Author Archive

Join us in celebrating our partnership between True Blue Butcher & Table Restaurant, Debra Bucci Fine Art and Art in Bloom Gallery!

True Blue, a local restaurant in Wilmington, NC, invited Debra to create and display a collection of her large abstract art in their dining room. The paintings are for sale and can viewed in the restaurant and online.  Preview the work here!

True Blue Butcher and Table Restaurant
1125 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington, NC 28405

Join us in celebrating a new art partnership with Art in Bloom Gallery and local restaurant, The Green House, along with several of our local artists. This art partnership will offer a curated selection of ceramics, sculpture and fiber art by Brian Evans, Dianne Evans, Angela Rowe, and Rebecca Yeomans in The Green House Restaurant’s beautiful space. All of the original artwork will be for sale and may be viewed in the restaurant as well as online.  Join us at the opening art reception at the restaurant on Wednesday, March 8th from 5-7pm. The reception is free and open to the public.

The Green House is a local vegetarian and vegan restaurant welcoming customers to experience an inventive, plant-based menu with an emphasis on sustainability, seasonality, and all of the amazing local producers our area has to offer. Make dinner reservations at OpenTable or contact the restaurant.

Click here to preview the work online!

The Green House
1427 Military Cutoff, Unit 106,
Wilmington, NC 28405
910-679-4994

Barbara Snyder “Untitled 2”

In April, we welcome a new photography show “Interconnected” with new work by, Barbara Snyder.

Barbara states that “There is often a commonality in what we think of as our individual past.  As a lens- based artist, I seek to reposition my past as an operative with a broader context. In exploring its impact, both active and benign, memory becomes metaphorical and ritualistic. I strive for my images and assemblages to provoke, engage, and inform a universal memory with influences of contemporary life, reinventing the narrative of the stories and rituals which continue to live on with a deeper, broader, context than the obvious. These new works referencing strength are being influenced by the interconnectedness of the natural world.”

Barbara Snyder is a self-educated lens-based artist, working with digital, film and alternative processes. She has shown nationally and internationally and was a recipient of the 2014 and 2017 North Carolina Regional Artists Grant. Snyder lives and works in Wilmington, North Carolina.

On view along with this exhibit is our featured painter, Debra Bucci.  These new shows will be on view from April 13 – May 21, 2023, with an opening reception on Thursday, April 13th  from 5-8pm.

Click here for a preview of the work that will appear in this exhibit! 

“Sunday Afternoon” by Mark Gansor

“Bold and Bright” is our newest exhibit with fresh new works by long-time gallery artists, Mark Gansor and Gale Smith.  Mark is a landscape painter using impasto surfaces to capture fleeting moments caught in the light. His works are playful and full of color!  Complimenting Mark’s paintings are the sculptural metal works by, mixed media artist, Gale Smith. Gale’s work in this exhibit is about the transformation of sheets of copper into complex assemblages that create a distinctive visual impact while allowing the intrinsic beauty of the metal to shine through.  Vibrant colours dance across the copper pieces and create abstract geometrical shapes.  These intricate works contain rich textures and reveal extraordinary manifestations of colour and formations.

On view along with this exhibit is Monochrome Moments: A Photographic Glimpse into Nature by Tim Smith. These new shows will be on view from January 12 – February 26, 2023, with an opening reception on Thursday, January 12th from 5-8pm.

Click here for a preview of the work that will appear in this exhibit! 

About the Artists

Mark Gansor is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Out of several decades of work as a decorative finisher and classical musician, Mark Gansor’s career as a painter was born. Entirely self- taught he is now secure enough to tell people that he is an artist. He works in acrylics thickly applied to the

