Loading...
- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
OKOK Gallery - CLOSED
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Art Galleries Shopping Art Galleries Arts & Entertainment Museums Art Galleries, Museums [Edit]
5107 Ballard Ave NW(between Dock Pl & Ione Pl)
Seattle, WA 98107
Neighborhood: Ballard
(206) 789-6242
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
20 reviews for OKOK Gallery
Review Highlights
20 reviews in English
-
Review from abigail l.
Seattle, WA
7/11/2008
So It was my fella's birthday and I was on the chase for a Great Piece of Original Art for our humble home that could tuck neatly inside our humble budget. Thanks to gifts, Etsy purchases, and art acquired from travels abroad, our wall real estate is becoming limited and therefore, Hot. We have to weigh new acquisitions carefully, and the bidding for each square foot is getting fierce. Scoot over prints, we're safely in our 30s now! (Just kidding, prints, come gimme a hug. I love each and every mass reproduced one of you!)
I wasn't on the lookout for a huge work, but something small and special that could make our senses dance a jig. I envisioned a piece that would both regularly renew itself and become a trusty family member, something that a future grandkid might one day lay upside down and gape at for hours, skinned knees akimbo.
After some fruitless frolicking in other galleries, I marched into OKOK. No longer housing clothes, gift items, and toys, the gallery has moved fully into showcasing artists. (If you're still in the market for those goods, talk to the owners--they will share some fab Internet sites with you).
The Craig Norton exhibit, a painful, provocative look at a lynch mob in action, was in full arresting bloom. I chatted with owner Charlie about Norton's work and mentioned that I was on the prowl for a birthday gift. He asked me about styles and price range, and invited me to his back storage room drawers to show me some of their stock. One 60s throwback piece caught my fancy and fit into our budget. Though I appreciated its spirit and detailing, I wasn't completely moon-eyed over it. But I thought the birthday boy might be, and the price felt too fair to pass up.
I bought it and whizzed it home for a grand unveiling. I waited for his customary chuckle of mirth or a "WHOAH!" or an eye twinkle. No twinkle, no rhapsody, just some "Hmm!s" lots of head tilting, and a proposal to put it in the bedroom. I knew it was not True Love, for him or for me. After discussion about limited wall space, I called OKOK and asked if they would take it back. Amanda (Co-owner and wife of Charlie), was Superfreshcool about it, letting me return it for a credit to use toward a future piece. With shows changing every month (openings on 2nd Saturdays), I know we'll eventually find something we both adore. And they offer financing to help out young collectors, so we may be able to stretch our budget a hair.
Lesson 1: Don't buy art you're not googly-eyed over. Chances are, if you love it, your partner will too. Lesson 2: Art surprises are tricky. Since art is subjective AND an investment, it's best to go and pick something out in tandem. Lesson 3: OKOK is a neato gallery. Amanda and Charlie have an excellent aesthetic sensibility and care about bringing art to the people. We're lucky to have them in the Ballard community.
OKOK: Ok! Ok?Listed in: Mix it Up, I like you, Ballard., Aesthetica, ! Storytime !
-
Review from Scott K.
Honolulu, HI
10/1/2007 1 photo
OK OK DRIVES ME CRAZY!
I want to buy every single thing in the store and decorate my room with it! ESPECIALLY THE ART!
... but I can't.
Apparently there is no bigger turn off to the intellectual, professional, graceful woman of my dreams then a plastic smoking Sasquatch doll staring at her in the morning!
I know because I had to throw one away so shut up. -
Review from Heather F.
Phoenix, AZ
11/2/2007
If I could live here, I would.
I now own the fish-eye camera of my dreams. And have my eye on several plastic inessentials (as a professional purveyor of plastic inessentials, this says A LOT!) I've yet to see a piece of art on the walls that I didn't consider selling the good half of my liver for. -
Review from Brian S.
Seattle, WA
12/22/2006
Strange Toys. Cool Books. Art.
I'm sold.
I kinda wish they had a bar to hang out in. -
Review from Avitania B.
5/5/2007
If you're a fan of Giant Robot, Uglydolls, Be@rbrick, or KidRobot, OKOK is definitely the place to go. This place is fabulous, and the staff is great. The art exhibitions here never fail to disappoint. OKOK is a great place to find unique items with a sense of wit and nostalgia for the Gen-X set.
EDIT on 6/9/07: Turns out that OKOK has gotten rid of the vinyl toys and are concentrating solely on the gallery. Still, it's a great place to check out art. -
Review from Alisa M.
Seattle, WA
3/10/2007
First off, let it be known that the pictures here are from OKOK's previous location in Capital Hill. The new location is much bigger, with a somewhat forboding entrance.
I loved the stock they had before but since visiting after the re-location, I was seriously disappointed. Maybe I visited on an off time. This store is still more than one could hope in this town that needs more urban vinyl, but they have a ways to go. -
Review from terrell m.
