Las Manos Gallery

I had defended this place for a long time, but that time is up. Not only do they not know how to run a business they do not know how to properly store and care for art! My work as well as many others have been damaged or even lost because of their ignorance and general laziness towards art handling. They have shunned former employees, neighbors, framers who used to work with them, customers, and artists alike! They claim to be there for local artists but it’s really just for the owner and her work! I have herd from many many people in the past how during a show (of other artists work) she will move aside theirs to make room for her own work and no matter the theme, some how manages to squeeze in hers. Its disrespectful and appalling. She even lets her girl friend (someone who knows nothing about art or art handling) instal and handle art improperly! It goes to show you how little they actually care for their artists. If you want to see your work, dropped, broken, bent, smashed, chipped, and cracked, show here!
The owner blame mistakes on past employees instead of taking responsibility for her own ineptitude! Many big time buyers now despise her and vow to never come back, which just ends up hurting the artists instead. Past employees were barley paid, if at all, despite being worked like dogs! And asked to go above and beyond what they originally were hired to do. Even after she has fired someone she will still beg them to do work for her (for free of corse)
Its always great to have a local gallery but this place does not deserve it! They can’t even figure out how to maintain their website, blog, facebook, or this Unilocal page (how do I know, cause is was my job!) The address shown above is actually an old one, their current address is 1515 W Foster. They moved years ago and can’t figure out how to update their information. No one knows they have moved, years after the fact, as a result of their complete lack of business handling. Case and point, the one 3 «reviews» are 3 or more years old! Just goes to show you how few people go to this gallery! Calling it a gallery would be unfair! This place is a joke!

I’ve walked past this gallery a million times, yet never stopped in. Until Roger (KELLIE K.!!) and Don headed up to Clark Street one night, for some carousing. Hey! There’s a lot of people in there, and they look fun, and have drinks in hand!
Minutes later, we were clutching cold cans of Pabst (though we’re not hipsters) and checking out the art. A wide array, some good some. .. well, nice try.
They had some old boom boxes that were decorated all crazy, and those were pretty cool. Some of the stuff was not mounted all that well — no frames whatsoever. There was a wide variety of art, and for that reason alone, it’s worth checking out this little gallery. They really did have lot to look at in there.
One of the many storefront gems that make Andersonville such a great place.

Don’t miss this gallery. Michelle Peterson-​Albandoz, artist and owner, has brought together an amazing group of talent. The Gallery has periodic Friday evening opening on various themes which are great fun and will expose you to many up and coming talents in Chicago. I have to say that our condominium looks like their gallery, which will tell you something about how much we enjoy getting to know the artists and enjoying their work in our home. A high point for us was a commissioned piece Michelle did for us. We had an old step ladder that belonged to a deceased parent. We didn’t know what to do with it and could not throw it away. Michelle transformed the ladder into an amazing work of art that we enjoy every day in our living room. It is a tribute to my father and a treasure we will have forever. Recently we purchased an amazing photograph by Lara Dorsett. It is still in the gallery in their most recent show. We will have it in our home soon. Go in. Enjoy. Realize you can have wonderful art by talented artists in your home. The gallery is a treasure.

Lovely community gallery that is very spacious. If you have a favorite artist of need to rent the spot for an event, I would definitely suggest it.

I was lured in here the other day by a sign stating that «coffee makes you queer.» My friends and I had to buy it for a co-​worker, it was too perfect. Anyway, they have a wall of silk screened phrases that are quirky, fun, and meaningful. Most of the art appears to center around Chicago, especially the lakefront. There were a few things besides the coffee makes you queer sign that I wanted to purchase. Interesting place…

I can’t add anything more about the art or artists except that this is a decent gallery that everyone seems to like. I’ve bought at least one thing there, and the gallery owner was pleasant.
Having wrote that, I really wish they’d bump up their professionalism a notch or two. For a gallery that’s only open two days a week, I think it’s strange that the gallery doesn’t have bio information on all seven of their represented artists. They need to have a better answer than, «Sorry, I don’t think we have anything about him.»

Small but dense with variety, this gallery features the local, the young, and the most seasoned talents. They seem to have a liking for works on paper and always have a few things that are cheaper than the cost of framing your favorite poster. It’s more inviting than many places (no one breathes down your neck while you look at works on glass, for example) and always has a few surprises. Most recently, they’ve been showing works on paper and it was refreshing to see handcrafted pieces, full of passion and without pretense.