ARTISANworks

Location

565 Blossom Road, Rochester NY 14610

Hours (as of 2021 per Website)

Friday - Sunday: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Phone

585 288 7170

Website

http://www.artisanworks.net

Facebook

Twitter

ARTISANworks is a huge and unique art-related space (taking up several interconnected warehouses and other buildings - including the roof) where you can find over 40,000 pieces of art - sculptures, paintings, prints, cartoons, photographs, furniture, and everything in between. There are a bunch of studios of local artists there, many of which are open to the public. It's a great place to take out-of-town visitors, small children, sullen teenagers, or bored Rochestarians who think they've seen it all. There is a gift shop, and they have a serve-yourself snack bar - but the popcorn machine is free. Admission is $12, or $8 for students, children, and seniors (free for members).

A 3/8/07- A D&C Article (no longer available to view) talked about a cut in funding to ARTISANworks and how they had to cut their hours in response. The article states that ARTISANworks will no longer be open to walk-in visitors Monday-Thursday (starting April 2, 2007). Space can still be reserved for private tours and functions during the week. On the other hand, more will be going on Friday-Sunday: more artists working, more film screenings, and more Sunday concerts. This change is due to the city of Rochester denying ARTISANworks' application for not-for-profit exemption from property taxes. Admissions prices also increased (new prices updated above).

Artists with studios at Artisanworks

Public Image

Awards

Artisan Works was awarded "Best Place to Oooh and Ahh" in City Newspaper's 'Best Of Rochester' Critics' Choice Awards in 2008.¹

See also

• Blossom Business Center

Comments:

Note: You must be logged in to add comments

2005-11-16 07:57:42   Artisan Works is also an excellent place to host a party or wedding reception. They have a Japanese tea room, a rooftop garden with a hottub, and a huge two-story building with art everywhere from floor to ceiling. —MariahBetz

2006-03-08 14:15:33   a rooftop garden with a hottub?! —TobinFricke

2007-01-06 13:00:33   An intriguing place that will keep you coming back for more —MrPhil

2008-08-16 22:25:01   Artisan Works is one of my favorite places in the city!!! I had my high school graduation party here, and I will be getting married here in 2010. My fiance and I had one of our first dates here. It is very meaningful to me. If you don't get along well in traditional art galleries, give this place a try. You will fall in love. It really captures the true spirit of art. You get to see artists at work on the weekends, too! The annual membership is very much worth it. —tracypee

2008-08-18 12:19:19   I agree wholeheartedly with tracypee regarding the membership. We have been members for years, and it is well worth it to us to keep this treasure alive. On Sunday afternoons you will find us in Vertigo Heights or the Triangle Theater enjoying live music and a picnic lunch, or up on the rooftop.

Work by local artists is displayed alongside that of internationally celebrated masters, so we can see what great treasures our community produces. Artists in residence are very friendly and more than happy to share their vision, inspirations, and current work.

Ernesto's band is fantastic, as are the other musicians that are often playing. Tremedous guest performers include Magnolia trio and Park Ave Dance.

Bring a lunch, a bottle of wine, and spend the day. Better yet, book an event there! I have officiated at many weddings held in this great site, and their hospitality skills are second to none. —JackPorcello

2008-08-18 14:34:24   Artisan works is a gem of Rochester. Eclectic place in an old warehouse, jam packed with art. Some of the old cars are really interesting. —MrRochester

2010-03-09 15:49:33   Being long-time fans of Artisan Works and wanting to do something a little more unusual for our wedding, my then-fiance and I held our wedding ceremony and reception at Artisan works in July 2008, and it was a wonderful experience. The event planner (Victoria) was incredibly helpful with coordinating everything, and the in-house food was fantastic. All our guests raved about the location, and a few who had never been there before even signed up for their own memberships and have told me that now they always take their out-of-town guests! Highly, highly recommended, even if you don't normally like "art galleries." —AdrienneDahler

2010-07-22 09:39:39   There is a big difference between Art that Sells and art that is selling out. I believe in Art that Sells. I believe in outreach program for schools, corporate rentals and catering to private events. What I don’t believe in is art that is selling out. What may have started as a pure and simple concept of collecting local art/historical pieces and making it accessible to people from all walks of life is now being packaged like a frozen dinner for franchising. It disgusts me to witness a homegrown passion funded by community supporters to be turned into an artificial chain fueled by greed. I am sad to say that my image of Artisan Works will never be the same again. I will no longer advocate for the independent gallery that I once loved. —Liren

2011-12-20 23:46:01   This is the most amazing place I have ever been to in all my entire life. If I ever get a loft, it's going to look just like ARTISANworks. Definitely check out Don Menges's photos of the interior - when I first saw them, I didn't realize they were depicting an actual place; I thought they were wacky composites! It's like a world unto itself. —EileenF

2013-01-20 18:07:30   We had a family event here. Our guests loved the location and ambiance.

Be aware that the quoted price was about 30% lower than the final price, because of added fees. Do not assume the quoted price is complete. Also, we asked for a tour for our guests. It started out wonderfully, but became a pitch for renting the place, rather than about the art or the space itself. —AdaDundas