Tucked in the foothills of Catalina, Arizona, Absolutely Art Gallery & Gifts offers a vibrant and welcoming space to explore the diverse talents of Southern Arizona artists. The gallery features an eclectic array of media—ranging from fused glass and fine art photography to hand-crafted ceramics, scratchboard, rock art, leather and more. Whether browsing for a statement piece or a meaningful gift, visitors will find a curated collection that reflects both artistry and individuality.

Gallery owner Pam Gappa launched the space in 2017, channeling her lifelong appreciation for creativity into a venue that celebrates local talent. After years in the travel and consulting industries, she pivoted toward her passion, opening the gallery to give artists a place to showcase their work and build community. Today, the gallery represents over 135 local artists and continues to grow as a hub for artistic expression and joyful discovery. 

“Art is very personal,” says Gappa. “Our goal is to have something for everyone to enjoy and appreciate. We want our customers to have fun when visiting Absolutely Art Gallery & Gifts. We are certain our customers will find wonderful items to make them smile and even laugh at their uniqueness.”

In addition to its rotating displays, Absolutely Art hosts year-round workshops for those curious to try their hand at a new craft—without the need to invest in supplies. Offerings include ceramics, fused glass, fine silver jewelry, watercolor, oil and acrylic painting, drawing, collage, Zen-tangle and more.

Currently, the gallery is celebrating its Customer Appreciation Summer Sale, with discounts ranging from 10 to 50 percent through August. Twice a year, the popular Artist Tent Shows bring together around 40 artists for an outdoor art event where guests can meet the makers, browse one-of-a-kind works, and enjoy special show pricing.

From the minute I was born. My father was an artist, a potter. My mother was a seamstress, which is an art in itself. Growing up, I had all these exposures to art and creativity. I majored in art in school, but then I got into the travel business. 

After we moved to Tucson, I was introduced to glass by a couple of friends, and that was it. It was love at first sight; I knew it was my next calling in life.

Everywhere. I look out at the desert and I’ll see the shape of a tree, or I look in a magazine and see a design on fabric. I may see a painting and think, “Oh, wouldn’t that look interesting in glass?” I don’t emulate other glass artists’ work, because I think that would be plagiarism. 

I love color, the more color the better. I also do a lot of series in desert tones and amber. My brother makes all of my metal stands. We do the work backwards—he brings me the stands, and I create something to go with them.

That it’s original. People seem to really like glass. I love doing custom work for gifts and for customers’ homes. If they see a piece they like but it’s not the right colors, that’s no problem, I can customize them. I’ve created windows, pieces to fit a certain area in a house, and custom wedding gifts. I specialize in creating pieces that make people’s ideas come to fruition.

We offer two fused glass workshops a month, and participants can pick from a variety of pieces to make, e.g., a vase, yard totem, plant stakes, hearts. We also are teaching kids workshops (must bring an adult) in the summer, and the kids adore making glass ornaments.

I had been doing glass art for 10 years, and I was part of a gallery. It didn’t feel right to me; it wasn’t the way I felt a gallery should be. I chose to leave that gallery and opened Absolutely Art Gallery and Gifts in 2017.

That’s a really good question. When I’m at the gallery, I’m truly in my happy place. I love teaching workshops and being with customers. I enjoy explaining things to them about the types of art and particular artists, sometimes describing the process they use. When I’m not at the gallery, I’m in my studio playing and creating new things.

We don’t charge artists for space, and they don’t work in the gallery. When a piece of their art sells, the gallery receives a portion of the sale price. What I didn’t realize when I opened the gallery is how much of a community it would create for our artists. A lot of artists are kind of on their own.  I’ll have social events for the artists, so they have an opportunity to mingle and to meet with like-minded people.  

It has been so gratifying to watch how the new/emerging artists grow their craft over the years and become even better. It’s rewarding to see the excitement in them when their pieces start selling.

And, I never anticipated how big of a community the gallery would build for our customers. They tell their friends about us, return frequently, and even bring their out-of-town guests to the gallery.  The gallery has created a community destination, and I didn’t know that was going to happen.

Getting your name out to a wider, broader audience. Advertising is very expensive. Overwhelmingly, the way we get customers is through word-of-mouth referrals.

If you’re going to do this, you absolutely have to love it. Being an artist yourself is important. If you’re going to open a gallery, you can’t be afraid of hard work, you have to like people, and be able to get along with all different kinds of people. Be open to accepting all different genres of art.  For me, when I started, I was really adamant about having gifts and smaller items that everyone can afford. That has been a really successful strategy. The other thing is, we sell a combination of originals and giclees [reproductions].

We have two tent shows each year [spring and fall]. We’ve had 13 shows, and we have the system down pat. The tent show is in the parking lot, and we exhibit about 40 artists. I have a group of young adults who arrive early in the morning to set up the tents with tables, so when the artists arrive, everything is ready for them. The team helps the artists unload their cars and set up for the show as well as with the breakdown process when it’s over at 4 p.m.

We also use a local kettle corn company, Kettle Corn Bros, to make popcorn. The next tent show is scheduled for Saturday, November 22.

Outgoing, energetic, creative, considerate, compassionate, encouraging and independent.

Everybody has the ability to be creative. I encourage people to try to find that creativity within themselves. Try one of our workshops. I love to walk people through the process. You’ll leave with something cool, and you’ll have fun.

Our lives are enhanced with art.