The Grace Chosy Gallery bridges the gap between traditional and avant garde, old and new, regional and nationally known artists.

It is this versatility, as well as the high quality of the work displayed on some 180 linear feet of wall space that has made this Monroe Street gallery a Madison artistic institution for 30 years.

The gallery celebrates its third decade this month with a wide-ranging show comprising 30 artists. Each submitted one to four pieces, from woodcuts and etchings to large-scale paintings and sculpture.

"I try to keep a mix of representational and abstract art," said Karin Ketarkus, gallery owner and manager, referencing new wildflower watercolors by Paula Scheutte Kraemer and bold paintings by Wendell Arneson, pieces that seem different in almost every way.

"A higher percentage of people buy art with recognizable figures in it," Ketarkus added. "If we have landscapes, they prefer scenes that are part of their life."

Grace Chosy Gallery is, after all, a commercial enterprise, so considering what people might buy is an interest of Ketarkus'. Still, artists say Grace Chosy herself was always supportive of their work, even if it was less marketable.

"She passed on that legacy (to Karin) of treasuring original works of art that you live with that help shape your daily life," Arneson said. "It's the magical presence of original works of art that brought a space to life and truly made it a home."

Grace Chosy opened the Seuferer Chosy Gallery on State Street with Ellen Seuferer in 1979. The name became simply Grace Chosy in 1987 when Seuferer left, and the gallery spent time on Henry Street before settling at 1825 Monroe St. in 1996.

In 2003, Chosy retired, selling the business to Ketarkus, who said she's spent about 15 years working there. Now, she coordinates 11 shows a year.

Many artists originally retained by Chosy remain at the gallery. So Ketarkus said she was surprised when, during a recent visit from artist and teacher Katherine Rosing's watercolor class, Rosing said the gallery has grown more contemporary over the years.

"The artists have evolved over the years," Ketarkus said. "Any changes in style have evolved with the artists."

Arneson, for example, was one of the very first artists to sell work through Grace Chosy. He started out painting recognizable landscapes, but his most recent work is much more abstract.

"Grace was not one who had one aesthetic," said Arneson, who lives and teaches in Northfield, Minn. "She just had a wonderful eye for creativity and passion and craft. Everything she sold had a unique voice ... she wanted to sense that she had a connection to it.

"Whether or not it was representational or abstract or somewhere in between, it was work she felt excited about," he added.

Tom Sargeant also went through a creative change. He said he starting out painting "architectural-type subjects."

Now his abstract work sells extremely well, Ketarkus said. The Middleton painter's vivid works are rich and evocative, with a "contemplative quality" that appeals to art lovers.

"When Karin took over she started promoting more abstract work," said Sargeant, who joined the gallery about seven years ago. "Before that it was all realistic. I don't think there's any other gallery in town that shows as much abstract work."

But Ken Schneider, who paints local landscapes in watercolor and oil, said "not a whole lot" has changed since he joined the gallery in 1984.

"I'm impressed with their consistency," he said. "I've had a show there every other year since 1986. I try to get something different into every show, because a lot of times you're looking at the same audience."

Schneider is one of many upper Midwest artists represented by Grace Chosy, which shows a great deal of regional work.

"It's a terrific venue to look at art," Schneider said of the Monroe Street location. "It's spacious, has great lighting and you can walk up to something one or two feet away, then back up to 30 feet away."

"The nice thing about the gallery is they have a variety of really fine artists," Schneider said. "I'm proud to be part of that."

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