Traditionally associated with sports and banking, North Carolina’s largest city has become increasingly arts-focused in recent years. The skyscraper-laden uptown district is home to several prestigious new museums, whilst elsewhere the city boasts a variety of thriving private and independent galleries. From specialists in U.S. art to those exploring Latin American creativity, these are some of the best galleries and museums for contemporary art in Charlotte.
Charlotte’s art scene has been enriched by the exciting new LaCa Projects gallery, which opened on Bryant Street in March 2013. The initiative hopes to ‘become a premier resource in the U.S.’ for Latin American Contemporary Art (LaCa). The objectives of LaCa Projects also include an on-site restaurant and studios where visitors can watch artists at work. The gallery represents a small group of emerging and mid-career artists in addition to hosting exhibitions by established and master Latin American artists. Past shows have featured color lithographs by the likes of Rufino Tamayo, the internationally acclaimed Mexican modern artist whose career spanned more than 70 years.
LaCa Projects, 1429 Bryant Street, Charlotte, NC, USA, +1 704 837 1688
Home to one of the most significant private collections in Charlotte, New Gallery of Modern Art holds works by Picasso, Chagall, Miro, Matisse, Basquiat, and Warhol. It also showcases prominent contemporary artists, such as Anish Kapoor, Robert Mars, Damien Hirst, and Shepard Fairey. By introducing internationally renowned artists to Charlotte, the gallery hopes to inspire private collectors and fulfil its educational goals. In addition, it supports regional artists like Hoss Haley, Willie Little, and Maja Godlewska amongst others.
New Gallery of Modern Art, 435 South Tryon Street, Suite 110, Charlotte, NC, USA, +1 704 373 1464
Larry Elder founded the Elder Gallery to showcase a diverse mix of American art. Its spacious venue, filled with light from large windows, is ideal for displaying all genres. The gallery also exclusively represents nationally significant artists’ collections, including Leon A. Makielski (1885-1974), Ernest Walker (1892-1991) and Carl Plansky (1951-2009). Its exhibition program often features group shows, such as that displaying works of the ceramics specialists Peter Callas, Warner Hyde and Michael Weber. In addition, Elder Gallery runs a popular jury-judged art competition, called Carolina’s Got Art!, for artists living and working in North and South Carolina.
Elder Gallery, 1520 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC, USA, +1 704 370 6337
Located in Charlotte’s historical South End, Hidell Brooks Gallery is a bright, airy space. The gallery represents established and emerging American artists, including those whose talents are rarely seen in the Southeast. Its exhibition program rotates every six to eight weeks with both solo and group shows. Shows have included Ruth Ava Lyons’ and Johan Hagaman’s works themed around an exploration of the inner self, especially with regard to the natural environment. In 2013, Hidell Brooks celebrated its 15th year with a gallery renovation and enlargement, which was perfect for displaying new pieces created for the occasion.
Hidell Brooks Gallery, 1910 South Boulevard, Suite 130, Charlotte, NC, USA, +1 704 334 7302