Charlotte's Best Art Galleries
Explore the heart and soul of the Queen City, where creativity reigns.
by Alexandra Smith
Charlotte is home to some exceptional art museums, but the city's galleries deserve attention too. These art spaces offer a more intimate atmosphere where you can find masterpieces by global artists, experience thought-provoking exhibitions and uncover local talent.
Anne Neilson Fine Art
Neighborhood: SouthPark
Anne Neilson Fine Art represents over 50 artists from around the world, with styles ranging from traditional to contemporary. Committed to making a positive difference, a portion of the gallery’s sales are donated to nonprofits serving our community.
BlkMrktClt
Neighborhood: Camp North End
BlkMrktClt is a studio space and gallery that provides a safe and supportive creative environment for local photographers and artists of color. Don't miss the annual Hunnid Dollar Art Fair in December and follow @blkmrktclt on Instagram to find out when the space is open for events.
Carolina Fine Art
Neighborhood: Cotswold
Carolina Fine Art is a mission-minded gallery that focuses on showcasing primarily local and regional artists. The unique artist-operated structure of the gallery encourages visitors to meet the creators of the work on display and hear the stories behind them.
Charlotte Art League
Neighborhood: NoDa
Charlotte Art League, the city’s oldest nonprofit art gallery and organization, stands as a community-driven space that values inclusivity and creativity. It is committed to supporting local, emerging and underrepresented artists, offering them a platform to share their unique perspectives.
Coffey & Thompson Art Gallery
Neighborhood: Myers Park
Coffey & Thompson Art Gallery, established in 1946, is Charlotte’s first fine art gallery and custom framing shop. The gallery offers a variety of original artwork, along with expert framing and restoration services for discerning collectors.
Dilworth Artisan Station
Neighborhood: South End
Just off the Charlotte Rail Trail, Dilworth Artisan Station brings history and creativity together under one roof. This once-industrial building houses over 30 artist studios and hosts a Gallery Crawl every First Friday of the month. It has become a vibrant creative hub where you can meet local artists in person.
Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art
Neighborhood: South End
Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art represents established artists and emerging talents who embrace nontraditional aesthetics. The gallery has long been recognized for its thought-provoking exhibitions and undeniable standard of excellence. In early 2025, it will transition to a new space in the same neighborhood.
Goodyear Arts
Neighborhood: Camp North End
As an artist-run gallery and studio space, Goodyear Arts offers a platform for local visual, literary and performing artists to showcase their work. The nonprofit hosts free public exhibitions and performances, with a focus on exceptional, boundary-pushing art.
Hodges Taylor
Neighborhood: South End
For over 40 years, Hodges Taylor has enjoyed a reputation as a respected contemporary art gallery and consulting firm, with a focus on promoting Southeastern artists in a range of mediums. In 2024, they began showcasing innovative organizers and curators interested in bringing unique exhibitions to the space.
Jerald Melberg Gallery
Neighborhood: Cotswold
Founded in 1983, Jerald Melberg Gallery is renowned for its high-caliber offerings, representing prominent artists from the United States and beyond. Featuring pieces by legendary figures such as Romare Bearden, Wolf Kahn and Robert Motherwell, the gallery offers a refined selection of paintings, sculptures and collages.
McColl Center
Neighborhood: Uptown
McColl Center is a nationally acclaimed contemporary art space with artist studios and gallery walls spanning three floors. The nonprofit organization hosts rotating exhibitions from local and visiting artists, along with workshops and community art events.
SOCO Gallery
Neighborhood: Myers Park
Southern Comfort Gallery (SOCO) is a contemporary art gallery and bookshop established in 2015. Located in a renovated 1920s bungalow, this woman-owned business provides a warm, intimate space to connect with museum-quality art. SOCO showcases the work of emerging and mid-career artists in the region.
Shain Gallery
Neighborhood: Myers Park
Celebrated as one of the finest art galleries in the Southeast, Shain Gallery offers a curated selection of contemporary works for all tastes. Featuring artwork from over 60 regional and international artists, the gallery changes its exhibitions regularly, so you get a fresh experience with every visit. Shain Gallery is an approachable option for first-time buyers and seasoned collectors alike.
TAOH Outdoor Gallery
Neighborhood: NoDa
Launched in 2024, this artist-run outdoor gallery serves as Charlotte's first public graffiti park. Stop by this communal creative sanctuary anytime to see more than 20 constantly changing mural walls, meet local artists and maybe even paint your own masterpiece.
TFA Fine Art Advisory
Neighborhood: Myers Park
Toshkova Fine Art Advisory, located in a charming stone house, curates exclusive collections of modern and contemporary art. With a focus on connecting collectors to progressive and passionate global artists, Toshkova helps clients build valuable art collections.
VAPA Center
Neighborhood: Uptown
Established in 2021, The Visual and Performing Arts Center (VAPA) is an artist collective located in a repurposed government building. With art galleries, studios and performance spaces, it provides a much-needed location for more than 370 local artists to create, collaborate and showcase their work. VAPA hosts Open Studios every first Saturday of the month. Galleries inside include: Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery, a hub for emerging artists, with a focus on exhibiting and supporting artists of color in a welcoming, inclusive environment; The Light Factory Gallery, a haven for photography and film, showcasing emerging and established artists; and OBRA Collective Gallery, an interdisciplinary Latinx arts group creating immigrant and Latinx-affirming art and exhibitions in order to raise awareness.