“Here Comes the Sun” by Gale Smith

canvas with knives, fingers, and occasionally brushes.  Since moving to Wilmington five years ago he has been caught up in the artistic vibe of the city, and the historical structures, nature, and the downtown all figure in his work. He has painted or restored original work in several structures on the National Registry which have added to his love of all things old or unusual. The beautiful old churches speak to him, bringing his love of sacred music and the pipe organ back time and time again.  For several years he has been painting works on canvas and hopes that this can be his career in retirement. His work is available at Art in Bloom Gallery. He has also recently become Director of Music Ministries at St Andrews Covenant Presbyterian Church in downtown Wilmington.  Mark Gansor is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Having studied at UNC Chapel Hill, Gale Smith considers painting as an ongoing study.  She has found a new interest in working with copper.  As a plein air painter, she began using copper panels as her canvas and loved how the copper made her colors warm and vibrant. She experimented with different gauges of copper and mediums and discovered that inks and oils on copper made colors radiate vibrantly. Never quite sure where the colors and copper will take her, Gale paints, cuts and weaves two abstract paintings together to create a dimensional piece of art.  The soft gentle curves that she cuts into the copper, allows her to form the piece into soothing and thought provoking structural designs.  It is her desire that the viewer will experience a personal interaction with her art. Often, she writes small quotes, prayers or poems that relate to the piece of work on the back of the copper strips and weaves them into the design.  Gale donates a portion of the proceeds from her sales to various organizations and charities. Gale is an award winning artist with her works exhibited in galleries, private collections and corporate installations.

“Dragonfly on Leaf”

“Monochrome Moments: A Photographic Glimpse into Nature” is a new exhibit by photographer, Tim Smith.  Tim’s images, shown here in black/white, illustrate a keen interest in light and composition. His visual voice is often one of quiet reflection and introspection. He is skilled enough to give the viewer those same emotions.  His talents have convinced local and regional photo editors as well as the movie industry to use his photographs on their magazine covers, TV shows and movies, often as light-hearted and beautiful scenes. ~Jerry Blow, AIAP, Raleigh, NC

On view along with this exhibit is Bold and Bright: New Work by Mark Gansor & Gale Smith. These new shows will be on view from January 12 – February 26, 2023, with an opening reception on Thursday, January 12th from 5-8pm.

Click here for a preview of the work that will appear in this exhibit! 

About the Artist

Tim Smith, a native North Carolinian, is one of those rare people who has known his direction in life from childhood.  As the provocative writer, Henry Miller, said: “The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.”  Tim’s personal photographic direction in life has been to give close attention to and to photograph his world. His interest began around the age of 8 after becoming fascinated with his uncle’s Polaroid camera.  He completed his first formal photography course during high school in Asheboro, NC where he contributed many photographs for his yearbook.  After that came a photography degree from Randolph Community College and then six years with the NC National Guard as a photographer. He has continued his photographic journey as a fine art photographer while living in the Wilmington area over the past four decades.

“Moments: Photography by Carlos Flores” on view in the gallery from December 4^th until January 8, 2023. Carlos states that “Life is nothing but an infinite number of moments that are in constant motion. Unfortunately, it’s quite impossible to remember it all. My camera is my greatest tool because with it I’m able to collect and store passing moments that become memories to later reminisce. It gives me great honor to share those with you. Moments.”

Carlos Flores is a contemporary photographer and filmmaker who was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the United States at the early age of two. In 2017, he discovered his passion for film photography. Ever since then, Carlos has been passionate about capturing moments to show the world what he sees through his lens.

Click here for a preview of the work that will appear in this exhibit! 

His photography has been displayed at The ArtWorks Gallery Verrazzano, Gravity Records, Leland Cultural Arts Center, Leland Town Hall, Arts on Fire, and Art in Bloom Gallery.

Gallery events are always free and open to the public. On view along with these exhibits, Art in Bloom Gallery showcases a plethora of fine art of over local 30 artists.  The gallery is open Monday – Saturday 10am – 6pm and Sunday 12-6pm and is now located in Mayfaire Town Center at 6866 Main Street in Wilmington, NC.

“Natural Beauty Pageant” Fiber Art with Eco Printing and stitching, 40″H x 46.25″W

Collaborating with Nature investigates the intricate fiber art pieces created by Rebecca Yeomans. Rebecca’s current work combines botanical printing, knitting, and stitching with a painterly feel. She is a full-time artist residing with her family in Wilmington, N.C.

