A prominent East Village art gallery is preparing for a significant expansion as it relocates to a much larger space on Ingersoll Avenue. The move comes as the business experiences growing sales and expands its operations to include a full-service interior design firm.

Des Moines native Liz Lidgett, who opened the Liz Lidgett Gallery in 2019 in the East Village, announced that her gallery will be moving to a spacious new location at 2921 Ingersoll Avenue. The new space was previously occupied by interior design firm Jeid Studio and offers substantially more room for the growing business.

The expansion has become necessary as Lidgett added an interior design firm to her existing gallery operations approximately six months ago. The combined business now employs seven people, including one designer in the new design studio. However, their current East Village location, with only 1,100 square feet of space, has become too cramped for the expanded operations.

"It's time that we give ourselves some elbow room, show some more art, develop the design program, and become the 2.0 version of this business," Lidgett explained. She expressed appreciation for the East Village community, noting, "Part of what I have loved about the East Village over the last almost seven years is, there are so many independently-owned, oftentimes female-owned businesses down here. And it's just this great community of small business owners that support each other."

The transition will be carefully managed to minimize disruption to customers and operations. The East Village location will officially close its doors on September 29, with the goal of opening the new Ingersoll Avenue gallery in late October. During the transition period, the business will continue accepting orders online, and staff will maintain customer support through digital channels.

"It's a process to move 500 works of art, and to do it safely," Lidgett acknowledged. "This is what keeps me up at night right now." The logistical challenge of relocating such a large collection of valuable artwork requires careful planning and execution.

Lidgett's gallery has established itself as a significant player in both local and national art markets. The business represents approximately 70 artists, many of whom are based in Iowa, offering pieces ranging from $200 to $15,000. The gallery has achieved remarkable reach, with 80% of its pieces sold online to customers across all 50 states and international markets including Canada, Australia, Argentina, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

From the beginning, Lidgett has been committed to supporting both Iowa-based artists and female artists, addressing significant gender disparities in the art world. While women constitute only 13% of artists represented in galleries nationwide, at least 50% of the artists Lidgett represents are women. This commitment to diversity and inclusion has been a cornerstone of her business philosophy.

With the move to Ingersoll Avenue, Lidgett plans to significantly expand her focus on Iowa artists and create a more dynamic community hub. "We do have Iowa artists on our roster, but it doesn't make up a large enough percentage in my mind," she stated. The new location will feature a "rotating wall" specifically designed to showcase Iowa artists, "whether they're on our roster or not."

"We'd like to focus on our central Iowa and Des Moines clients, giving them a space where they can come in and see artists from Iowa," Lidgett explained. "There's a little bit more opportunity for us to do some community work and really start to play a part of the local scene and bolster it because there's so much incredible art happening here."

Lidgett brings impressive credentials to her business. A Des Moines native who grew up near Ingersoll Avenue, she graduated from Roosevelt High School before earning a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and a master's degree in public art from the University of Southern California. Her educational background combines practical communication skills with specialized knowledge of public art.

The gallery's success has earned national recognition. In 2023, the Liz Lidgett Gallery was named one of America's Top 70 small businesses by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Simon & Schuster will publish Lidgett's 50,000-word book in April, which will highlight 125 artists and feature 250 photographs from artists and homes across the country.

As Lidgett prepares to close the chapter on the space where she built her business and established her reputation over the past seven years, she expresses excitement about the new opportunities on Ingersoll Avenue. "I live in that area and I grew up in that area, so it feels like home," she said. "There are special shops that have been there for a very long time, and I think the community supports that area, and they love those shops. There is a cool vibe that is a great mix of longevity and being open to newness."

The relocation represents more than just a change of address for the gallery. It symbolizes the evolution of a successful small business that has grown from a local art gallery into a comprehensive art and design firm with national and international reach, while maintaining its commitment to supporting local artists and the broader Des Moines creative community.