Designers Workshop in Chattanooga: Artist-Run Studio and Sales Space on Main Street
Designers Workshop is a nonprofit artist cooperative and retail gallery housed in a converted storefront on Main Street, where working artists exhibit and sell their own pieces rather than work on consignment through a dealer. The space functions as both studio and showroom: visitors see artists at work behind glass while browsing paintings, sculpture, jewelry, textiles, and functional ceramics. It occupies a visible corner location in the heart of downtown, steps from the Hunter Museum and across from the Tennessee Riverpark.
What Designers Workshop actually is
Designers Workshop was founded in 1973 and operates as a member-owned cooperative where artists jury in to participate. Each member pays a monthly studio fee (not a commission on sales) and staffs the space on a rotating basis. This model differs sharply from commercial galleries, which typically take 40 to 50 percent of sale price and control what hangs on walls. At Designers Workshop, artists decide pricing and which work to show. The workshop occupies roughly 3,000 square feet split between individual artist stations visible from the sales floor and a gallery section with rotating group exhibitions. The membership spans painting, jewelry, ceramics, photography, and mixed media.
Art styles and mediums on view
The gallery shows contemporary work across a broad range. Painters exhibit abstract and figurative pieces; jewelers work in silver and resin; potters display functional and sculptural ceramics; textile artists show fiber work and weaving. Because membership is self-directed, styles are diverse rather than curated toward a single aesthetic. Paintings range from representational landscapes to nonrepresentational color studies. Jewelry includes statement pieces and wearable art at accessible price points, typically between $35 and $200. Ceramic vessels often blend utility and artistry, running $40 to $400. This stylistic breadth appeals to collectors wanting variety but means there is no unifying artistic vision tying the space together.
How Designers Workshop compares to other Chattanooga galleries
Hunter Museum of American Art, two blocks away, emphasizes museum-quality pieces and historical movements across painting, sculpture, and photography, with a $15 general admission fee and a 45,000-square-foot collection. Its scope and scholarly depth attract serious collectors and art history students. Designers Workshop has no admission cost, occupies a tenth of that space, and prioritizes sales-ready work by living artists at lower price points. Mountain Made, a cooperative craft gallery on Market Street, carries work by more than 100 regional artisans but operates as a sales-only space without working studios visible to customers. Designers Workshop puts production front and center: you watch an artist cutting metal or glazing clay while browsing inventory. For someone wanting to buy art without gallery markups and see the maker's process, Designers Workshop fills a niche between the casual craft market and the museum experience.
Pricing and what you can expect to buy
Most pieces fall between $30 and $600. Greeting cards and small prints start near $10; original paintings typically run $300 to $800; signed ceramics and jewelry occupy the $50 to $400 range. Prices reflect the member artist's own valuation rather than a dealer's margin calculation. Items sell regularly, so inventory rotates monthly. Unlike commercial galleries where staff manage sales, you may be browsing and chatting directly with the artist who made the piece on display.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Designers Workshop works best for visitors who want to acquire affordable original art, see how it is made, and support artists directly. It attracts local collectors, gift shoppers, and tourists looking for Chattanooga-made goods. The space does not suit buyers seeking rare or investment-grade work, those needing expert guidance on art history, or people uncomfortable with unpolished retail environments. The artist-staffed model means service varies by shift; sometimes you get a ten-minute conversation about technique, other times you are browsing largely unattended.
First visit logistics
Walk in during business hours (typically Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; verify current hours before visiting, as they change seasonally). There is no admission fee. Expect to spend 20 to 45 minutes depending on how many pieces interest you. The space is compact and densely hung, so it rewards slow looking. If an artist is present and working, ask questions; most are happy to discuss their process. The storefront is street level with standard door entry; no steps or special access barriers.
Parking and downtown access
Main Street has metered parking on street and a public lot one block north on Cherry Street (rates vary; check signage). The gallery is a short walk from the Chattanooga Convention Center and Hunter Museum. Downtown is pedestrian-friendly and bikeable.
Designers Workshop endures because it solves two persistent gallery problems: artists keep their earnings, and buyers meet makers. It remains one of Chattanooga's rare artist-run spaces, making it worth the short detour from Main Street's commercial stretch.
