About The Atelier
From the Most Beautiful Leaf to The Atelier
The Atelier was born from a simple question: What happened to our creative confidence?
For our founder, Jenna Harris, the spark started in childhood—not in a museum, but on the ground, hunting for the “most beautiful leaf”. That sense of wonder was nearly extinguished in a 3rd-grade classroom when an instructor dismissed her work because she was “too focused” on the details. That “drop” in confidence is something far too many of us recognize.
After a career spanning San Francisco’s high-end galleries, cleaning bird shit off world-class sculptures at the diRosa Preserve , and navigating the “surreal” world of curatorial graduate studies, Jenna realized something was missing. The art world felt cold and emotionally distant. Meanwhile, the “real world” lacked spaces where artists were actually supported and respected as essential workers.
Then came the “double freak out”: two kids, a pandemic, and the realization that the local creative economy was failing the very people who make life vibrant.
The Atelier is our “If not now, when?”. Located in the heart of Midtown Sacramento, we are a hybrid space—part high-end gallery, part industrial workspace, and part experimental classroom. We’ve built the “third space” we wanted for our own family and friends: a place where the gap between “beginner play” and “professional artistry” is bridged under one roof.
Our Core Values
The "Beautiful Leaf" Perspective:
We value the unique, individual way every person sees the world.
Artist-Centric Growth:
We provide a no-commission gallery and affordable studios because artists deserve to keep the fruit of their labor.
Creative Play as Wellness:
From toddlers to residents, we believe getting “lost in the flow” is a radical act of mental health.
Intergenerational Community:
We are a family-run endeavor building the vibrant, messy, inclusive world we want our own daughters to grow up in, our peers to work in, and our parents a space to make the most of their retirement.
Our Mission
To prove that the Visual Arts are a viable career path by making artist labor accessible, visible, and sustainable. We are here to remove the non-profit and the elitist barriers of the “Capital-A Art World” to focus on the work itself.
Meet the Founders
Jenna Harris, MA | Curator / Director
Jenna is a lifelong learner who traded the “A”rt world for the frenetic energy of a working studio. With an MA in Curatorial Practice from CCA and a BA in Art History & Arts Administration from Sonoma State, she has spent decades advocating for artists—whether she was interning at the diRosa Preserve or serving as Education Director for YoloArts.
The Atelier is the culmination of her expertise and her refusal to let the “faceless blobs” of the world dim anyone’s creative spark.
Shane Harris | Director of Operations
With 18+ years in youth development, Shane is the architect of the Atelier’s functional “third space” philosophy. After years of supporting thousands of families through community programming, Shane is now focused on reclaiming “creative confidence” for the Sacramento community, ensuring the Atelier remains a sustainable home for makers of all ages.
The Midtown Studio
Our space is designed for “Creative Osmosis.” By housing artist residencies alongside public classrooms, we create an environment where inspiration is shared. It is a place where you can walk past a professional painter on your way to a watercolor workshop—witnessing the full spectrum of the artistic journey in one light-filled studio.
As a Second Saturday Destination, we open our doors to invite the community into the heart of the creative process, ensuring that artist labor is no longer hidden, but visible and celebrated.
Be Part of Our Story
We are currently putting the finishing touches on our new Midtown location. We are documenting the build-out and preparing for our inaugural exhibition and class schedule.
Want to see the transformation? Join our waitlist to get behind-the-scenes updates, a personal invite to our pre-opening tour, and a VIP invitation to our Grand Opening Party.