Through the years, Nahcotta has become a mainstay in the Portsmouth community and beyond, providing a space for original, contemporary art from artists all over the world, alongside modern, innovative, well-designed gifts, available both in the Congress Street shop and online.

Nahcotta opened its doors in the bucolic, bustling city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire in May of 2000. Deb Thompson wanted to create a space like Nahcotta since she was a young girl, standing amid a small but beautiful boutique during a shopping venture with her family. During an adventuresome cross-country trip many years later, she made the bold decision to relocate from Boston, Massachusetts and open a gallery/boutique in Portsmouth, a city renowned for its rich cultural history, captivating waterfront views, and vibrant, progressive community.

Nahcotta is also home to the Enormous Tiny Art show. We show hundreds of pieces of artwork by dozens of different artists for each and every ETA show.

The soul of Nahcotta exists within our manifesto:

We believe a sense of humor, compassion, original art and integrity are integral parts of a happy life. We believe in the importance of being inspired. We believe that the things that make you feel are just as important as the things that make you think. We believe in connecting - with our neighbors next door and across the world. We strive to make art accessible to anyone and everyone because things of beauty enrich our lives in ineffable ways.