Chickadee Art Collective is located at Tahoe Backyard community gathering space in Kings Beach, CA (next door to Bear Belly Brewing Co.). We opened in 2021 with a need to provide a space for local artists to sell their work and wares. We stocked the work of 12 artists then. Two years later we carry more than 60 artists in the shop and engage with the community through art classes, kids art camps, maker's markets and free kids art tables at community events.
Owners/artists Nicole and Dave Stirling worked closely with many local artists throughout the pandemic when there were no local brick and mortar stores to sell their work. Born out of the need to create a space for our creative community members to sell the art and items that are made right here in the Tahoe/Truckee/Reno area. Nicole Stirling is a born and raised Kings Beach local (graduated from KBE in 1989 and NTHS in 1997), and has been creating art locally for much of her lifetime here on the north shore. She and Dave met in college in art classes at CSU Chico in 1999. The business model at Chickadee Art Collective is simply to provide a beautiful, clean and colorful space for local artists to not only find exposure in the community, but to also sell their work. Chickadee Art Collective was voted Best Art Gallery by Sierra Sun readers in 2021 and took 2nd place in 2022.