Vessel Gallery

This review is long due. I would have given it 0 if Unilocal has that function. I like the Oakland murmur a lot and have been a regular visitor of participating galleries. Vessel started nice but I really don’t get the staff or the owner here. It was never friendly, and each time I enter, I was approached in a manner like an asset evaluation. The snobbish vibe is obvious once they detect I am not going to buy any stuff. My friends got that too and they stopped going long time ago. I hope the owner sees this.

We used Vessel Gallery for our wedding and it was an amazing experience! We couldn’t have asked for a better «vessel» for our event.
A little background: my wife and I often go to First Friday in Oakland, and we were often most impressed with the exhibits at Vessel Gallery. Not only viewing the art work, but perusing the jewelry collection available from local artists at the gallery.
After I proposed my wife found a ring she loved that was available in the gallery’s artist collection of jewelery. When purchasng the rings, Lonnie, the curator and owner of Vessel, mentioned that the gallery was also available for rental as an event space.
We were intrigued by the idea of having our wedding at Vessel but decided to explore other options. After an exhaustive search we decided to go with our first choice: Vessel Gallery.
Working with Lonnie and Ken, who actually handles the events for the gallery, was a great experience. We often popped in and view the space to figure out how we would use it. Over the months we became friends with Lonnie and Ken and it became clear to us that they love and take pride in Vessel gallery, and were more then happy to share it with us.
Vessel is a unique, but absolutely lovely, space for an event. Our wedding was around 120 people and the space held it comfortably. We used it for the ceremony and then reconverted the space for the reception. We wanted to take advantage of the gallery so we use a variety of seated and standing tables to facilitate movement around the gallery and so people could mix together and enjoy the artwork. We also had a band and a DJ which fit comfortably in the space as well.
We couldn’t have expected anything more from our wedding and it was a magical day. After the wedding, our guests commented about how beautiful the space was and how elegant our event felt.
If you are looking for a beautiful, elegant, and unique space to hold a wedding in Oakland, please consider Vessel Gallery.
And if not, just go on First Friday or Saturday Stroll and check out the artwork!
Thanks Lonnie and Ken!

Art Gallery and venue for parties and weddings… love love love it.
Vessel Gallery is a truly amazing and unique space. I’d be surprised if you could find anything like it in the Bay Area. In addition to being an art gallery, It’s an amazing venue for parties and weddings. I’ve been to multiple events there, including my own wedding shower. All of my friends were amazed by the design of the gallery itself– which to me is rustic & charming, yet modern and urban all at once. The outside patio is gorgeous– and considering there aren’t nearly enough venues in Oakland that provide both indoor and outdoor space– this is where it’s at. The artwork is amazing as well– thought provoking, beautiful, sometimes dark, always brilliant… their exhibits are so diverse and there is something for everyone to enjoy. The owners of Vessel run their gallery with integrity, professionalism, and passion. They truly appreciate their artists on display, and they are business owners invested in the wellbeing and health of Oakland’s communities. They have good relationships with their clients, which is why they have artists who regularly display their work there.
During Art Murmur, my husband bought me a piece of jewelry at Vessel. Ladies… their jewelry is no joke… original and meaningful pieces handmade by local artists. My necklace has a tiny gold key on the chain. It’s so special to me b/​c I know who made it and what her intention was. The artist who made my necklace makes jewelry that resembles simple objects… to remind us of the beauty that surrounds us, even where it isn’t obvious. I love it b/​c it reminds me not to take even the simplest things for granted. If you find that one piece that really means something to you, it will always remind you of something/​someone special and a moment in time.
The reason I mention the necklace is that it’s a testament to how special Vessel Gallery is and how much we need Vessel’s artwork in our lives. Everything on display there was made by artists who lovingly and painstakingly created every detail themselves. I think Vessel Gallery is more than a gallery and a venue– it is a celebration of community and culture in Oakland. Going there means showing the love for local artists, supporting our neighborhoods, & celebrating creative talent.
Spring is here in Oakland and with summer on its way… you’ll find me enjoying the good life at Vessel Gallery!

This review is for using the gallery as an event space. I rented this gallery to use for my wedding. While the architecture and location of the gallery offered a unique and appealing addition to our wedding, I cannot recommend the venue due to the experience we had with the owners after the event.
The issue I have is the poor communication and execution of the contract and general lack of care for customer service or resolving issues. What happened to us was that the caterer and I were told that a dumpster was available to throw out the trash at the end of the wedding. When the caterers went to throw away the trash, they discovered that the dumpster was inaccessible because it was behind a locked gate. Since throwing away the trash is the last thing you do, the caterers weren’t able to throw away all of the trash as they hadn’t prepared to take it away in their cars. When they offered to come back and clean, the owners rudely denied them access saying that they would hire a professional cleaning company. In the end, the owners cleaned it themselves and charged us over twice what a cleaning company would have charged. They also took our entire security deposit.
I suggested that there was miscommunication around the dumpster being available which in turn caused all the problems. I asked that they reduce the charges to reflect the cleaning quotes I had received. I was basically told that it was all my fault, that I should have realized the dumpster was locked earlier, and that the gallery never said that they had a place for me to throw away the trash, and it was my responsibility to take the trash off site. I was told that if I broke ANY of the conditions listed on the contract, that they had the right to keep my entire security deposit. After one reply, they stopped replying to my questions.
While I take responsibility for the problems that I caused, I can’t help but feel like I was taken advantage of. I feel like the contract is set up in such a way that they can easily find a way to take the security deposit, which significantly increases the cost of renting the gallery. They didn’t seem to have any interest in resolving the problems and I think it is a really bad business practice. I really wanted to like and refer friends to this gallery. I have pictures, architectural drawings, and know friends and professionals who are getting married or are in the industry. I would have gladly provided these things to the gallery, but instead their actions to save some money or force me into suing them have tainted my experience and they’ve lost a customer who is spending his energies writing bad reviews instead of recommending them to people.

