Photograph by Carlie Burton
Part modern art museum and part eccentric gift shop, Cockerill Gallery’s showcase of curiosities is a Wonderland for aspiring collectors and curious minds. Hand-carved wooden birds from Bali perch under African masks, miniature dioramas assembled in hollowed goose eggs hang from a glittering tree, and elegant iron animal sculptures line the windows. As you browse, you’ll be sure to find something you didn’t catch on the first pass around.
Vickie Cockerill, the gallery’s founder and owner, isn’t new to working with the arts. “I had a store in Mt. Adams in the ’70s, and we traveled a lot,” she says. “Then I met my husband, an artist himself, and I went into advertising with him.”
Photograph by Carlie Burton
As that industry shifted, she moved back into a familiar role and opened Cockerill Gallery in March 2002. “Here I am, doing it again, 22 years later,” she says.
The corner storefront invites passers-by to take a peek inside, attracting many of its clientele with window-shopping. It isn’t hard to see why —there’s nothing else quite like the eclectic works on display. “We deal with artists and artisans, so everything’s handmade,” Cockerill says. “There are goods from all over the world: jewelry, handblown glass, metalwork from Zimbabwe.”
Some of those works include Loy Allen’s glass insects. The creatures, which fit in the palm of your hand, take inspiration from the Art Nouveau movement.
Photograph by Carlie Burton
You’ll also find pieces from New York jewelry designer Biba Schutz, who plays with light, shadow, and form. Pottery pieces by Cincinnatian Donna Tukel are made with organic textures and brilliant finishes. And Andi Kay’s bird art comes in many forms, from papier-mâché sculptures to multimedia works to jewelry.
Due to the nature of the business, her inventory has grown alongside her developing relationships. “Some artists I’ve worked with for decades, and now I’m working with their kids,” she says. The other part of the business, is running the gallery itself and interacting with customers. “I’ve met so many wonderful people. Sometimes, kids come in with their parents, and they’re so interested in everything here.”
Photograph by Carlie Burton
Cockerill wants customers to engage not just with the showcased art, but to approach each item with curiosity. Where did it come from? Who made it, and how, and why? To Cockerill, the story and craft matter as much as the finished work.
Cockerill Gallery, 2700 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, (513) 681-7444
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