A Journey to 1040 Larkin Street, December 2012
Close your eyes. It's a Friday night in December 2012, and you're walking down Larkin Street in San Francisco. The fog rolls in from the Pacific, wrapping the Tenderloin in its characteristic embrace. Between the liquor stores and laundromats, past the shouting congregations of nighttime wanderers, you spot something new—a warm glow emanating from 1040 Larkin Street. The Gauntlet Gallery has just opened its doors.
Birth of a Vision
Step inside, and you're immediately struck by the fresh scent of bamboo—$50,000 worth of eco-friendly flooring that Luke Lombardo, the gallery's founder, insisted on installing. The energy-saving, true to color LED lights cast perfect colors across the walls, a crucial detail for an art space that would soon become a cornerstone of the Lower Polk art scene.
But this wasn't supposed to be a gallery at all. Luke Lombardo was a practicing artist who was having difficulty finding a resource that was both affordable and high-quality for giclee canvas prints. After crunching the numbers, he decided to purchase a 44-inch giclee printer and teach himself how to use it. He set it up in his bedroom, and got to work.
Soon he was taking in commissions from other artists, and doing everything from glossing and stretching canvases on the floor of his bedroom. He finally rented a space on 17th and Mission, but already his clients were expressing the need for a space to exhibit and sell their work.
While riding his scooter down Larkin Street one day, he saw a "for lease" sign being installed at 1040 Larkin. He hopped off to take a look, and found the future home of Gauntlet Gallery and Gauntlet Collection.
The Space That Changed Everything
Walking through the gallery in those early days, you'd find yourself in two rooms partially separated by a wall—a design that created intimate viewing experiences while maintaining flow. In the back room, someone is set up to take orders for prints. The gallery featured Mega Man themed visuals that indicated the standard prices they have for three different dimensions of prints ($85 for 12"x16", $175 for 18"x24", and $325 for 24"x32").
The location was strategic, if unconventional. Situated at the edge of the Tenderloin, a district where you walked fast and kept your head down, just blocks from the buzz of Post Street and Polk Street bars. This grittiness gave the gallery an authenticity that resonated with the street art and pop culture artists it would come to champion.
The First Thursday Revolution
By early 2013, Gauntlet Gallery had become an anchor of the Lower Polk Art Walk, the monthly First Thursday event that ran from 6-10 PM. Art lovers in the city often attend other first Thursday galleries ending at 7:30pm, but the Lower Polk Art Walk runs until 10 pm. This extended hours approach transformed the neighborhood into a vibrant cultural corridor.
The gallery's commitment to accessibility was revolutionary. Opening receptions were free to the public, with featured artists milling about discussing their work. This wasn't the intimidating white-cube experience of traditional galleries—this was art for everyone.
Exhibitions That Defined a Generation
The curatorial vision at Gauntlet was fearless, blending high and low culture with infectious enthusiasm:
The Daft Punk Phenomenon (2013-2015)
San Francisco's Gauntlet Gallery has launched a new exhibition dedicated to the French electronic duo that features over 40 works from artists across the globe. Daft Punk Deux houses original pieces ranging from paintings to digital prints to sculpture work, all of which are inspired by the music and spectacle of Daft Punk.
This is the gallery's second installation surrounding the French electronic wizards, the first was held in 2013 in support of the act's freshly dropped album, Random Access Memories.
Luke's personal connection to the music ran deep. "I first remember hearing the song 'Around The World' at a high school dance. A girl named Farnoosh, who was a few years older than me, stood in the middle of the dance circle as the song played with her hand above her head and palm facing down."
Gaming Culture Meets Fine Art
The gallery's embrace of video game culture was groundbreaking. Their Mega Man Boss Battle group artist show featured themed pricing displays that turned commerce into art itself. This wasn't just nostalgia—it was a recognition that the visual language of gaming had become a legitimate artistic medium.
Brandon Bird: The Astonishing World of Art (2013)
Bird, an artist based out of Los Angeles, was showing the original drawings from this recent book 'The Astonishing World of Art,' a deliriously inspired pastiche of pop culture characters in classical art contexts. The opening night captured everything magical about Gauntlet—serious art that didn't take itself too seriously.
The Business Model That Worked
What made Gauntlet sustainable wasn't just passion—it was Luke's innovative business model. Every year sales have doubled, and are predicted to triple this year. Luke and his team are cranking out 50-70 canvas prints a month, and are considering outsourcing production soon due to a lack of time and space.
This hybrid approach allowed the gallery to support emerging artists while maintaining financial stability—a rarity in the notoriously challenging gallery world.
Community Impact
Gauntlet's influence extended far beyond its walls. Located in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, it helped transform a challenging neighborhood into an arts destination. The gallery's participation in the Lower Polk Art Walk created a ripple effect, encouraging other businesses to stay open late and embrace the creative community.
Regular visitors developed rituals around their gallery visits. Another bonus is that it's one block north of Aria Korean Snack Bar, which was great dinner option for my small group of four on a rainy day. The gallery fostered connections between artists, collectors, and casual art lovers in ways traditional spaces rarely achieved.
The Evolution of a Space
By 2015, Gauntlet had evolved far beyond its humble beginnings. The show opening at Gauntlet on Saturday night is unique in that it's the first one Lombardo has curated that will include sculpture pieces. He reached out to local artist Sean Newport, who agreed to show a selection of his work in the space.
The space that began in a bedroom had become a cultural institution. Gauntlet Gallery opened its doors in December of 2012. As a gallery we are committed to creating an approachable and engaging platform for both emerging and established artists.
Legacy and Lessons
Looking back at Gauntlet Gallery's golden years (2012-2015), several lessons emerge for today's art world:
- Accessibility Matters: By keeping prices transparent and atmospheres welcoming, Gauntlet democratized art collecting.
- Pop Culture is Culture: The gallery's embrace of video games, electronic music, and internet aesthetics preceded the mainstream art world's acceptance by years.
- Community First: Success came from serving artists' practical needs (printing) while nurturing their creative ambitions (exhibitions).
- Location as Statement: Choosing the Tenderloin over traditional gallery neighborhoods sent a message about inclusivity and authenticity.
The Night the Music Played
Picture yourself back on that December night in 2012. The opening reception is in full swing. Artists chat with collectors over plastic cups of wine. The Daft Punk soundtrack pulses through the speakers—a preview of exhibitions to come. Outside, the Lower Polk continues its nightly dance of urban life, but inside these walls, something special is happening.
This is more than a gallery opening. It's the birth of a movement that would prove street art, pop culture, and fine art could coexist—even thrive—under the same roof. Luke Lombardo, the artist-turned-printer-turned-gallerist, moves through the crowd with the satisfied smile of someone who's found their calling.
Epilogue: The Echo Continues
Though the original Gauntlet Gallery on Larkin Street eventually closed its doors, its impact reverberates through San Francisco's art scene. The artists it championed went on to international success. The collectors it nurtured became patrons of the next generation. The neighborhood it helped transform continues to evolve.
Most importantly, Gauntlet proved that galleries could be more than white walls and wine—they could be community centers, cultural laboratories, and launch pads for the future of art. In those few magical years on Larkin Street, between the fog and the neon, something extraordinary happened. And for those who were there, the memory glows as bright as those eco-friendly LED lights, casting true colors on everything they touch.