Rebecca Yeomans has lived her entire life centered around making. She learned to knit at eight years old and was considered the “class artist” in school. She studied studio art at UNC-Chapel Hill, receiving a BFA in 1974. After earning an MFA from Auburn University in 1979 she taught there for several years. Rebecca and her husband Tom moved to Wilmington, NC in 1984 and she worked as a scenic artist in the film industry. She was a founding board member for DREAMS of Wilmington and later taught classes. Her fiber jewelry can be seen at the CAM gift shop. After she and Tom raised two artsy daughters, Rebecca quickly moved into full time artist mode. Her current work combines botanical printing, knitting, and stitching with a painterly feel.

Join us in the gallery on Thursday, November 10^th from 5-8pm for a special Opening Reception for this body of work! On view along with this exhibit is Art Made with Light: Photograms by Melissa Wilgis.

Click here for a preview of the work that will appear in this exhibit! 

About the Process

The botanical printmaking process is almost always the inspiration and starting point for my work. Eco or botanical printing is the art of transferring color from natural plant material on to fabric or paper using pressure, moisture, and heat. Beautiful contact plant portraits are captured by bundling vegetation and fabric, either by rolling around a pipe or stacking in layers and binding tightly. The bundle is then steamed or immersed in simmering natural dye coaxing the pigment out of the leaves and on to the cloth. Results depend on many variables: type of fabric, water source, plant species, season, climate, and type of vessel used to name a few. Thus each piece is unique and always a surprise. The process involves many steps: scouring, mordanting, pre dyeing, printing with plant material, post dyeing, rinsing, and perhaps printing again. I enjoy the relationship with the natural world inherent in the process: foraging walks, growing my own dye plants, the aroma of cooking eucalyptus, and the opening of a bundle to reveal what gift Mother Nature has given. When a piece of printed paper or cloth excites me, I begin the slow process of embellishing. This involves tearing fabric, arranging and rearranging, pinning, basting, and deciding on a place to start. I approach this process intuitively, reacting playfully, exploring this or that, asking what if? The piece evolves and its story unfolds. Hopefully a lovely whole is created by the intricate details. In a nutshell, the beauty of the materials and the process of making are what my artwork is about. I am co-creating with Mother Nature and collaborating with the fabric, yarn, and thread.

“Mushroom Coral” Cyanotype on paper

Art Made with Light is a new collection of cyanotypes by photographer, Melissa Wilgis. Melissa is a fine art photographer specializing in photograms. Her cyanotypes on silver gelatin are a three-step process that requires thoughtful planning and time spent both in a traditional darkroom and outside under the sun. For this body of work, sea whips gathered from local beaches are combined with seashell x-rays and other collected items to create images that are eye-catching and unique.

Join us in the gallery on Thursday, November 10^th from 5-8pm for a special Opening Reception for this body of work! On view along with this exhibit is Collaborating with Nature: Fiber Art by Rebecca Yeomans”.

Click here for a preview of the work that will appear in this exhibit! 

About the Artist

I’m a fine art photographer specializing in photograms.  I made my first photogram in 1986 in Mr. Fecik’s photography class at Boardman High School.  I don’t recall the specifics, but I’m fairly certain a clear cassette tape was involved.  At the time, making photograms was simply a way to learn my way around the darkroom.  It taught me how to use an enlarger and what the various chemicals do.  Leaving photograms behind, I pursued photojournalism throughout high school and college.  After graduating with a BA in English from NC State University, I started working for a branch of Eastman Kodak called Qualex.  I was in tech support, helping one-hour-photo lab operators fix their problems via telephone.  Over the next several years, I moved further away from photography and became further entrenched in corporate America.  I finally came to my senses and left that world.  I found some film photography classes at the local community college and took a few to get back into the swing of things. Soon I started working there as the darkroom assistant.  Four years later I became pregnant with my daughter and left my job at the community college to focus on being a mom.  When my daughter was about a year old, my husband completed the darkroom in our garage.  The baby-monitor picked-up a signal out there, so I was able to go into the darkroom during naptime, in addition to occasional evenings and weekends.  Making photograms gained traction for me during this time because it was photography I could do without wandering too far from my young daughter.  She was and still is my regular, full-time job.

