If there’s one thing we’ve learned from working with interior designers, it’s that art can make a big impact on a room. Some designers even suggest finding a great piece of art and building the rest of your decor around it. Lucky for us, not only do we have some incredibly talented artists in Charlotte, but there are also plenty of impressive art galleries around town that showcase artists from all over the world. Whether you’re looking for a bold statement piece or something more reserved, you’ve definitely got options. Here are some of our favorite galleries in Charlotte where you’ll find beautiful work to suit any taste!
Charlotte Art Galleries
SOCO Gallery
421 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28207 • (980) 498-2881
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Located in a quaint 1920s bungalow in historic Myers Park, SOCO Gallery displays six specially curated exhibits annually, where you’ll find pieces from up-and-coming artists as well as more seasoned artists from around the world. “We strive to bring the freshest works from the most interesting contemporary artists working today,” says owner Chandra Johnson. Each exhibit is accompanied by book signings, artist talks and programs designed to give guests a more in-depth and interactive experience with the creatives behind the work. Pieces range from contemporary paintings to several types of photography. “In addition to our gallery space and bookshop, we share the space with a high-end clothing store — Tabor — and bring in pop ups like Not Just Coffee to enhance the customer experience,” Chandra adds. Don’t have the extra money to spend on a high-priced original? That’s okay! “The most important message is for everyone to feel welcome and a part of our program. If you are not able to acquire the artwork on the wall, you can buy something in our bookshop for $25. Everything at SOCO is artist inspired,” Chandra notes. Through March 3, 2017, SOCO will exhibit the work of New York-based painter, Carrie Yamaoka, whose work is being exhibited for the first time in the state of North Carolina. Yamaoka’s The Space Between features reflective paintings that use uncommon materials like mylar and resin. For more information visit soco-gallery.com. You can also read more about SOCO’s owner, Chandra Johnson, who we featured as one of our FACES of the South, here.
Anne Neilson Fine Art
532 Governor Morrison St., Ste. C-110, Charlotte, NC 28211 • (704) 496-9181
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Founded in 2014 by painter Anne Neilson, Anne Neilson Fine Art represents more than 40 artists who hail from all over the globe. Each artists’ creativity and skill set shows through their unique and colorful masterpieces, and you’ll find everything from abstract landscape paintings to bronze sculptures as well as Anne’s own popular angel paintings. “We always have our clients in mind during our selection process. Charlotte has really embraced the importance of original art and continues to push the boundaries in art and design,” explains gallery director, Sandra Scott. “We’ve seen an interesting trend of mixing old and new-traditional and modern — and continue to select pieces that have the ability to find their permanent home in any setting. Versatile, innovative, inspiring and excellence in quality are attributes we pursue in all our artists and their collections.”
Recently the gallery made the move from its location in Historic South End Charlotte to a larger space in the Shops at Morrison in South Park. “We look forward to expanding our impact through our mission and being more accessible to many of our clients,” says Sandra. “Additionally, our new gallery is more spacious and will give us the opportunity to host sizable events and showcase a larger selection of art at once.” The new space will also put the gallery, Anne’s personal art studio and her line of luxury home products all under one roof. “We can’t help but be excited to begin this new chapter together — a promise fulfilled, dating back to over 13 years ago when Anne first began painting her ethereal angel series in her small, in-home studio as a hobby,” Sandra adds.
Along with the exciting relocation, the gallery will feature several new artists this year, including Kim Fonder, Sam Lock and Troy Dugas. The gallery also strives to give back to the community in a big way. “Our mission is to give back through art and have select partner organizations in Charlotte for which a portion of all gallery sales go back to, including Samaritans Feet, The Harvest Center and The Allegro Foundation to name a few,” Sandra shares. For more information, visit anneneilsonfineart.com.
Hidell Brooks
1910 South Blvd., Ste. 130, Charlotte, NC 28203 • (704) 334-7302
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit Hidell Brooks Gallery for a mixture of beautiful paintings and intricate sculptures. “Over the last 19 years we have curated a diverse group of contemporary artists that we have enjoyed watching their work change over the years,” says co-owner Katharine Hidell Thomas. The laid-back atmosphere of the gallery makes even the newest art enthusiast feel comfortable browsing. “We are firm believers in making art accessible to everyone. It is just the two of us, and we have our hands in everything from working with the collector to planning exhibitions with our artists. So, you will be talking to one of us. We love what we do, and hopefully it shows!” exclaims Katharine.
Exhibits rotate every six to eight weeks, so there’s always something new and exciting to see no matter when you stop by. When it comes to choosing pieces and artists to showcase, Katharine says they go with “a gut response to an artist’s work. We never go out there looking for a certain style or medium. We have always had a hard time describing what it feels like when we see an artist that we both respond to — but we do get excited, for sure.” For more information visit hidellbrooks.com.
SOZO Gallery
214 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202 • (704) 578-8457
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, by appointment only
SOZO Gallery is located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte in Hearst Tower and strives to bring high-quality yet affordable art collections to the QC. The gallery highlights the work of one artist for six to eight weeks, then changes those pieces out with another artist’s work. “Over half our artists are local,” says gallery owner Hannah Blanton. You’ll find everything from contemporary art to fashion-focused watercolors to ceramics and sculptures throughout SOZO. This is the place to go if you’re interested in starting a small collection with affordable pieces, but don’t know where to start — they have small works ranging from 8×8 to 12×12 with prices starting at $150. For more information, visit sozogallery.net.
Shain Gallery
2823 Selwyn Ave., Charlotte, NC 28209 • (704) 334-7744
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, by appointment only
Established in 1998, the Shain Gallery showcases a diverse range of artists who will appeal to all tastes, collectors and budgets. With more than 50 artists represented, you’ll find contemporary works as well as abstract oil paintings of everything from cityscapes to landscapes and florals. You’ll also find attention-grabbing RAKU clay pieces and still-life portraits. “We pride ourselves in having a little bit for everyone  — quite the diverse selection, which makes us a go-to stop for art collectors all over the Southeast,” says gallery director Sybil Godwin. While Shain represents a large handful of local artists, they’re currently showcasing the work of two Charlotte artists in particular who happen to be married — Trip and Laura Park. Shain also offers a wide range of price points in the gallery. “The average painting in the gallery is around $5,000. We have big works for under $2,000 and big works for $27,000. We cater to all budgets,” adds Sybil. For more information visit shaingallery.com.
Now that we’ve given you a glimpse into Charlotte’s art scene, take some time and go explore it for yourself!
Did we miss your favorite local gallery? We’d love to include it! E-mail us at [email protected].
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