The Art Galleries of Brewster, Massachusetts

*Editors Note May 2020- Please check individual websites for re-opening times and visitor requirements for social distancing.

When you think of art on Cape Cod, Provincetown is probably the first town that springs to mind. After all, Provincetown started as an artists’ colony, and that tradition remains strong to this day.

At the same time, there is a strong artistic presence throughout the Cape, and nowhere exemplifies that spirit better than Brewster.

Whether you’re walking through Brewster’s historic downtown area, or enjoying a quiet afternoon in an off-the-beaten-path recreational area, there’s likely an art gallery nearby.

Many of these galleries are owned and operated by local painters, providing you with an excellent opportunity to take a piece of Cape Cod home with you.

Here is some information on where you can find Brewster’s art galleries and what you’ll find once you walk through their doors.

The Underground Art Gallery

Hidden in a wooded area on Satucket Road, just north of Upper Millpond, is The Underground Art Gallery, which features original paintings and prints by Karen North Wells.

Wells’ paintings are lovely souvenirs to take home from your Cape Cod vacation because many of them depict the region’s stunning landscapes. For example, some of her subjects include Corporation Beach in Dennis, Paine’s Creek in Brewster, and Rock Harbor in Orleans. She has also painted historic buildings in Chatham and Brewster, giving you the chance to hang memories of the Cape’s towns on your walls.

The Underground Art Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon until 5:00 PM during the summer, Thursday through Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM in the fall, and Saturdays between 1:00 and 4:00 PM throughout the winter.

Maddocks Gallery

On Main Street in Brewster, just north of Smith Pond, you’ll find Maddocks Gallery, a venue dedicated to the works of James W. Maddocks.

This building is more than a gallery, as it’s also Maddocks’ home and studio, and the venue is significant because it’s a carriage house dating back to the 1860s. As a result, entering the gallery is like stepping back in time, and the residence is well worth a visit, even if you aren’t planning to purchase any artwork.

At the same time, once you have a look at Maddocks’ works, many of which are affordable prints, buying a couple is sure to interest you. Many of Maddocks’ paintings depict Cape Cod’s history, although he creates some of the contemporary landscape, as well.

Maddocks Gallery is open most days from 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM between May and October. Maddocks tends to travel between November and April, so you’ll have to call ahead if you’re visiting the Cape in the winter.

Struna Galleries

There are two Struna Galleries on Cape Cod: one in Brewster and one in Chatham.

The Brewster gallery sits in a historic home on Main Street near Nickerson State Park and is dedicated to the works of Timothy Jon Struna, a painter and teacher with a career going back to the 1960s. The Chatham gallery, on the other hand, is run by Timothy’s daughter, Heather.

Timothy covers a lot of different materials in his artwork, although some of his most famous are his acrylic and watercolor paintings of the Cape Cod landscape. Prints and reproductions are available of select paintings, so have a look at their website to see what’s available.

Unfortunately, Struna Galleries’ Brewster location doesn’t have regular operating hours, so you’ll have to call ahead to make an appointment or hope that it happens to be open when you arrive. The Chatham store operates from 12:30 until 4:30 on Saturday and Sunday, but you can book an appointment to look around there, too.

Main Street Galleries

There are three additional art galleries in the heart of Brewster’s Main Street, all of which are worth exploring. As a bonus, you can park once and walk to all of these locations within a few minutes.

Tanzer Weaving Studio and Gallery sits in a small, historic building across the street from the popular Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters. The gallery features a variety of handwoven pieces of art for sale, allowing you to take something a little different home from your Cape Cod vacation. The studio is open Tuesday through Saturday between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM and offers weaving classes, as well.

About a five-minute walk from Tanzer is Aries East Gallery, featuring the paintings of Geoffrey Smith. Smith focuses on landscapes and seascapes, both local and around the globe, in addition to marine life, ships, horseracing, golf, and fishing. Aries East Gallery is open on most days of the week between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

Stringe Gallery Art & Antiques is only three minutes from Aries East and sits just outside the Mansions at Ocean Edge. The watercolor creations of Tim Stringe are the attraction here, as this award-winning local artist sells his paintings of the Cape Cod landscape. The gallery is open all year round from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM, except for Tuesdays when it is closed.

Getting to Know Brewster’s Art Scene

Brewster’s art scene is a little underrated, but it shouldn’t be due to the abundance of galleries found within a small section of Cape Cod. Whether your vacation rental is in Brewster, or you plan to spend a day or two exploring the town’s beaches and historic sites, visiting a few of these galleries will give you a new appreciation for this local artistic talent.

Buying a local piece of art is a great way to bring a Cape Cod memory home with you at the end of your vacation, and these galleries in Brewster provide great options from some of the Cape’s best artists.