I initially began making photograms using what I refer to as my “critters”; seahorses, crabs, butterflies, dragonflies, sea whips, wildflowers and other found curiosities.  My husband works in marine biology and helps me gather specimens.  No animals are ever harmed—they’re gathered after they’ve passed.  One day my husband came home with a deceased baby stingray.  He had been out in the field and noticed some fishermen getting ready to toss it back.  He asked if he could have the ray and they agreed.  So, the joke now is that it’s all fine and good if your husband brings you flowers.  But it’s exciting if he brings you a dead baby stingray.  Eventually, I knew I needed to expand my photogram creations beyond critters.  I’m a thrift store junky and made it a priority to search out photogrammable objects at the charity shops.  I’m drawn to antique garments, lace, and glass baubles.  My photogram compositions are simple.  This simplicity allows the viewer to find their own story, be it politics, feminism, gender, sexuality, body-image, materialism, culture, economy, history, family or simply nostalgia.  To me, they’re first and foremost, a reminder to always try to see things in a different light.

“Pursuit of Joy: Paintings by Debra Bucci + Bradley Carter” is an exhibit featuring two artist’s individual search for creative freedom through brush, canvas, and paint. This exhibit will be the first featured artist show to enliven the walls of the new gallery space, located in Mayfaire Town Center.

Join us in the gallery on Monday, September 19th from 5-8pm for a special Opening & Reception for this exhibit of work!  On view along with this exhibit is Restaurants + Art, a joint project, celebrating Wilmington’s restaurant scene, with pastel paintings by artist, Jeri Greenberg.

Click here to for a preview the work in this exhibit.

About the Artists 

Debra Bucci is known for her vibrant and engaging floral paintings. Dynamic color palettes, moving compositions and translucency from layering oils all work together to enhance the depth and bring Debra’s art to life. Her inspiration comes from the high’s and low’s of the human experience and believes this tension makes the art connectable. Her style is rooted in realism and woven with abstract elements.

American Artist, Bradley Carter, is an award winning, international selling artist who grew up pursuing his passion for art in Virginia before moving to the North Carolina in 2007, where he currently resides in Wilmington, NC. He predominately works in the medium of painting with his passion in Abstract Expressionism.

“White Front: Morning Coffee” by Jeri Greenberg

Restaurants + Art is a joint project, celebrating Wilmington’s restaurant scene, with pastel paintings by artist, Jeri Greenberg.  This project is in collaboration with Art in Bloom Gallery, MoMentum Companies, and a delectable selection of restaurants and cafes in our community.

The purpose of the project is to celebrate and support our many different restaurants and cafes in our wonderful city through visual art. Participating restaurants include: Restaurants include: The Cafe at Cameron Art Museum (CAM Cafe), Elijah’s, Floriana, S & L Deli, Quanto Basta, Tarantelli’s, The Basics, The Green House, White Front, Winnie’s Tavern, along with others.  A portion of art sales will benefit NourishNC. NourishNC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to “Provide healthy food to hungry children, empowering them to succeed in the classroom and in their community.”

Join us in the gallery on Monday, September 19th from 5-8pm for a special Opening & Reception for this exhibit of work!  Along with this exhibit, our featured show is “Pursuit of Joy: Paintings by Debra Bucci + Bradley Carter“ Exhibit featuring the work of 2 exquisite painters.

About the Artist

After many years as a fashion illustrator and sportswear designer, Jeri Greenberg turned her love of graphic design and color into a new and exciting “next act”, working as a full-time painter and teacher.

Feeling that “Pastels are an immediate tool to express feelings” and the perfect medium in which to “Make the Ordinary, Extraordinary”,  Jeri works to tell stories in her work enabling her to draw the viewer in . With her background in illustration, Jeri helps her students get a strongly drawn foundation down behind their color work.

Jeri loves painting still lifes, urban interiors, figures and fabrics, and the occasional landscape as well. Recently relocated, Jeri teaches weekly classes at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington NC, and holds demos and workshops around the country, as well as jurying national and international pastel exhibits.

Elizabeth Darrow “Wild Flowers” Oil and oil pastel on canvas, 20″ x 24″

Art in Bloom Gallery is celebrating our artists with a brand-new exhibit, Making A Move: New Art Featuring Art in Bloom Gallery Artists, at our new location in Mayfaire Town Center. The Gallery is pleased to present the work of our featured artists showcasing an abundance of creativity with a feast your eyes.

