When Mandy Medlin moved from Arkansas to Reno in 2018, Nevada Fine Arts was where she first found community through art classes and workshops.
In February 2024, she bought the business.
Taking ownership of the independent art-supply store was a dream come true for Medlin, who had helped run businesses before but never owned one. Under her leadership, the store has been voted Best Frame Shop for two consecutive years by RN&R readers.
“What a victory,” Medlin said. “You know, when you get an accolade like that, it appears like maybe it came with ease, but there’s always a struggle behind trying to make it be the best.”
Framing is challenging work, Medlin said. She works with other frame shops in town to make sure customers get what they need. If there’s a project the Nevada Fine Arts staff can’t do, or questions they can’t answer, they’ll reach out to other frame shops for referrals or advice.
“We make sure that our relationships between employees and staff—other frame shops in the community—come first, and that we take care of other people, Medlin said. “We try to make it fun and make the investment worth it. At the end of the day, frames are not cheap.”
The store also works with artists to provide framing discounts to people who buy their work.
“If artists want to collaborate with us … maybe we put brochures at their booth,” Medlin said. If artists distribute Nevada Fine Arts sticker, their clients can show them at the shop for a discount, she added.
Most of Nevada Fine Arts’ frame customers are collectors, and sometimes the art they are having framed is by an artist who has been to the store.
“It’s like, ‘I know the artist who has just been working on that,’” Medlin said. “So, it’s really cool to see it come full circle like that through the store.”
There’s a lot of give and take at Nevada Fine Arts. Store employees, who are artists themselves, can offer advice to shoppers. Artists might find themselves next to one of those employees at a market or show. When an artist is ready to frame their work for their next show or sale, the framer at Nevada Fine Arts can help them find the best frame to showcase it.
“It’s a really neat ecosystem here at Nevada Fine Arts,” Medlin said. “When it’s flowing, it’s a beautiful, flowing river of joy and collaboration.”
Nevada Fine Arts is also a community space where artists can host their own workshops or attend others, connect with fellow artists, and see their work in the store’s gallery.
It was also home to an international show that went viral—the 4×4 Art Show, which featured four-inch-square, 2D and 3D art pieces. The store received close to 3,000 submissions and sold about 600 pieces.
Nevada Fine Arts is located at 1301 S. Virginia St., in Reno. Learn more at nvfinearts.com.