Andrew, left, and Christopher Rivera stand in their gallery Thursday afternoon. Charles Auer/Freeman Staff

WAUKESHA - It’s Thursday afternoon, and brothers Andrew and Christopher Rivera are putting the finishing touches on their new art gallery, The Rivera Creative, before their soft opening Friday evening.

“You know, dusting, vacuuming ... general panic,” Andrew Rivera jokes.

The gallery is a big deal for the brothers, who have long dreamed of having a space of their own to display their vast collection of original pencil, charcoal, dry brush and photography works.

When their father offered to rent them some space at his building at 223 W. Wisconsin Ave., the brothers jumped at the opportunity. Now the former office space with elegant archways and eye-catching glass cases is being transformed into a working art gallery that will someday be home to more artists who want to sell their wares.

 

‘A little bit of everything’

“Downtown Waukesha is known for its art galleries, and although we know one more couldn’t hurt, we think ours is different from most,” said 28-year-old Andrew Rivera. “We’ve got a little bit of everything.”

Hanging above the original downstairs fireplace is a charcoal portrait of Angelina Jolie, but a nest of hissing snakes writhes in place of her normal brown locks as she impersonates the mythical gorgon Medusa. Christopher Rivera, 36, created the piece, and like most pieces in the gallery, it’s available in digital print form for those who can’t or don’t want to come up with the cash for the original.

“I do what I do because I like it, and I love Waukesha and want to put down my roots here,” Christopher Rivera said. “I’d be thrilled if people come in and they like our stuff.”

Andrew Rivera said the gallery will offer its works in a variety of sizes, such as postcard-sized prints of his travel photography from places like Spain, Ireland and Amsterdam.

Since their father owns several pieces of property downtown and throughout the city, the brothers felt it was natural to open their business here.

“Waukesha has such a great history, and buildings like this one so often just sit empty,” Andrew Rivera said. “We want to be part of bringing the downtown back to life.”

The brothers plan to have monthly exhibitions of their new works, and they hope more artists will come forward to rent studio space in the building, which contains many nooks and crannies that are perfect for artists to set up shop.

A soft opening will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. today, and the gallery will be officially open for business on Monday. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/RiveraCreativeStudios.

Email: spryor@conleynet.com