Picture this: You’re walking through downtown Columbia, and you see a little tan building on Walnut Street. The orange and black sign reads “Artlandish Gallery.”

You walk inside, and at first glance, it looks like a small shop with a couple different types of artwork, but then one of the employees behind the cash register (who probably has purple or blue hair, and is most likely an artist, too) says, “There’s a lot more downstairs if you want to take a look.”

The artistry displayed on the walls and stairs leading down to the catacombs is an illustration of the store’s unexpected charm.

Downstairs has been referred to as “the catacombs” for years — but don’t worry, there isn’t actually an ancient cemetery down there. There is a ton of history, though.

Way before Artlandish Gallery was established, the space served as a dock for the Wabash Railroad — goods would be unloaded there, and a horse and buggy would come through to take the goods out to the markets around town. Once the railroad became a little more obsolete, it became a speakeasy, and now, of course, artists inhabit it.

Owner Lisa Bartlett has lived in Columbia since 1976 and takes pride in the not-so-typical art gallery that she has built for the past five and a half years. It occupies the space next door to Rock Bottom Comics and across from The Bridge.

Downstairs, over 45 different artists display their work.

“We have abstract painters, landscape artists, figure drawings, knitters and we have silk screen artists,” Bartlett says. “We have a glass blower, and we have a woodworker, gorgeous stuff. And we have an ironworker — he makes crazy gates and bells.”

The artists, who are mostly locals, range from 20-year-old college students to artists in their 80s, so it’s no wonder that the art is so diverse.

“The artists actually have a stake in the gallery,” Bartlett says. “Not really financially, but more emotionally than other places.”

It’s not uncommon to see the artists sitting in their booths during the day and talking to customers. They also put on demos and host workshops that show others how they make their artwork.

The artists all work as a team and give Artlandish Gallery its relaxed atmosphere.

“All artists here help everyone else; there’s not any kind of competitive feeling,” Bartlett says.

Not only does Artlandish Gallery have this neat, offbeat type of art and closeness among the artists, but they also take part in First Friday, hosted on the first Friday of every month by The North Village Art District — a non-profit organization. Look for the next one on April 3.

“There’s close to 20 businesses who are all in the business of art or have a passion for art and music that all take part in First Friday,” Bartlett says.

There’s always live music, food and wine, for those of age. Bartlett describes it as “a gallery crawl” for the community to come out once a month to see what’s new and what’s going on.

“We want to give the whole art experience,” she says.

Once you step foot into Artlandish Gallery, you’ll realize it isn’t similar to any other gallery around. It offers a unique spin on art and gives off a relaxed vibe.

Make sure to head downtown and experience what the North Village Arts District and Artlandish Gallery has to offer.