The historic art gallery in Arlington puts North Texas artists in the spotlight and continues its 57-year tradition

Several times a month, a college student taking an art class enters a quaint red-and-blue historic home off West Abram Street in downtown Arlington.

They stroll through the artwork-filled rooms that used to be the home’s living room, dining room and kitchen, stop at one of the many paintings that adorn the walls, snap a photo to fulfill their art class assignment to “visit a gallery,” and then head out.

“Well, now they know what a gallery is,” said JT Martin, laughing with his brother Mac Martin. “At least they came by.”

The two brothers own the Upstairs Gallery, a former home in Arlington that has exhibited and sold works by North Texas artists since 1967. In 2023, the 86-year-old house was officially listed as a historic monument by the Arlington Landmark Preservation Commission.

The gallery’s current exhibition, Summer Selections, highlights the gallery’s breadth and diversity, offering an eclectic mix of fresh work and returning pieces by both new and experienced artists.

Impressionist paintings by the late Stephen Rascoe, a founding member of the Upstairs Gallery, sit opposite colorful science fiction-themed car sculptures by Chris Cunningham, whose ceramic, plastic and glass artworks are on display in museums across the state.

When Eleanor Martin, JT and Mac’s mother, founded the Upstairs Gallery, community was at the heart of it, Mac said. That foundation hasn’t changed. In the 1960s, she and a group of artist friends devoted most weekends to painting together, often at the Martins’ house.

When the group was looking for a place to regularly show their work, they founded the Upstairs Gallery on the second floor of Mac’s recording studio downtown, where the Arlington Public Library is now located.

The gallery soon moved to the Abram Street home and retained its historic name despite the new one-story building. Its reputation as a place where North Texas artists could exhibit and sell their work grew over the decades.

Next to the Upstairs Gallery is another historic house – one with paint-stained walls instead of paintings. Wet brushes dry in every sink. Dried watercolors seep into the countertops. Tables and chairs crowd the study, all arranged to face the front of the room.

This is where the gallery holds its art classes, which the Martins consider to be a central part of the Arlington art scene. Since the Upstairs Gallery was originally intended as a meeting place for artists to work together, introducing the classes was a natural fit.

Throughout the year, classes are taught during the week by professional artists who are also frequent visitors to the gallery. This year, pop-up art workshops have been introduced. One-to-one classes delve into artistic subjects such as gelli printing and bookbinding.

Every few months, the gallery hosts its first events with new exhibitions, which often either follow a specific theme or focus on a particular artist.

The next exhibition will open as part of the Fort Worth Art Dealers Association’s Gallery Night on September 7, with member museums from across Tarrant County participating. The Upstairs Gallery will feature works by Bill Barter, a founder of the Arlington Museum of Art who paints minimalist abstractions.

Drew Shaw is a reporter for the Arlington Report. You can reach him at [email protected] or @shawlings601. At The Arlington Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our policy of editorial independence here.

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