Hands Gallery

Hands Gallery Hands Gallery is located on California’s beautiful and historic central coast in the town of San Luis Obispo.

Hands Gallery has been offering local residents and visitors the very best selection of fine contemporary crafts and one-of-a-kind gifts for over 20 years. We are proud to showcase the work of talented local artists such as Lisa Leonard, Gwynnie B, Phoebe Palmer, and Meg Johnson. We also represent national artists such as Sticks, Dogeared Jewelry, Brian Andres, and Waxing Poetic in a stimulating and friendly environment.

09/11/2026

POST 7/35 — spend the day with us (well… with Bailey)

Remember when we said we were going to post 35 times for 35 years of Hands? And remember when Post 7 was supposed to happen on August 28? 😅

Well, hopefully this nearly three-minute vlog was worth the wait because apparently it took us approximately two weeks to edit it.

Come along for a very normal day of dropping off Walt, styling a jewelry look, discussing giant slugs with strangers, attempting to organize the card wall, actually organizing the card wall three hours later, ringing up lots of you, and doing the very glamorous duties that come with closing a retail store.

And don’t worry—we meant it when we said 35 posts for 35 years. All 35 ARE happening. So prepare yourselves to be sufficiently spammed as we catch up. 🤍

7/35 ✓

The Hands Icons, No. 02: The clocks. 🕰️If you’ve ever walked down Higuera and referred to us as “the clock store”… we he...
08/28/2026

The Hands Icons, No. 02: The clocks. 🕰️

If you’ve ever walked down Higuera and referred to us as “the clock store”… we heard you!😂

These whimsical wall clocks have been hanging in the very first display niche inside our doors since the early 2000s, making them one of those pieces that has quietly become part of the Hands experience.

For more than two decades, they’ve greeted customers as they walk in, gone home as gifts, and apparently become memorable enough to give us an unofficial second name.

35 years of Hands means looking back at the things that became icons somewhere along the way—and these definitely earned their spot. ❤️

Did you know us as “the clock store”?

08/27/2026

Day 5 of 35 years of Hands ✋🏼

35 years at 777 Higuera Street — but the story of this building began long before us. 🤎

As part of our 35th anniversary, we wanted to learn a little more about the place we’ve been lucky enough to call home for so many years.

So we sat down with local architect, historian, and longtime SLO fixture Pierre Rademaker to talk about our building — its architecture, its history, and some of the details we’ve walked past every day without ever knowing the story behind them.

There’s something really special about getting to know the history of the walls that have held so much of our history.

Thank you, Pierre, for sharing your knowledge with us and helping us look at 777 Higuera Street a little differently. 🫶🏼

35 years of Hands. A whole lot more history within these walls.

The hands behind Hands. Past, present & future. 🤍For 35 years, this little shop has passed through a lot of hands.The ha...
08/26/2026

The hands behind Hands. Past, present & future. 🤍

For 35 years, this little shop has passed through a lot of hands.

The hands that started it.
The hands that grew it.
The hands that work here.
The hands of our artists.
The hands of our customers who have kept coming back year after year.

And now, one very little pair that gets to grow up knowing Hands as part of his family story. 🤍

Day 6 of 35. Here’s to the hands that got us here — and the ones still to come.

If these hands could talk… 👀One of our favorite little details hiding in plain sight at Hands: the light fixtures throug...
08/25/2026

If these hands could talk… 👀

One of our favorite little details hiding in plain sight at Hands: the light fixtures throughout the gallery are held by casts of the original owners’ actual hands.

Yes, really. Their hands. 🙌

They’ve been part of the gallery for decades, quietly holding the lights above the very sections so many of you have wandered through over the years. It’s one of those wonderfully weird details that makes Hands feel like Hands—and something you could easily visit us a hundred times without ever noticing.

So next time you’re in, look up. You may recognize a few more “hands” around the gallery than you realized. 🤍

Day 3 of 35. A little piece of Hands history, hiding in plain sight.

THE HANDS ICONS, No. 01: French-milled soap. 🧼If you’ve been shopping at Hands for a while, you probably know this one.F...
08/24/2026

THE HANDS ICONS, No. 01: French-milled soap. 🧼

If you’ve been shopping at Hands for a while, you probably know this one.