The Vessel Gallery, in my mind, is ground zero for art venues. The space itself, having the entry with a smaller gallery space on ground level, plus an upper lever with a rear patio says it all in terms of contextual urban at its best. If you are considering a space to show some work, have a party and need easy to access weekend parking, don’t hesitate to inquire.
Always fun, always sophisticated, always where the action is at.

What a gem of an art gallery and event space. I was invited to a holiday party at Vessel, and was WOWed by the beauty and uniqueness of this place.
The space was well set up for the cocktail party, it was intimate, artsy, yet unpretentious. The outdoor garden upstairs gave an extra special touch in an urban environment, besides being green, comfortable and lovely. I learned others have used Vessel for catered dinners, weddings, corporate and non-​profit events. I wish I had known about this place before I hosted my clients with dinner at the Legion of Honor.
Just an amazing place in Oakland. Oh, they also sell one-​of-​a-​kind artistic jewelry. One necklace caught my eye and Lonnie, the owner, was there and did the transaction for me. I, or I should say the necklace has been getting compliments left and right.

Have a need to see some awesome artworks, go to Vessel. If you’re up for the crowd of Art Murmur, this is definitely a spot not to miss. Lonnie, the owner, does a wonderful job curating the space. From amazing sculptures, paintings and jewelry, she’s got it covered. The space is also beautiful, with great natural light. If you come on a Saturday Stroll, you’ll see how lovely it is. Perfect for small events.

Hip-​wanna bee factor pretty high here, but charming in form and function with a terrific Oakland address. It’s a beautiful thing happening in the ‘hood.

Lovely gallery and event space. Cool old building. Sloped ceilings upstairs. Cozy outdoor patio. An asset to Oakland.

Will be attending Art Murmur properly in a few days…
Vessel is such a hidden jewel of a gallery. Amazing and airy upstairs, opening to the fresh air… unique pieces displayed. It was the venue for a Unilocal mixer that featured body art.
Such a gorgeous space, and a great spot to stop off and reflect on the meaning and purpose of art for a bit.
PS The rafters and angles with the sloped roofline create dedicated nooks and crannies of secrecy and mystique, which I find utterly charming. Reminds me of the wonderful days I lived off Gibbons Dr in Alameda… a literal paradise of architectural gems.

Vessel Gallery is a cool and « Unilocal-​y» venue. This Art Gallery and Event Space is somewhat of a hidden gem, but within easy walking distance of the various Oakland’s restaurants in the Broadway & Grand Avenue area. I was introduced to Vessel Gallery by coming to a YEE here in March 2012. Thank you, Nique, for finding yet another awesome location for your East Bay YEE’s.
This Gallery is in a 2-​story commercial building, with the ground floor devoted to several pieces of interesting and thought provoking art and sculptures. However, the stairs to the 2^nd floor reveal a much larger wood-​floored loft, with a vaulted ceiling, and an upstairs outdoor exit to a cool rooftop garden patio. The upstairs serve as the primary event space in addition to being a very nice art gallery. Check out the photos of the upstairs that a few of my fellow Unilocalers have posted, as the photos nicely capture the vibe and ambiance of this artistic venue.

A sweet space, convenient to Art Murmur on First Fridays. Make sure you stop in! Owner Lonnie has created a lovely, peaceful ambiance in this converted industrial building (If you like old bits of equipment, you’ll love the winch system on the 2^nd floor). Lonnie’s got a real flair for interior design, and the 2 collections I’ve seen there have been well-​thought-​out and placed to their best advantage.
Vessel hosts artist talks and also musical events. Heard a band there and really enjoyed the acoustics.
The fine print: I’ve body painted there, once for a Unilocal!event, once for fun… would be glad to do it again. Note, Lonnie didn’t ask me to write this review.

Such an amazing space.
Aside from being a gorgeous gallery, it’s also my dream house. Think «urban barn,» with a small gallery below and a huge hardwood floored loft with vaulted ceilings and luxurious patio above. Vessel was the absolute stand-​out spot for me during Art Murmur.
They had a very simple but interesting sculpture exhibit downtstairs, and this dreamy little folksy musician (Anna Ash and the Family Tree) strumming and crooning away upstairs. It was all so bohemian.
Vessel is a must, especially amidst the mish-​mash of happenings during Art Murmur. But beware… you’ll probably want to stay a while.

That space is gorgeous. I want to live there. The building layout is spectacular. The art was good too.

get ready to loose your mind…
This curator knows her stuff.
Man the artist are over the top edgy and talented… great place to buy jewlery and gifts too… Oh thank you for bringing culture to OAKTOWN!!!