The Opelika Art Haus is dedicated in memory of Henry and Roslyn Stern, the parents of Art Haus founders Ginger and J. Stern. Since its construction in 2019, the Opelika Art Haus has provided working studio spaces, gallery exhibits, and educational opportunities for those passionate about the arts.
Roslyn graduated from Auburn University and was the first art teacher in the Opelika School System. She was an extremely talented artist who shared that talent across many of the schools in Opelika. As co-founder of the Opelika Arts Association and a member of the Alabama State Arts Council, Roslyn spread her love for the arts until she died in 2007.
Henry J. Stern made his way to America in 1937 at the young age of five by way of the SS Washington, the last boat leaving Germany during the Holocaust, and settled in Opelika just two blocks away from what is now the The Art Haus.
From its beautifully repurposed architecture to its inspiring history, The Art Haus is a space for creativity to flourish.
Architect Behzad Nakhjavan designed the entire complex, including the space’s unique staircase/fountain. Gamble Winter Construction handled the construction. The studios and gallery were both original Opelika homes; what is now known as the main gallery was once used as a church.
The studio phase consists of two buildings: an old garage with a studio space and a separate building with five studios. Each studio was named after a different school where Roslyn Stern taught art. They consist of Brown Elementary Studio, Carver Primary Studio, Jeter Primary Studio, Martin Elementary Studio, Pepperell Elementary Studio, and OJHS Studio.
The floors in the gallery space are repurposed from the original building (1910). The exposed trellises are also part of the original structure. Most of the floors and wooden ceilings in the Studios (1930), along with the four restored fireplaces, are also original to the building. The tin cladding of the fountain was reappropriated from the roof of the original homes that stood on the property and the bricks of the courtyard are recycled from the Historic Pepperell Mill.
The Opelika Art Haus is a non profit organization located in Opelika, Alabama that operates by partnering with local and regional artists to build art as a foundation for community.
Our vision is to create working studio space, gallery exhibits and educational opportunities for those who love and appreciate the arts.
