25 October . 2024
Exploring Wilmington's Art Scene
Exploring Wilmington’s Art Scene
Wilmington’s thriving fine arts scene boasts a great variety of venues and events to enjoy and sometimes engage with local and regional artists. Periodic openings and monthly downtown gallery walks add a fun and social vibe as you explore.
With so many galleries in historic downtown, the Arts Council hosts a monthly Fourth Friday Gallery Walk inviting the public to enjoy a leisurely stroll to exhibits and studios, often with artists onsite. (Visit the website first to find which of the many downtown galleries are open.)
You can begin in the Arts Council’s own ACES Gallery, with a local artist or two featured each month.
From there, head to New Elements Gallery where more than 60 regional and nationally known fine artists are represented. This staple of Wilmington’s art scene opened in 1985 and is regularly filled with fine art, ceramics, jewelry and sometimes textiles to savor.
Across Front Street and upstairs is the MC Erny Gallery in Wilmington’s public radio station, WHQR. This gallery is generally open from 10 to 4 on weekdays only, but always hosts an opening (or closing!) reception during Fourth Friday. Local artists are featured.
Just blocks away, Gallery Citrine offers a coop-type space for a variety of local artists to create and show their work. Periodic workshops and classes invite those with artistic yearnings to flex that muscle in a supportive color-enriched environment.
Sculptors, painters, photographers, fashion designers, jewelry makers, installation artists, as well as furniture and film makers have all taken up residence at Acme Art Studios in Wilmington’s Brooklyn neighborhood. Acme is an artists’ collaborative studio that periodically pushes the working mess aside to make room for wine, cheese, musicians and art lovers. Catch Acme when its on a Fourth Friday tour, or during their annual Holiday Show and Sale.
The Wilma Daniels Gallery on the campus of Cape Fear Community College (across from the Wilson Theater) is only open from 10 to 2 Monday through Friday, unless it is on the Fourth Friday Gallery Walk. Exhibits feature prominent regional and national artists, in addition to an annual show of faculty works and a juried student exhibit.
Port City Pottery & Fine Crafts is the first gallery in Wilmington dedicated exclusively to local, handmade, one-of-a-kind, three-dimensional art and craft by jury-selected coastal North Carolina artisans. The gallery is open seven days a week and located in the Cotton Exchange.
In the South Front District, visit The Art Works which labels itself an art village, art gallery and event venue. With more than 7,000 sq ft and 50 working artist studios, wandering through the Art Works is a gallery walk of its own. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 to 4, with frequent special events and artist receptions.
The Soda Pop District also offers its own Soda Pop Gallery, with a permanent collection of works by local artists, and rotating exhibits throughout the year.
Closer to Wrightsville Beach, in Mayfaire, is Art in Bloom. This gallery presents an eclectic mix of original paintings, ceramics, sculpture, blown glass, stained-glass mosaics, photography, jewelry, limited-edition prints, and mixed media by established and emerging artists. AIB is open seven days a week with periodic artist receptions.
New galleries frequently emerge, so keep your eye out for other possibilities and shows. But whether enjoying with friends or solo, you’re sure to discover a rich variety of places to encounter, enjoy and maybe enrich your home with original art.