For roughly 25 years, French-milled soap has had a practically permanent home on our shelves. Our longtime supplier sadly closed its doors last year, but there was never really a question of whether the soap itself was going anywhere. We found a new favorite in Pré de Provence™ - European Soaps and carried on the tradition.

It may not be the flashiest thing in the store, but that’s almost exactly why it belongs on our list of Hands icons. It’s dependable. It’s practical. It smells incredible. It’s the gift you grab when you need just one more little thing — and somehow, everyone is happy to receive it.

Some of you don’t even buy it one bar at a time. We have customers who order it by the case. 😂

And that, we think, is the mark of a true Hands classic.

Day 2 of 35. Over the next month, we’re sharing 10 products that have earned iconic status around here — the things you’ve gifted, received, replaced, repurchased and come back for year after year.

So tell us: do you remember buying French-milled soap at Hands? And more importantly… what other Hands product do you think HAS to make the top 10? 👀

35 YEARS OF HANDS.35 days from today, Hands Gallery turns 35. And we thought a milestone like this deserved more than ju...
08/23/2026

35 YEARS OF HANDS.

35 days from today, Hands Gallery turns 35. And we thought a milestone like this deserved more than just one day of celebrating.

So, welcome to 35 Days for 35 Years.

Every day leading up to September 25th, we’re opening the archives and telling a little piece of the Hands story—the people, the products, the building, the memories, the windows, and all the little things that have made this place what it is.

Some stories go all the way back to 1991. Some are happening right now. And some you may have never heard before.

For 35 years, you’ve walked through our doors, brought our gifts into your homes, supported the art and makers on our shelves, celebrated life’s moments with us, and allowed a little shop in Downtown San Luis Obispo to become part of this community.

And because a 35-year celebration called for something special, we photographed this campaign inside the soon-to-be home of San Luis Obispo Museum of Art —a space we’re so excited to see become part of the next chapter of Downtown SLO.

We can’t wait to spend the next 35 days celebrating all of it.

Day 1 of 35. Here we go.

We’re growing our little team. 🖤Hands Gallery is looking for a part-time Sales Associate to join us in downtown SLO!We’r...
07/26/2026

We’re growing our little team. 🖤

Hands Gallery is looking for a part-time Sales Associate to join us in downtown SLO!

We’re looking for someone who genuinely enjoys people, has an eye for the little details, and understands that what we do is about so much more than ringing up a sale. It’s helping someone find the perfect gift, sharing the story behind an artist’s work, wrapping something beautifully, and creating the kind of shopping experience that keeps people coming back year after year.

If you’re friendly, reliable, creative, and love art, gifts & beautiful things, you might be exactly who we’re looking for.

Weekend evening + holiday availability is required, with flexible weekday availability preferred.

Think you’d be a great fit? Send your resume to [email protected] or give us a call at (805) 543-1921 for more details.

And if someone immediately came to mind while reading this… send this post their way. 🤍

We can’t wait to meet the next member of our Hands Gallery team.

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Happy Valentine’s Day, sweethearts ❤️Whether you’re celebrating your forever love, your best friend, or yourself (as you...
02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day, sweethearts ❤️

Whether you’re celebrating your forever love, your best friend, or yourself (as you should), we’ve made it easy to find something meaningful.

Still need a gift? We’re your one stop shop.
From charming cards to thoughtfully curated jewels, heartfelt art pieces, and upscale cozy finds she’ll live in… it’s all here waiting for you.

And yes — we’ll even wrap it beautifully so you can walk out ready to impress. 🎀

We’re here for you from 10AM–7PM today.
Come see us and let us help you play Cupid 💘

Holiday hours are officially here!❄️We’ll be open a little longer to help you check everyone off your list, soak up the ...
12/19/2025

Holiday hours are officially here!❄️

We’ll be open a little longer to help you check everyone off your list, soak up the festive feeling, and enjoy the season with us.
Save this post for later + we’ll see you in store 🤍🎄

Address

777 Higuera Street
San Luis Obispo, CA
93401

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 9pm
Friday 10am - 8pm
Saturday 10am - 8pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+18055431921

Website

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