The gallery presents an eclectic mix of original, traditional, and contemporary works of art, represents over 30 artists, many of which are local to the Wilmington area. Our offerings include fine art paintings, functional and decorative ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, blown glass, photography, mixed media art, limited-edition prints and more!

Click here to view the art on view in the gallery!

Featured artists include:  Bradley Carter (painting), Debra Bucci (painting), Richard Bunting (blown glass), Judy Hintz Cox (abstract painter), Karen Paden Crouch (sculpture), Elizabeth Darrow (painting), Brian Evans (ceramics), Dianne Evans (ceramics), Susan Francy (photographer), Mark Gansor (painter), Joanne Geisel (painting), Jeri Greenberg (pastel artist), Curtis Krueger (photographer), Dave Klinger (photography),   Joan McLoughlin (painting), David Norris (printmaker),  Jameka Purdie (jewelry), Jessie Robertson (painter), Gale Smith (painter), Traudi Thornton (ceramics), Gayle Tustin (ceramics), Angela Rowe (painter), Kirah Van Sickle (painter), Roberto Vengoechea (jewelry), among others!

Celebrate with us during our official Grand Opening Event and Reception on Wednesday, August 18^th from 5 until 8pm. Meet our artists, purchase fine art and feast your eyes on the offerings of the gallery during this event.   This opening event will be on view until September 11^th.

“Dream House” by Kirah Van Sickle

“Primordial Lines: Brian Evans & Kirah Van Sickle,” will feature artists working in contemporary ceramics and mixed media art.   These 2 Wilmington based artists are collaborating in this new exhibition. Brian is a ceramic artist who plays with light and shadow on three dimensional surfaces in his functional and decorative pottery.  Kirah’s acrylic and mixed media works explore incorporating found objects and papers with paint glazes.  The show will also feature new ceramic works by Dianne Evans.

Along with this exhibit our photographic exhibit is “Visual INTROspection: Photography by WAZgriffin“. WAZ’s show features images meant to evoke self reflection, challenge the viewer, and inspire an emotional response.

Join us in the gallery on Friday, May 27 from 6-9pm, in downtown Wilmington, as part of the Fourth Friday Gallery Night hosted by the Arts Council of Wilmington for the 2022 Season.  Visit with the artists and purchase original art!  Fourth Fridays Gallery Nights are an after-hours celebration of art and culture. Art-savvy locals and visitors flock to downtown Wilmington galleries for a fun, free, family-friendly experience.

About the Artists

Brian Evans‘ work conveys inspiration that he finds in his surroundings. Sometimes something as simple as the blade of a saw or a bellows used to blow on a fire can inspire an entire series of work. This body of work conveys simple found objects that inspire minimal or complex linear forms. Brian Evans was born in Beaufort, SC, but was raised in Western Pennsylvania.  He graduated in 1993 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Studio Art.  He moved to Wilmington, North Carolina in 1995.  He studied ceramics through the Continuing Education program at Cape Fear Community College while searching for an outlet for artistic expression. Brian studied under a Japanese-American Potter,  Hiroshi Sueyoshi. Brian is currently serving as President of the Coastal Carolina Clay Guild.

Kirah Van Sickle is an adventurer at heart. Her early years set a foundation for travel, exploration and visual storytelling. Her acrylic and mixed media works explore incorporating found objects and papers with the paint glazes. These are deeply personal expressions of her memories and dreams. In addition to her studio practice, Kirah is a dynamic instructor and lecturer, leading custom studio courses through museum schools and local art associations, directed to both beginner and seasoned artists. She is an award-winning illustrator, graphic designer and studio artist, a certified Golden Artist-Educator, and active in community arts programming, preservation of cultural resources and enhancing arts education. Kirah lives on the Cape Fear Coast of North Carolina and is a staff instructor at the Cameron Art Museum, Johnston Community College, and Cape Fear Community College.

“Bees on a Pear”

Visual INTROspection is WAZ’s first show at Art in Bloom. The show features images meant to evoke self reflection, challenge the viewer, and inspire an emotional response. Some will experience amusement at a gathering of ballerinas, warmth watching a young girl dance on the beach, or amazement at a swarm of bees eight inches long. Whatever the reaction, the desire is that the viewer has enjoyed a moment of contemplation through these images.

