Company has roots reaching back to 1889, when it began not as a conventional gallery, but as a custom framing business. That craft-based origin still shapes its identity today. Alongside its exhibition programme, the business continues to maintain a preservation-grade framing workshop, linking the display of art with the practical care of artworks, documents, and personal collections.

The gallery later expanded into regional fine art while keeping its framing-first character. Its exhibition area covers about 3,500 square feet, giving it enough room for solo features, rotating collections, and works in several media without losing a measured, approachable atmosphere. Visitors may encounter painting, mixed media, encaustic work, wire art, and other contemporary pieces, often with a strong focus on artists from the Northwest.

Its present location has been part of its story since 1984, before several major cultural institutions nearby opened their modern buildings in the early 2000s. Led by Tammy and Craig Radford since 2004, American Art Company remains an independent, family-owned business shaped by local art, careful framing, and community continuity.