THE ART LOVER’S GUIDE TO COLLECTING FINE ART IN CHARLESTON

The Art Lover’s Guide To Collecting Fine Art In

At every turn, the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, is brimming with arts, history and culture. It is filled with fine art galleries, museums and yearly events, making it one of the top art destinations in the country. Many artists have settled in the region, which provides visitors with a personal experience when they visit the studios and galleries found throughout the French Quarter, Gallery Row on Broad, Lower King and Upper King art districts.

Two years ago, around 40 galleries and exhibition spaces formed the citywide Charleston Gallery Association. This organization has united the districts through events and quarterly art walks on the first Friday of March, May, October and December from 5 to 8 p.m. Visitors are able to experience the charm of the city as well as the bounty of the arts due to the walkability of the area. Last year, CGA announced its first Summer Wine Bouquet at The Mills House Hotel, with the event returning in 2018 on September 16 from 5 to 8 p.m. Featured are dozens of summer wines, live music, hors d’oeuvres and an enriching art experience. More than 20 galleries will exhibit during the event, and there will be painting demonstrations by artists as well as lectures on technique and collecting. There are two venues for the arts in Charleston: Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art and the Gibbes Museum of Art. At the Halsey are two museum-quality exhibition spaces that allow for a number of events and exhibitions to take place. Upcoming is the group show Southbound: Photographs of and About the New South, October 19 to March 2, that features the work of 56 photographers. Each year, the Gibbes hosts six to eight special exhibitions, with forthcoming events including Lying in Wait: Sporting Art by Ogden M. Pleissner from January 18 to May 12 and Black Refractions: Highlights from The Studio Museum in Harlem from May 24 to August 18.

Each February in Charleston is the highly anticipated Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, which brings droves of wildlife and sporting art collectors to the city. The 2019 show, happening February 14 to 17, boasts its popular Quick Draw/Speed Sculpt, where artists and attendees can meet and discuss the works as they progress. The works are then sold in the auction that follows.

In Charleston, collectors can visit gallery spaces such as John Carrol Doyle Art Gallery, Meyer Vogl Gallery, Principle Gallery Charleston, Reinert Fine Art and Robert Lange Studios. Located south of Charleston on Kiawah Island is Wells Gallery, which specializes in Lowcountry artwork that depicts the people and places of the iconic region.