WAZgriffin has more than forty years experience as a photographer. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, where he studied photojournalism, television production, and media arts, WAZ has worked both in California and North Carolina as a teacher, teaching computer literacy, photography, and video production. His work has won numerous awards both nationally, locally, and internationally through shows and competitions. He lives in Wilmington, NC.

Along with our photography feature will be the exhibit, “Primordial: Brian Evans& Kirah Van Sickle,” including contemporary ceramic and mixed media art.

Join us in the gallery on Friday, May 27 from 6-9pm, in downtown Wilmington, as part of the Fourth Friday Gallery Night hosted by the Arts Council of Wilmington for the 2022 Season.  Visit with the artists and purchase original art!  Fourth Fridays Gallery Nights are an after-hours celebration of art and culture. Art-savvy locals and visitors flock to downtown Wilmington galleries for a fun, free, family-friendly experience.

Jeri Greenberg “Red Chair with Leather Ottoman”

“Intimate Interiors: Pastels by Jeri Greenberg & Ceramics by Traudi Thornton” is an exciting new exhibit featuring the colorful work of two very different artists. In addition to her pastel paintings of intimate interiors, Jeri will be featuring several of her newest works from “Restaurants + Art 2022:  Celebrating Wilmington’s Restaurant Scene“, a joint project in collaboration with Art in Bloom Gallery, Terry Espy of MoMentum Companies, and different restaurants and cafes in our community. A portion of art sales from Restaurants + Art 2022 will benefit NourishNC.

After many years as a fashion illustrator and sportswear designer, Jeri Greenberg turned her love of graphic design and color into a new and exciting “next act”, working as a full-time painter and teacher.  Jeri loves painting still lifes, urban interiors, figures and fabrics, and the occasional landscape as well. Recently relocated, Jeri teaches weekly classes at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington NC, and holds demos and workshops around the country, as well as jurying national and international pastel exhibits.

Traudi Thornton is a ceramicist currently showing Raku and Stoneware at Art in Bloom Gallery. She was born in Czechoslovakia and raised in Germany.  Traudi first studied music at Creighton University before studying ceramics with Henry Soreco at Creighton, the University of Nebraska at Omaha and then moving back to Germany.  The artist relocated to Wilmington in 1983.  Additionally, Traudi completed a Raku workshop with Paul Soldner in 1974 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Along with this exhibit our photographic feature will be, “The Water of Life: Photography by Allison Bowman”.

Join us in the gallery on Friday, April 22nd from 6-9pm, in downtown Wilmington, as part of the Fourth Friday Gallery Night hosted by the Arts Council of Wilmington for the 2022 Season.  Visit with the artists and purchase original art!  Fourth Fridays Gallery Nights are an after-hours celebration of art and culture. Art-savvy locals and visitors flock to downtown Wilmington galleries for a fun, free, family-friendly experience.

Fractal Shape of Rebirth 1, 1/1 by Allison Bowman

“The Water of Life: Photography by Allison Bowman” is a showcase of impactful prints created during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Allison’s photography highlights the unique experience we all shared in the isolation. While I lived in the Outer Banks through the course of the pandemic, the manifestations of these experiences seem to be idealized in the forms and relationships I built with the bodies of water around me. Please enjoy “The Water of Life”.

Along with this exhibit “Intimate Interiors: Pastels by Jeri Greenberg & Ceramics by Traudi Thornton” is an exciting new exhibit featuring the colorful work of two very different artists. In addition to her pastel paintings of intimate interiors, Jeri will be featuring several of her newest works from “Restaurants + Art 2022:  Celebrating Wilmington’s Restaurant Scene“, a joint project in collaboration with Art in Bloom Gallery, Terry Espy of MoMentum Companies, and different restaurants and cafes in our community. A portion of art sales from Restaurants + Art 2022 will benefit NourishNC.

Join us in the gallery on Friday, April 22nd from 6-9pm, in downtown Wilmington, as part of the Fourth Friday Gallery Night hosted by the Arts Council of Wilmington for the 2022 Season.  Visit with the artists and purchase original art!  Fourth Fridays Gallery Nights are an after-hours celebration of art and culture. Art-savvy locals and visitors flock to downtown Wilmington galleries for a fun, free, family-friendly experience.

