It wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone familiar with Beaver Creek and its air of sophisticated pedigree that the tiny village square surrounding the ice rink is also home to some high-end art galleries.

The surprise comes once you cross the threshold of these museum-quality art houses. Displayed within these various showcases are some of the world’s most sought after artists and artisans.

One such gallery is C. Anthony, located in the arcade just off Market Square, on the west side of the ice rink. The current artists represented there include painters, sculptors, wood workers and ceramicists.

One of these painters, schooled in the old-world masters style, is Hungarian emigre, Antal Goldfinger.

Goldfinger’s canvases are so glazed, they look like enamel. His brush strokes are so thin and layered they give the impression of photography.

It is a style reminiscent of the Dutch/Flemish artisans of the seventeenth century.

From Dec. 26 to the 28th, C. Anthony will have a special show featuring the work of Goldfinger along with wood artisan, T. Knight.

Seeing Knight’s wooden vessels up close is a treat. They are turned-wood bowls rivaling ceramics or pottery, and take months and months of careful honing and unique treatments to complete.

Playing a role in the Beaver Creek art scene for the past six years, C. Anthony has developed a reputation as the place to see both established and emerging genius.

One of the most unique craftsmen being displayed at the gallery is the leather sculptor Lui Miao Chan. Almost defying description, Chan’s figurines stand close to two feet tall, and are carved and molded from leather into characters from Chinese history and folklore.

Painted in realistic colors, and detailed down to the fingernails, one of the most extraordinary examples of his skill is the beard that graces “The Emperor.” It is made entirely of strands of leather the width of human hair.

Chan’s mastery demonstrates a thorough command of his medium and is worth the visit alone.

To be sure, the gallery has many other Artists that merit the trip; Sam Park’s colorful renditions of Capri and Positano come close to recreating those glorious vistas.

Russian-born Arkhipov, painting in mixed media of acrylic and oil, portrays whimsical characters steeped in Russian legend. In addition to being fun to look at, the wonderfully-symbolic imagery includes sharp-edged graphic, almost tattoo-like designs as part of the figure’s arms and legs.

As if these artists are not enough to entrance, you won’t want to miss the impressionistic paintings of Spanish artist Giner Bueno. On first glance it would not be an error in judgment to think of the canvases of Mary Cassat.

Bueno’s beach scenes are joyful depictions of a time long gone, yet are as refreshing as a breeze at the shore.