Embracing the Sun: Inside Louisville’s Unique Art Gallery and Shop

Discover the Sun Shop on East Broadway, a vibrant art gallery founded by Billy and Michele Keith.

Filled with natural light, this space showcases Billy’s solar art and Michele’s intricate origami and shadow boxes. Their journey from inspiration to community hub reflects a passion for art and revitalization, making it a must-visit in Louisville’s cultural landscape.

The Sun Shop is located on East Broadway minutes away from Paristown. It is an art gallery and shop owned by Billy and Michele Keith.  A spacious gallery filled with natural light that plays host to shadow boxes and art made from the sun.

Billy, a lifelong artist, has been making art which includes paintings from the sun since 2010. His wife Michele, a former teacher for 14 years, makes origami art and shadow boxes that you can purchase at the gallery. The husband and wife duo decided that their work should be shared with the community instead of just sitting around in their house, so they opened the shop this past January.  The duo felt it was a calling to open up the shop finally. After a near-death experience for Billy several years ago, he knew the time was now to achieve his dream. Michele, a teacher who had enough decided to tag along as well.

“I had a divine moment where I thought on the other side, I was supposed to make art from a magnifying glass and the sun,” Billy Keith said. “I’ve been teaching myself ever since,” 

Michele says that origami came to her during the pandemic when she had much free time. 

“I kind of became obsessed with it, and between his art and my stuff, it was overflowing in the house.”  

For his next piece, Keith will use a Fresnel magnifying lens that will harness the sunlight on a wooden canvas and draw with a 2000-degree point of light that burns images into wood. With it this method, Keith has painted everything from trees to Louisville Scenery

The Keiths say that people walking down Broadway often stop with curiosity when they see Billy at work.  If the sun is out, Billy can make up to seven pieces a day.

The couple believes that their shop can serve as an anchor point for other businesses to grow and thrive on East Broadway.

“This is something tourists can come see rather than just coming to drink bourbon, Billy said. “There is something magical to see here.” Michele would add that they have already made friends in the community. A community that needs a helping hand along with a thriving cultural scene. “We look out for businesses and neighbors I see myself as the ambassador of East Broadway,” said Billy.  “We are excited about revitalizing this part of the neighborhood and making it mean something for people in the community,” Michele said. “You can’t find any more original art than right here, and I believe Bily is one of the only solar artists in Kentucky.”  The couple also hopes that foot traffic will improve as time passes.  “We care about the community especially since we live in the area.” Michele says they have joined the Louisville Independent Business Alliance where they meet with other small businesses to work together and gather ideas.

Billy Keith has no set agenda for making the work from the sun. Whatever comes to mind, he will make. “I want to make the moment that I am in.”  

Michele Keith is also self-taught when it comes to her artwork. In 2020, she became fascinated with folding origami partially cranes  “I really like the symbol of the crane it represents good fortune health, and prosperity, along with that I was bored at the time so I folded an army of cranes and one thing led to another and now I’m crazy with paper.”  At the store, you can find coy fish and dog origami. You can also find flower shadow boxes which she  says is popular among her customers.   

It takes confidence to open up an art shop. Michele Keith says that social media is a sign that there is a true following for a potential business. “Social media really bolstered our confidence to sell our art because we sold art all over the country just from going live on TikTok so maybe we can make this work,” Michele said Billy’s trees that he makes from the sun are really popular.   

In addition to running the shop,  the couple will often set up at art shows across the state. If the sun is out, Billy will give a live demonstration. They have also traveled to Georgia and Tennessee to showcase their art at festivals.  

Billy believes that art can turn everyone into a kid for just a moment. He likes to think that his art can have a positive impact on someone’s day. Of course, he wants to live off work, but most importantly the couple just wants to make people excited and curious.  “I just want to share it with everybody, I want to share the moment and the space that is created from making the art.” Billy expressed. “We try to keep it positive and sunny around here and we are super grateful each day that we have this space added Michele

If The Keiths were to advise anyone looking to turn their art into a business, it would be to do research. Billy would add that it should be treated as a way of life. “I didn’t die in 2010 so to me this is a sign from God and if I’m not doing it, my luck gets bad and my world gets bad around me.”  “For me, this is what I am supposed to do and I keep on making and improving my purpose is to make art and make a greater connection with the community, when you see the shinning light of someone they shine and we both see the same thing with the art and they have a moment where they see more for a second.”  Billy sees himself as someone who can talk to anyone.

As for the future, the duo hopes to make clocks to sell for the shop. They also would like to hand paint t-shirts that will be for sale at the shop.

You can purchase their art at the store on 821 East Broadway or online at their website: thesunshop.net They are also on Instagram, @sunmanandwifelady, along with Tiktok which is @michelekeith58 where you can find live demonstrations. The hours vary but chances are if the sun is out, they are there to make things more sunny on East Broadway.