Today we’d like to introduce you to Nanette Amis.
Hi Nanette, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In May 1994, Nanette Amis founded the Utah Art Market, the first art show of its kind in Utah. Surrounded by creative friends who needed a place to share and sell their work, she created one. The first show took place in her own backyard, with her kids emptying their bedrooms so artists could set up shop throughout the house.
What began as a once-a-year event grew into four seasonal markets each year, bringing affordable, handmade art and craft to the Salt Lake community. The Utah Art Market traveled throughout the valley, from Sugar House Park to Foothill Village and Millcreek, while fine art became an increasingly important part of what we did.In 2015, we introduced the 135 Show, a one-night fine art event created to make collecting original work more approachable. It quickly became a staple alongside our seasonal markets.
After decades of seasonal shows, we wanted a permanent home for artists and collectors. In October 2024, Four Lemons opened, featuring the best of Utah’s artists and makers.Our name comes from owner Nanette’s first piece of original art: four lemons on a windowsill by Rebecca Wagstaff. She bought it when original art felt out of reach. Inspiring our mission today: Art Within Reach.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road, but a lot of the challenges have come with growth. The Utah Art Market started very small, and over the years it grew into larger seasonal shows with more artists, more customers, and a lot more moving pieces. Finding the right spaces, managing that growth, and keeping the market feeling personal and approachable as it got bigger has always taken a lot of work.
Opening Four Lemons in 2024 was probably our biggest leap. Going from temporary markets a few times a year to running a permanent retail space and gallery year-round was an entirely different undertaking. We suddenly had a large space to fill, hundreds of pieces of artwork and handmade goods to manage, and the day-to-day realities of running a retail business, all while continuing to operate the Utah Art Market.
One of the ongoing challenges has been figuring out how to grow without losing the heart of what started it all. We want artists to feel supported, customers to feel comfortable walking in whether they’re experienced collectors or buying their first piece of art, and the whole experience to remain approachable. There has been a lot of learning and adjusting along the way, but that evolution is also what eventually made Four Lemons possible.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The Utah Art Market, the 135 Fine Art Show, and Four Lemons are all centered around connecting people with art and the artists who make it. The Utah Art Market hosts seasonal pop-up shows featuring a curated mix of fine art, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, home goods, and other handmade work. The 135 Fine Art Show is our twice-yearly fine art event, with original artwork offered at three approachable price points: $100, $300, and $500+. Four Lemons grew from that foundation into a permanent, year-round home where customers can shop original art and handmade goods, attend exhibitions and events, take classes, and discover new artists.
What we’re most proud of is the community that has grown around it. We’ve been able to build long-term relationships with artists while also creating opportunities for emerging artists to get their work in front of new audiences. At the same time, we’ve watched customers become collectors, sometimes starting with one small piece and coming back again and again as they develop their own taste and connection to art.
What sets us apart is the space we occupy somewhere between a traditional craft store and a traditional fine art gallery. We’re very intentional about the caliber of artists and makers we represent and prioritize work that is handmade, original, unique, and not mass-produced. At the same time, we want the experience of shopping for art to feel much more approachable than a traditional gallery. Prices are visible, there’s a wide range of price points, and customers are encouraged to browse, ask questions, and take their time. We want high-quality art to feel accessible rather than intimidating—which is really the idea behind “Art Within Reach.”
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is to be willing to evolve while staying true to why we started. What began as a small backyard art market has changed and grown in ways we never could have planned, and a lot of that growth has come from being willing to try something new, learn as we go, and adjust when something isn’t working.
We’ve also learned how important relationships are. Our business wouldn’t exist without the artists who trust us with their work, the customers who continue to support them, and the community that has shown up for us year after year. Trends, spaces, and the way people shop will continue to change, but creating genuine connections between artists and the people who appreciate their work has always been at the center of what we do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fourlemons.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fourlemonsart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586230688575
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/fourlemonsart/
