American Art Awards Names Best Gallery In Michigan: LaFontsee Galleries

5 min readMay 14, 2022

Each year the American Art Awards selects the 20 Best Galleries And Museums In America; only one museum or gallery per state per year. Among other criteria, selections are based on years established, industry reputation, online buzz, location, size, socially relevant exhibits, motivational and educational programs, represented artists as well as artist, client and visitor references.

American Art Awards: “We considered thousands of the most established art venues from Hawaii to Maine. This year we chose five museums, one with an impeccable reputation for 125 years, one 80, one 50, one 40, and one fairly new. We selected a Mid-West art center doing important community work for 44 years, and a lively Southern gallery linked to a 5 day festival. Most the galleries we selected are heralded longtime landmarks with expansive interiors perfect for exhibiting today’s contemporary masters. Many have several locations and cater specifically to regional collectors with regional artwork, but just as many represent all genres of work from all levels of national and international artisans.

“LaFontsee Galleries has been voted our Best Gallery or Museum in Michigan, 2022, for being a leader in the West Michigan art scene for over three decades. Committed to bringing fine regional, national, and international art with heart, passion and story — and benefiting the cultural community and the general public with their art exhibits and show opening events, LaFontsee Galleries continually delivers on their efforts to enrich the art community. This busy gallery has achieved many awards and national recognitions for implementing progressive ideas, and innovative programming.”

LaFontsee Galleries: “We have been actively promoting the arts in Grand Rapids for over 30 years and have made it our mission not just to sell art, but to demystify it.”

The staff engages with the community at large by contributing efforts to: John Ball Zoo, Meijer Gardens, Blandford Nature Center, In the Image, UICA, CA Frost Environmental Science Academy, Spoke Folks & Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition, Izaak Walton League of America, Dwight Lydell Grand Rapids Chapter, Our Town Players Community Theater of South Haven, SHOUT South Haven Theater Series, Bach Festival Singers of Kalamazoo, Glenn Community Center, and more.

HISTORY:

Building on the strength of a solid partnership, Scott and Linda LaFontsee founded the Underground Studio in 1987. Over the years, they established themselves as forerunners of the emerging art culture in West Michigan, expanding their vision in 1994 by developing LaFontsee Galleries. In 2011, LaFontsee Galleries relocated to a larger space in the East Hills gallery district.