Dos Manos Gallery
We sell Alaskan gifts, goods, and art. With over 125 Alaskan artists, we're your one-stop-shop for handmade and locally designed goods.
Dos Manos was opened in 2006 by Kara Kirkpatrick and Stephanie Johnson, two energetic 20-somethings who traveled a lot and knew that they could create something really special in Anchorage. In the beginning, they heard a lot of artists saying that they couldn’t get into any galleries because they hadn’t yet made a name for themselves. Kara and Steph wanted to change this; they wanted to be the gallery that gives artists a shot. With this in mind, “a rising tide lifts all boats” has become a core value for the duo. Beyond just being a cool spot to shop, they really wanted to create a space for artists who are just starting out.
“One of our favorite things is to have brand new artists because they're just so excited. And if I can teach them–if Steph and I and everybody here can teach them–the ins and outs of what gallery life is, I think it really helps a lot of artists kind of get some more confidence,” says Kara. And that’s what they’ve done all of these years—provided new artists with a soft place to land.
“One of our favorite things is to have brand new artists because they're just so excited. And if I can teach them–if Steph and I and everybody here can teach them–the ins and outs of what gallery life is, I think it really helps a lot of artists kind of get some more confidence,” says Kara. And that’s what they’ve done all of these years—provided new artists with a soft place to land.