About

aRt Cottage is an art gallery and studio in downtown Concord, California where you can enjoy a variety of work by local Bay Area artists.

Exhibits change approximately every two months. The public is always invited to free art receptions where refreshments are served. The future for aRt Cottage is bright. It will include classes for adults and children in several mediums. aRt Cottage is also a meeting place where local artists have the opportunity to critique each other's work.

The owner of aRt Cottage is FROgard Schmidt, who was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States in the 1950′s. She learned from her hardworking parents that this is the land of opportunity. Her grandfather and great grandfather were both artists. Her parents were mechanical draftsmen. Becoming an artist was not a decision for her – it just was.

She studied as an art major at San Francisco State and holds a degree from California State College of the East Bay (formerly Hayward State). FROgard studied  art in Florence, Italy with the American Institute for Foreign Study. She is consistently enrolled in workshops and full-time college courses learning new techniques while painting, drawing, and working the clay. aRt Cottage is a place where she is willing to share what she has learned and also wanting to learn from others by viewing their art as well as learning from them.

Her love for life and nature is expressed in her paintings and ceramics. It is easy to see that she is connected with the elements. The aRt Cottage gardens are completely tended to and loved by FROgard. Seeds and plants have been donated by wonderful neighbors and friends.

Because she has always liked mud and finger-paint, texture is important. aRt Cottage now has a space for a kiln and potter's wheel where all can play and create in the "mud."

"aRt" is spelled this way because the emphasis is on the "R," making it "our" cottage. Everyone has a stake in making this a fun and creative place to learn, produce, and share. aRt Cottage is pet-friendly.

2238 Mt. Diablo Street
Concord, CA 94520

(925) 956-3342

HOURS OF OPERATION

Wednesdays through Saturdays 11am-5pm