Seattle, WA
8/12/2006
Fun place to visit and check out modern art, plus cool books and toys. I went here during the Ballard Art walk and it was crawling with people. There was a DJ and the space is laid out well enough that there could've been dancing, but I think I was a little too early for that. In any case, it seemed as though there were a lot of artists there who were more than eager to tell you where the after parties are. What a great place to network if you like to meet new people!
Listed in: Bountiful Ballard
-
Review from michael o.
Bronx, NY
4/16/2007
OKOK is a haven from the gridlock and urban wreckage that Ballard is becoming. Turn off your cellphone, lose that wrist watch and breathe deeply when you enter OKOK. Lose yourself in their assortment of books, toys and original art. OKOK is the perfect temporary antidote to the cancerous condominium growth north of the ship canal. It won't stop the nastiness but it will make it more bearable.
-
Review from mandy m.
1/8/2007
stumbled into this place when it was on capitol hill because of the sunshine buddy display.
went back in later for more and the owner rememered me.
great little mom and pop urban vinyl toy store.
sad its not near me anymore, but my wallet is happier. -
Review from Silvia A.
Seattle, WA
1/5/2006
Can't find a gift for the person who neither wants nor needs anything? Buy them something totally random and awesome at OkOk. The stock is constantly changing and there are monthly meet-the-artist events. This place is as much a store as a showcase for new and interesting art.
-
Review from Bryan M.
Oakland, CA
7/17/2007
Supper cool Ballard gallery. Sometimes they do live music shows where you can sit and chill on the floor, listen to amazing music and browse awesome art! They are always updating their displays. Be on the look out to for random toys and clever gifts.
-
Review from Mr. Eat Drink Wine and Dine R.
Seattle, WA
2/3/2007
This space is so much more amazing now that it is in it's Ballard location. Capitol Hill was great, but didn't allow for the art and installations that the Ballard location affords. And for that, I'm happy as a clam. The artists featured are truly unique and nothing you'll find at the typical spots in Seattle. Toshi Asai, Jen Corace (they have a print of hers right now that is so cool), Tra Shelhtrow, Marcel Dzama, Parskid. All amazing. Wish they'd get more Brendan Monroe too. The toys are a treat. I'm a huge fan of toys and trinkets for adults. Yeah, I'm the guy who still has his Lego's from childhood and still plays with them. So the cool stuff here is icing on the cake.
Especially great is the fact that this is not some stuck up gallery. The owner is one of the most friendly guys on the planet. And I LOVE that you can get a cool gift for as little as 5 bucks or as much as 2500. There is really a range for everyone. -
Review from Michelle B.
Seattle, WA
4/26/2006
Okok always manages to put a smile on my face :)
-
Review from Kimberley D.
Seattle, WA
6/13/2008
Neat urban art both from local artists and international ones. They also sell plush & vinyl toys, clothes, and a variety of other interesting items a la Giant Robot.
-
Review from Kathleen W.
Seattle, WA
9/15/2005 2 photos
If you've ever seen an "ugly doll" and wanted one then you need to go here. This small two room store seems like a corner of the Moma gift shop with unique gifts for that friend of yours who is so cool you never know what to buy them. They have unique clothing too! The prices are the same as they would be in a museum gift store but some of this stuff is so rare that it is worth it... just go check it out!... OK?
-
Review from Les S.
Seattle, WA
9/30/2005
Super cute, tiny little gift shop just off Broadway on Capitol Hill. Ugly Dolls, hard-to-find toys, and anything for the hard to shop for kid and kid at heart. There always seem to be Cornish students shopping in here, too on break from Kerry Hall. AND! They feature cool works from local artists - always worth dropping in once in a while.
-
Review from Rick L.
Seattle, WA
12/15/2005
I'm in love with this store, since I have several dolls from this place of my own. They are really tiny, but the place is full of heart and a really cool indie toy vibe. The items they offer are unique and some stuff I doubt you would find anywhere else. Pricewise, it's definitly fair as well.
-
Review from Julia C.
Portland, OR
7/14/2008
I just stepped in to see the text/ural show yesterday afternoon. One of the owners spotted my new shoes and our conversation unfolded from there. The owners of this gallery are dedicated to keeping art accessible to every day people; keeping people part of the art. Totally great place; totally rad gallery; and the shows are thoughtfully and magnificently curated. Go (now!) and see for yourself.
-
Review from Angela K.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2007
I seriously love toys and books but once I got there I was all about the art. Excellent aesthetic. I'll be stopping by my next visit up north. I'm on the mailing list and two states away.
-
Review from lucy n.
New York, NY
4/6/2007
A gem! Perfect new location for this artfully done shop/gallery. Great shows and thoughtfully stocked.
