From Vision to Gallery
The Story of Angi D Wildt Gallery
Owning an art gallery wasn't an overnight decision—it was a dream that took supported by over nearly a decade. What began with a handful of temporary exhibitions gradually became Angi D Wildt Gallery, shaped by generous friends, talented artists, supportive mentors, loyal collectors, and a willingness to say yes when unexpected opportunities appeared.
Pop-up Galleries Exhibitions
2016 - 2018
Before Angi D Wildt Gallery opened its doors in 2018, my daughter gave me the opportunity to create a series of pop-up galleries in the rental properties she managed in Portland. I later expanded into a few other temporary spaces, each one offering a chance to learn more about exhibiting artwork and connecting artists with collectors. Friends entrusted me with their artwork, and those early exhibitions taught me how to present a collection, create an inviting gallery experience, and discover the kind of gallery I hoped to build. It was a brief chapter, but it confirmed one thing: I wanted to create a permanent home where exceptional art could be experienced, appreciated, and find its forever home.
The Seaside Years
(August 2018 - August 2020)
Before Angi D Wildt Gallery opened in 2018, I found myself looking at vacant storefronts and imagining what they could become. I didn't know exactly where the gallery would be, but I knew I wanted to create a welcoming place where artists could be represented with care and visitors could discover original artwork in a relaxed, approachable setting.
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That vision began with a handful of pop-up galleries. My daughter gave me the opportunity to exhibit artwork in rental properties she managed in Portland, and I later found a few other temporary spaces where I learned how to display a collection and create an inviting gallery experience. Friends entrusted me with their artwork, and every exhibition taught me something new.
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As the dream of a permanent gallery grew, I started asking about available spaces whenever I saw an empty storefront. Most seemed financially out of reach, so I planned to continue managing the Seaside Farmers Market while slowly building the gallery business alongside it.
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A friend introduced me to someone who helped entrepreneurs explore ways to finance new businesses. Her advice was simple: look at what you already have. Around the same time, another friend mentioned someone who owned gallery space in Seaside.
When I called, I learned that the same owner also had a beautiful storefront available in Astoria—a space I had admired from the sidewalk. Unfortunately, another artist, Paul Polson, had just leased it.
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Instead of ending the conversation there, the owner, Ron Hoxie, offered me a smaller space he owned in Seaside and reduced the rent for the first year to help me get started. It was an opportunity I couldn't ignore.
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By refinancing my pickup truck and using its equity as my startup capital, I opened Angi D Wildt Gallery in August 2018.
The gallery was modest but full of possibility. It was tucked behind another business with windows facing a parking lot rather than the street. There was an entrance from Broadway, Seaside's main avenue, but visitors had to walk down a hallway to discover the gallery. Many of my early guests wandered in while waiting for dinner reservations, so I often stayed open well into the evening.
For months, sales were almost nonexistent. I reminded myself that people couldn't support a gallery they didn't yet know existed. Building trust—and a reputation—would take time.
It did.
A New Home in Astoria
Moving the gallery to Astoria (August 2020 to Present)
In the summer of 2020, one of Ron Hoxie's tenants closed their business in the same Astoria building I had visited a couple of years earlier. The available space wasn't the one I had originally admired—it was actually a different storefront and, as it turned out, a much better fit for the gallery.
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I asked Ron if I could use the empty space during Artwalk.
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As we walked through the gallery, I realized it was far larger than it appeared from the sidewalk. The high ceilings, natural light, and open layout felt exactly right. Before we reached the end of the tour, I heard myself ask,
"Could I move here?"
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Ron paused and asked if I'd like some time to think about it.
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I remember standing there almost in awe of the possibility. After dreaming about a more visible gallery for two years, my answer came immediately.
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"No...how soon can I move?"
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He handed me a key and generously allowed me to overlap the two locations for a few weeks while I made the transition. That kindness made the move possible.
A Blank Canvas
Before the artwork, before the collectors, before the exhibitions—just an empty space waiting to become a gallery.
The Gallery Today
August 2020 - Present
Today, Angi D Wildt Gallery in Astoria, Oregon continues to represent original paintings, sculpture, fused glass, photography, and select works from private collections, welcoming collectors from the Pacific Northwest and visitors from around the world.
The story is still being written. New artists, new exhibitions, and new collectors continue to shape the gallery with every passing year.