Vail Art Studio Profile Photo - Activities in Vail CO
Vail Art Studio

Activities
 Vail, 81657

Send Message
Do you own or operate Vail Art Studio? Claim this listing now. Claim this listing

About

The Vail Art Studio is the town's first building dedicated to the visual arts: a small, light-filled working studio on the lower bench of Ford Park, overlooking Gore Creek near the Manor Vail bridge and next to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. The Town of Vail's Art in Public Places program, the same program behind the village's public sculpture and murals, runs it.

It is not a gallery with fixed opening hours. Artists from Eagle County, the wider region and further afield take up short residencies to make work here, and the public sees the studio during open-studio sessions, demonstrations and receptions. It suits curious visitors who like to watch work in progress, families spending an afternoon in Ford Park, and local artists looking for a residency.

The building

Harry Teague Architects designed the studio to work as a sculpture in the park as well as a workspace. The 750-square-foot building holds a 450-square-foot open studio under a vaulted ceiling, with 12-foot walls and windows that bring in natural light while leaving long stretches of wall free for work.

Residencies and open studios

Each residency runs for a few weeks, and the resident artist opens the studio to visitors on set days. The fall 2026 resident is Andrew Pranger of Edwards, winner of the Vail Art Studio Challenge; his open-studio Saturdays are listed in the FAQ. Because the calendar changes with each artist, check the Art in Public Places page before making a special trip.

The Vail Art Studio Challenge

Every summer the program runs a live art competition for Eagle County artists, held in 2026 on the patio at Avanti at Golden Peak. Jurors award a $5,000 stipend and a two-week residency in the studio, which is how local painters and mixed-media artists earn time in the space.

Pairing it with Ford Park

The studio sits a short walk from the gardens, the Gerald Ford Amphitheater and the creekside paths, so it fits easily into a summer afternoon in the park.

Sources: Town of Vail: Vail Art Studio. Checked September 23, 2026.

Get Directions View Larger Map

Contact Information

Company Name
Vail Art Studio
Location
840 Vail Valley Dr
Vail, 81657

Vail Art Studio Photo Albums

Posted by Vail Art Studio
Vail Art Studio Photos
Vail Art Studio Photos

Photos of Vail Art Studio.... View More

We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no cost to you. Disclosure

About Vail Art Studio

Quick answer: Vail Art Studio is a business at 840 Vail Valley Dr, Vail, CO 81657. Vail's first visual arts studio, in Ford Park by Gore Creek: artist residencies, open-studio days and the Vail Art Studio Challenge.

Last updated

The Vail Art Studio is the town's first building dedicated to the visual arts: a small, light-filled working studio on the lower bench of Ford Park, overlooking Gore Creek near the Manor Vail bridge and next to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. The Town of Vail's Art in Public Places program, the same program behind the village's public sculpture and murals, runs it.

It is not a gallery with fixed opening hours. Artists from Eagle County, the wider region and further afield take up short residencies to make work here, and the public sees the studio during open-studio sessions, demonstrations and receptions. It suits curious visitors who like to watch work in progress, families spending an afternoon in Ford Park, and local artists looking for a residency.

The building

Harry Teague Architects designed the studio to work as a sculpture in the park as well as a workspace. The 750-square-foot building holds a 450-square-foot open studio under a vaulted ceiling, with 12-foot walls and windows that bring in natural light while leaving long stretches of wall free for work.

Residencies and open studios

Each residency runs for a few weeks, and the resident artist opens the studio to visitors on set days. The fall 2026 resident is Andrew Pranger of Edwards, winner of the Vail Art Studio Challenge; his open-studio Saturdays are listed in the FAQ. Because the calendar changes with each artist, check the Art in Public Places page before making a special trip.

The Vail Art Studio Challenge

Every summer the program runs a live art competition for Eagle County artists, held in 2026 on the patio at Avanti at Golden Peak. Jurors award a $5,000 stipend and a two-week residency in the studio, which is how local painters and mixed-media artists earn time in the space.

Pairing it with Ford Park

The studio sits a short walk from the gardens, the Gerald Ford Amphitheater and the creekside paths, so it fits easily into a summer afternoon in the park.

Sources: Town of Vail: Vail Art Studio. Checked September 23, 2026.

Art Ford Park Public Art

Amenities at Vail Art Studio

  • Open working studio
  • ADA accessible bathroom
  • Natural-light studio
  • Outdoor programming space
  • Artist residencies
  • Open-studio events

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Vail Art Studio?
On the lower bench of Ford Park at 840 Vail Valley Drive, Vail, CO 81657, overlooking Gore Creek near the Manor Vail bridge and next to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. It is a short walk from the Gerald Ford Amphitheater and Ford Park's paths and playing fields.
Can I visit, and when is it open?
Yes, when the resident artist opens it. The studio is a working space for artists in residence, not a gallery, so it has no regular daily opening hours; the public visits during scheduled open-studio hours, demonstrations and receptions, which change with each residency. Check the Town of Vail's Vail Art Studio page before making a special trip, as dates are announced per resident.
Is this the same as the Art Studio at the Imagination Station?
No. This is the Town of Vail's artist-residency studio in Ford Park, run by the Art in Public Places program. The Art Studio at the Imagination Station in Lionshead is a separate drop-in art program run by the Vail Recreation District, where children do art activities and Paint Your Own Pottery during an Imagination Station visit. If you are looking for kids' art activities or pottery painting, you want the Lionshead one; if you want to see a working artist's studio in Ford Park, you want this one.
Who runs the Vail Art Studio?
The Town of Vail's Art in Public Places program, the program behind Vail's public sculptures and murals. Questions go to [email protected]; the program coordinator named in the Town's studio document is Molly Eppard ([email protected], 970-479-2344).
Does it cost anything to visit?
No admission charge is listed for open-studio visits. The Town publishes no ticket or fee for seeing the studio during an open session.
What is the Vail Art Studio Challenge?
An annual summer live art competition for Eagle County artists. In 2026, in its second year, ten artists had three hours (4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 13) to create a work from start to finish on the patio of Avanti Vail at Golden Peak. A panel of guest jurors awarded a $5,000 grand prize stipend, sponsored by Vicki and Kent Logan, and a two-week fall residency in the studio; every participating artist received a $50 Avanti gift card. Dates for the next edition have not been published.
How can an artist use the studio?
Through the residency program and the annual Challenge. Residencies host Eagle County, regional, national and international artists, emerging, mid-career, established, and art students, to work in the studio, with public engagement such as talks, demonstrations and workshops agreed with each artist. The Challenge is the published route in for Eagle County artists: residents aged 18 and over apply to [email protected], and the winner agrees a two-week fall residency with the Town. Overnight stays in the studio are not permitted, and Challenge artists bring their own supplies and sign a liability waiver.
How big is the studio, and what is inside?
The building is 750 square feet: a 450-square-foot open working studio under a vaulted ceiling with 12-foot walls and windows arranged for natural light and uninterrupted wall space, plus an entrance foyer, an ADA accessible bathroom and storage. Outdoor areas next to the studio are also available for programming and workspace. Harry Teague Architects designed the building to work as a sculpture in the park as well as a studio.

Winter in Vail

Book a Vail winter extra

See all Vail tours

More activities on VailVacay