The Art Garage Austin - Paint Pottery, Camps, and More!

MAKING AUSTIN A HAPPIER PLACE SINCE 2008

Who is The Art Garage?

The Art Garage started in 2008 when owner Kelly Emmert, a high school art teacher and mom of two, began teaching private lessons and running a small summer camp out of her home garage. That first camp had just seven kids, but the idea grew quickly. By 2011, The Art Garage had outgrown the garage and opened its first commercial studio on Circle Drive, where we’ve been part of the Austin community ever since.

Our purpose has always been simple: create & be happy! We want to provide a welcoming space where anyone—kids, families, friends, or coworkers—can relax, make art, and enjoy being together. Pottery, mosaics, glass fusion, we love giving people of all ages the chance to try something new and make something they’re proud of. Some campers and families have been with us since the beginning, and it’s been a joy to see them return year after year!

The people behind The Art Garage are what make it special. Kelly’s daughters, Kaiya and Joie, grew up in the studio and now help run the business as adults. Our current studio managers, Meghan and Drew, started as summer teachers years ago and now lead their own studios with creativity, care, and a genuine love for what we do. Many of our staff grew up making art here themselves, and we’re proud to have a team that reflects the spirit of Austin: creative, kind, and community-minded.

We’ve grown beyond the original garage, but the heart of the studio hasn’t changed. We’re here to provide a supportive space where you can connect, create, and leave a little happier than when you arrived.

“The purpose of life is to find your gift. The meaning of life is to give it away.” – Picasso

You can find us at multiple Austin locations: Circle Drive in the southwest hills and North Lamar in north central Austin.

ABOUT GARAGE

The Art Garage

About our CEO & Founder: Kelly Emmert

How did The Art Garage come about?

After having my two daughters and being a stay home mama for a few years, I was looking for a way to creatively re-enter the workforce. I really wanted to balance working and being a mother. As a former high school art teacher, I began to teach private art lessons out of our garage. At this time, I was also creating and marketing my own fused glass art. I adore glass–it’s so beautiful! A friend suggested that I hold a summer art camp; (thanks Therese!) I found that I loved it. I got to plan a whole week of fun, creative activities that teach art fundamentals. Kids were happy; building confidence, making new friends, and learning art. That first camp was seven kiddos, all friends’ children. The next summer I held about four weeks of camps and not all were friends’ kids! By then, I had found my passion.

I did what came naturally to me, which was art and teaching. The Art Garage grew. I realized that I wanted to provide a venue that was expansive enough to cover a wide range of art formats for people of all ages and experience levels. In 2011, we opened our storefront at 11190 Circle Drive. We opened offering art camps, art classes; walk-in paint-your-own pottery, and glass fusion. We are still “The Art Garage,” but no longer in an actual garage! We have a well-educated and caring staff of teachers. Since our opening, we have added so much more: canvas painting, mosaics, tie-dye, and more!

What do you enjoy the most?

My favorite part of this journey is the people. Some of my campers have been coming since that first summer in 2008; I get to see them grow up! I have created cherished friendships with many customers, our kids have grown up here and are now an integral part of the business.

Our staff is very important to me. Especially one of my studio managers, and one of my studio assistants, my daughters, Kaiya & Joie. Kaiya & Joie both have grown up with the art in our studio and truly embody the core values of The Art Garage (Kai was 7 and Joie was 3 when I began this journey!) I am continually impressed with their abilities to make every guest feel at home in our studio, and I am so fortunate to get to work closely with my daughters into their adult lives!

We are also graced with young staff members, some of whom grew up coming to The Art Garage, and others who have been joining us for our summer program for many years. It has been a joy having such wonderful people to work with who so positively reflect the spirit of ATX and our community at large.

Austin is so important to us. We have also had the opportunity to support our local schools and families and children in need. We are so appreciative to have such a great community and a sense of belonging within it. We hope to get to know you soon!

“The purpose of life is to find your gift. The meaning of life is to give it away.” ~Picasso