Galleries

Downtown Galleries

Whether you call them “art walks”, “gallery hops or “studio strolls”, it all means one thing, lots of great Asheville art and an opportunity to connect with artists and other local art lovers. If this atmosphere sounds like your cup of tea, then you should check out the First Friday Art Walks that take place April through December between 5-8pm. Pick up a map at any of the 23 participating galleries or at the Chamber of Commerce and stroll, crawl, hop, or just walk your way through many fine galleries in Downtown Asheville.

River Arts District

The River Arts District consists of a vast array of artists and working studios in 22 former industrial and historical buildings spread out along a one mile stretch of the French Broad River. This eclectic area is an exciting exploration of arts, food and exercise.  Plan on spending a day or more visiting artists working in their studios, grabbing a bite of local cuisine or a brew and taking time to find art that’s perfect for your world.

More than 200 artists work in paint, pencil, pottery, metal, fiber, glass, wax, paper and more. As unique and individual as their art, so too are their schedules. There are no official “Open Hours” for the River Arts District, but at any given time throughout the year, you will find a plethora of open studios and galleries. If you are coming to see someone in particular, your best bet is to check in with them before your visit.  Look for “Studio Strolls” twice a year:  the third weekend in May and second weekend in November.

Folk Art Center

Nestled among the pines and dogwoods of the Blue Ridge Parkway., yet only a few miles from Asheville, the Folk Art Center is the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s flagship facility. The Center showcases the finest in traditional and contemporary craft of the Southern Appalachians. It houses the Guild’s century-old Allanstand Craft Shop, exhibitions in three galleries, a library and an auditorium.

Grovewood Village

Established in 1992, Grovewood Gallery is a nationally recognized gallery dedicated to fine American-made art and craft. We offer a large selection of handcrafted jewelry, pottery, fiber art, metalwork, and more, by over 400 artists and craftspeople from across the United States. The gallery also presents rotating exhibitions and features an impressive second-floor studio furniture collection and outdoor sculpture gardens. Visitors can enjoy craft demonstrations by local artists on the first Friday of every month during April – December.