As we approach the end of the current season, the energy behind the scenes is already building—because show planning for next year is in full swing! Whether you're a long-time fan of our gallery or a newcomer curious about what’s ahead, we wanted to give you a peek behind the curtain at how we’re curating, scheduling, and preparing a for next year's exhibits that inspire, entertain, and bring our community together.
Curating the Lineup
Each year starts with one big question: What stories do we want to tell next year? Our gallery team spends time looking at our artists, checking in on their lives, and listening to feedback from you—our audience. I posted on Instagram a call for ideas and they did not disappoint. We consider everything from group shows filled with bold new works to solos that flush out a single idea. We aim to strike a balance between crowd favorites, new voices, and thought-provoking paintings that resonates with the moment we’re living in. Unlike most galleries, we have only 23 full time painters and this is deliberate - we want to give them a chance to have a solo show every two years (if they want one). This creates brand recognition and also gives the artists a reason to push themselves to develop new ideas. Our more recognizable artist's Adam Hall and Nathan Durfee typically have annual solo show as well as Robert Lange.
Balancing Art and Logistics
Choosing the shows is just the beginning. Once we have a shortlist, we dive into scheduling. This is where things get both exciting and complex. We look at:
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Seasonal flow: Making sure each exhibit complements the one before and sets the stage for what comes after. No need to have two big landscape shows back to back.
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Artist availability: Matching great talent with an attainable idea, while juggling schedules. Almost all artists are loftier in vision than thier time management skills allow.
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Gallery logistics: There are only three of us, so planning shows and our own lives is a struggle sometimes.
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Community events & holidays: Aligning our calendar with local happenings to maximize accessibility and engagement. Coordinating with the Charleston Gallery Association for ArtWalks.
Collaboration at Every Step
We work closely with our artists and help them realize their vision and needs. If a show requires an elaborate hanging or unique effect of some kind, that’s factored into our timeline. We also coordinate our marketing and outreach to give each show its best possible platform. Sometimes this means promoting a show before the artist has finished a painting for it.
What to Expect Next
We're just as eager as you are to announce our full slate for next year, and that reveal is coming soon! Stay tuned for updates on show titles, group show submission opportunities, and ways to get involved. Whether you're planning a trip to Charleston or having family visit, we can’t wait to share what we’ve got in store.
Thanks for being part of our journey—we’re building an exhibit line-up with you in mind.