“Still Life in Ochre and Grey” by Michael Van Hout

“Sibs 2” features the newest glass mosaic art and oil paintings of siblings, Brooks Koff and Michael Van Hout. These Wilmington based artists have collaborated together on many projects and are bringing new work to the gallery walls.  The artwork will range from beautifully rendered paintings to colorful glass mosaics.

Brooks Koff “paints with glass” creating unique stained-glass mosaics that beg for a sunny window to catch and transform light into brilliant color! Unlike traditional stained-glass work, her pieces are created without the use of patterns, giving her freedom to fully explore color and design.

Michael Van Hout started creating professional art over thirty-years ago after studying Forestry at NC State University and graduating with a BSA degree in sculpture from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1980. In addition to wire and metal sculpture, Michael creates wood sculpture, woodcut prints, mixed media, mobiles, paintings, and commissioned works.

Join us in the gallery on Friday, February 25th from 6-9pm, in downtown Wilmington, as part of the Fourth Friday Gallery Night hosted by the Arts Council of Wilmington for the 2022 Season.  Visit with the artists and purchase original art!  Fourth Fridays Gallery Nights are an after-hours celebration of art and culture. Art-savvy locals and visitors flock to downtown Wilmington galleries for a fun, free, family-friendly experience.

The gallery is open Monday – Thursday 10am-4pm, Friday – Saturday 10am-5pm, and by appointment.   If you prefer to shop from home the Art in Bloom Gallery Website (www.aibgallery.com) is always open!  Purchase art online and pick up at the door or take advantage of our free local delivery.  Plus we can also ship anywhere within the U.S.

The 2021 Holiday Season and Art in Bloom Gallery will celebrate with a rotating exhibit featuring over 30 of Art in Bloom Gallery’s Artists!  Feast your eyes on new work directly out of the artists’ studios. Shop for unique works of art that come with an abundance of creativity, which will bring smiles all year round!  All of our artists are offering fine art under $250.

Along with this exhibit we will feature  “Night: Photography by Jeff Chase”.  Jeff is a photographer and painter who lives in Wilmington, NC.  This body of work continues an ongoing theme…capturing a moment in time gone unnoticed by others.

Featured artists include:  Bradley Carter (painting), Debra Bucci (painting), Richard Bunting (blown glass), Judy Hintz Cox (abstract painter), Karen Paden Crouch (sculpture), Elizabeth Darrow (painting), Brian Evans (ceramics), Dianne Evans (ceramics), Susan Francy (photographer), Mark Gansor (painter), Joanne Geisel (painting), Dumay Gorham (sculpture), Jeri Greenberg (pastel artist), Curtis Krueger (photographer), Dave Klinger (photography), Brooks Koff (stained glass), Helen Lewis (encaustic painter),  Joan McLoughlin (painting), David Norris (printmaker),  Jameka Purdie (jewelry), Jessie Robertson (painter), Gale Smith (painter), Traudi Thornton (ceramics), Gayle Tustin (ceramics), Angela Rowe (painter),  Michael Van Hout (sculpture), Kirah Van Sickle (painter), Roberto Vengoechea (jewelry), among others! 

The exhibit opens on Friday, November 12 and continues through January 9, 2022.

Click here to preview the work that will be featured in this exhibit and sale!

The gallery is open Monday – Friday 10am-4pm; Friday – Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 12-4pm and by appointment.  If you prefer to shop from home the Art in Bloom Gallery Website (www.aibgallery.com) is always open!  Purchase art online and pick up at the door or take advantage of our free local delivery.  Plus we can also ship anywhere within the U.S. Art in Bloom also offers complementary gift wrapping.

“Ted’s” by Jeff Chase

“Night” features the work of  Jeff Chase, photographer and painter who lives in Wilmington, NC.  This body of work continues an ongoing theme…capturing a moment in time gone unnoticed by others.

