Gallista Studio Gallery Calle Flores

This gallery just south of Southtown is a complete cultural destination! This place just oozes ‘Puro San Anto!’ It’s a long building that extends deep off of S Flores that includes innnumerable rooms and galleries, each with a different artist with a completely different vibe. All of the art is available for sale. You are welcome to bring your own beer and hangout and listen to the jams and get cultural!
In all of the galleries in San Antonio, I believe this one has the greatest variety between artists. It’s a complete hodgepodge of art work!
If you go on Second Saturday, they stay open late, have live music and wine and food. It’s really the best way to check out the art, and go across the street to the galleries over there!
Be careful where you park, I’ve seen the police ticket heavily in the past. Be sure to park south of the train tracks, or you could be waiting forever to get your car when the trains just sometimes just park across S Flores.

Southtown is filled with treasures both old and new. On any given corner a dilapidated building rests near a the highest upscale restaurant in town. Art and food are interwoven in this area. The Gallista Gallery, on Flores Street is one of those unique places that seems to embody that notion.
It is owned by renowned San Antonio artist Joe Lopez, who in 1996 created a co-​op for artists to sell and share their visions to the rest of the community. In the past I have seen bands play here, poets recite their works, art exhibitions, lucha libre, a place for political conscience, and in its heyday the go to spot during First Friday.
But alot has changed since it has opened. For example you can buy a cup of coffee or a breakfast taco here in the morning. In the afternoon they now offer Zumba classes. And periodically they have rummage sales. My summation, to keep up with the everchanging times in that boom area. So why is this place so special and unique? Unequivocally without a doubt it is attributed to the people that keep that place open, The Lopez’s.
It is a pretty big space. Inside there is a little café where you can buy Big Red’s and Cheetos. Alongside the wall it is lined with some of the finest art this city has to offer; prominent is Joe Lopez’s Gallista Gallery art which is everywhere. You can buy cool t-​shirts, postcards from some of his famous designs and literature from some of the city’s best writers. A lot of themes in his work are about his childhood and a pride from being from San Antonio. You sense that everytime you come here.
There are other spaces in here owned by other people that sell art pieces, memorabilia and other miscellaneous items. Some of the prices can range from high end to the most modest of budgets. There is certainly something for everyone here if you look.
In all honesty this place thrives and survives by in no small part by The Lopez’s who are the kindest and most friendliest owners you will ever meet. I have been to spaces in the past where owners hawk around you suspiciously. Or they size you up and you are made to feel that you cannot afford their items and therefore you are discounted. At the Gallista every person is greeted with a simple salutation and you can roam freely throughout the space. Joe Lopez will even sign one of his works if you ask him. I still have a postcard he signed some years back.
The Gallista Gallery is one of Southtown’s most enduring treasures. It embodies the entrepreneurial spirit as well as the artistic culture within our city. It is good place to buy an art piece as a gift for a friend or yourself. In addition they have events here all the time and you can find something that will interest you. Or just buy some pop and sit at one of the few tables here and talk about absolutely nothing and that is fine too.
p. s I heard they are going to sell this place soon. And that makes me a bit sad…