New artist collective concept comes to Green Bay

Judith Munson

Contributor

October 19, 2026

GREEN BAY – The BAVA Gallery Cooperative celebrated its grand opening last month at 413 Dousman St. in the historic Broadway District of Green Bay.

BAVA – which stands for Bay Area Visual Arts – is an artist-owned, artist-run gallery, per its website, bavagallerygb.com.

Its founding was inspired by the desire to give local artists a home where they can showcase their work, Wendy Koehler, cooperative member and board secretary, said. 

“We discovered that we all loved creating and were constantly making new pieces,” she said. “Before long, our family and friends had more than enough of our artwork, so we began looking for a way to share our creations with others who might enjoy them.”

She said the BAVA Gallery provides a place for them to not only display their work but to connect with the public and build relationships beyond their individual studios, adding that this opportunity is a first for Green Bay artists.

“It started as a simple idea,” she said, “but it has grown into a cooperative model, empowering artists to shape their own future.”

The new addition to the Broadway District, which is known for its specialty boutiques and dining experiences, aims to bring some “more color, culture and energy to the neighborhood,” Koehler said.

“I think we will help draw more foot traffic to that area by bringing in the arts and bringing in a new experience for visitors to Green Bay and the local community,” she said.

More artists, media, classes on the way

BAVA is a retail gallery, currently featuring the works of 15 artists, and Koehler said it has room to include the works of five more.

The work displayed aims to convey a “fun, funky and functional” vibe, she said, and appeals to a wide range of customers.

“We offer a diverse collection of original artwork, including handcrafted pottery and paintings in watercolor, acrylic, paste and mixed-media styles,” Koehler said. “Visitors will find everything from fine art and photography to handmade cards, bookmarks, bowls, soap dispensers, mugs and other functional and decorative pieces.”

Koehler said the gallery is seeking to add other media, including woodworking, jewelry and fiber arts, pending the approval of its jurying committee “that reviews applicants and evaluates whether it’s a good fit for us.” 

Possible future plans for the gallery, she said, include hosting art classes.

All of the art on display at BAVA is commingled, Koehler said, versus segregating it by artist.

“This approach makes for a really nice shopping experience,” she said. “When you’re in the gallery, looking at all the artwork, you’re seeing a unique blend of art.” 

A warm welcome

Koehler said BAVA experienced a “phenomenal response” from the community during its grand opening.

“Our neighbors on Dousman are very excited, and we’re talking about opportunities to collaborate on events together,” she said.

As a watercolor and ceramic artist, Koehler said she is seeing more interest in local artists from the community in recent years, and BAVA represents a new initiative to fill a gap in the region’s arts scene.

“There’s Door County where there is a lot of higher-end art; it’s very exclusive,” she said. “Our goal is to have art that’s accessible to everyone. We’ve got a variety of price ranges, so pretty much anybody could find something that fits their budget if they’re looking for a gift or something new for their home.”

Koehler said the gallery also gives art appreciators a chance to get acquainted with area talents.

“I think people will be surprised to see the range of creativity here and how accessible high-quality, handcrafted art can be,” she said. “When people come into the store, they’ll meet an artist, because the artists run the store. Oftentimes, many of the artists bring art to work on while at the gallery.”

As an example of what one can find at BAVA, she cited one of her favorite corners of the gallery – a wall that features “unique, fun mugs” – as well as an artist who has a unique take on dinnerware.

“He is just fantastic with little animals, so he creates bowls and dishes with little animals added on, which make them functional but fun at the same time,” Koehler said. “People will find olive oil bottles, soap bottles, large bowls, vases – again, all very functional, but very unique.”

Inspiration and connection

Koehler said BAVA not only helps bridge the gap between the community and its artists, but it also builds community among the cooperative members.

“One of the things that’s beautiful about this arrangement is that we’ve all become good friends,” she said. “We inspire one another, share tips and tricks and experiences that help us grow and develop our skills.”

Koehler credits BAVA’s opening to the support of the following organizations: 

• On Broadway, Inc.
• The City of Green Bay
• The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
• Design That Rocks
• Plainsight Accounting
• Lin Law
• Clay Studio 1242
• The Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Artisan Center
• The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center 
• The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives

“We are deeply grateful for their contributions, encouragement and investment in our mission and community,” Koehler said.

The BAVA Gallery Cooperative is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.