Jeff states that “Photography has been a passion for me since I got my first camera at age 6.  It was a Brownie Box Camera which introduced me to the idea of capturing a moment in time which, most likely, no one else saw.  At age 14, I set up my own darkroom and would spend hours trying to edit and perfect what I had seen through the camera’s lens.  In high school and in college I furthered my education by taking all the photography classes available.  Once digital photography became the norm, I continued to advance my skills by learning Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.  These tools have furthered the way photographers can use their photos to “paint” imagery that they saw in their mind’s eye, images that were only imagined while looking through the lens of a camera.   This level of advancement has opened a new world for me, allowing me to not only capture images but also to interpret what I see.  However, after all these years, I am still after the same thing – trying to capture a moment in time that has gone unnoticed by anyone else.  It is truly a passion that will keep me fascinated the rest of my life.”

Along with this exhibit will be the “The Holiday Art Exhibit + Sale”  with over 30 of Art in Bloom Gallery’s Artists!  Feast your eyes on new work directly out of the artists’ studios. Shop for meaningful, original and special gifts of art that will bring smiles all year round!

The gallery is open Monday – Friday 10am-4pm; Friday – Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 12-4pm and by appointment.   If you prefer to shop from home the Art in Bloom Gallery Website (www.aibgallery.com) is always open!  Purchase art online and pick up at the door or take advantage of our free local delivery.  Plus we can also ship anywhere within the U.S. Art in Bloom also offers complementary gift wrapping.

“Warm Winter Day” Oil on canvas 8″ x 10″

“Unique & Precious: Our Coast’s Irreplaceable Landscapes” features the newest paintings of Joanne Geisel, who lives in Wilmington, NC. Joanne began a new series of paintings commenting on how unique our particular geographic area is.  She illustrates this through local coastal scenes and her paintings of Venus Flytraps.  Flytraps are indigenous to only this 150 mile geographic area and marshes that are estuaries to animals and plants.

Joanne’s love of drawing and painting began as a child. After completing a degree in Art Education, she enjoyed careers in human services and higher education. She received a Masters in Public Administration using her creative skills in program development, marketing and helping others with career and educational goals. Since 2006, Joanne has been a full time artist; painting, teaching, exhibiting and selling  artwork. Her goals in creating oil paintings include capturing the feelings, sights and sounds of her subject. She continues to experiment with texture, edges, brushstrokes, and palette knife and the layering of color to create depth, luminosity and beauty. Joanne is on the faculty of The Cameron Art Museum School, Wilmington, NC, and the Leland Cultural Arts Center and conducts workshops for many organizations.

Along with this exhibit, our featured photography show is “Seeing Art Through the Camera: Joe P. Wiegmann”.  This show features photographs that combine technical and artistic aspects of what he sees through his camera lens.

Join us in the gallery on Friday, January 28th from 6-9pm, in downtown Wilmington, as part of the Fourth Friday Gallery Night hosted by the Arts Council of Wilmington for the 2022 Season.  Visit with the artists and purchase original art!  Fourth Fridays Gallery Nights are an after-hours celebration of art and culture. Art-savvy locals and visitors flock to downtown Wilmington galleries for a fun, free, family-friendly experience.

The gallery is open Monday – Thursday 10am-4pm, Friday – Saturday 10am-5pm, and by appointment.   If you prefer to shop from home the Art in Bloom Gallery Website (www.aibgallery.com) is always open!  Purchase art online and pick up at the door or take advantage of our free local delivery.  Plus we can also ship anywhere within the U.S.

“Restaurant Ready”

“Seeing Art Through the Camera” is our newest show featuring the photographic work of (Joe) P. Wiegmann.  Years ago, a professional photographer gave me great advice, “Always carry your camera with you.” Over the years, I have cultivated my own philosophy to taking photographs and my advice is, “Vary your camera angle and the height at which you shoot your images.” The theme of my January 2022 Photo Show is, “Seeing Art Through The Camera”. I usually see the art of the image before I actually grab for my camera. Then I think about how to take the photo technically. I try various angles or staging heights to take the photograph. I hope that the image captured represents what I envisioned. Once the image is printed, I look forward to a printed piece that displays an additional richness of artistry. Not all photographs work perfectly but when they do, it is such a great high!

As far back as I can remember, I was always engaged in creative endeavors such as drawing and painting. Two years of Civil Engineering at the University of Maryland did not provide me with the means to express my creativity. When I changed my major to Fine Arts, it didn’t make my parents happy but they were supportive of my new goals. After 43 years in the graphic design field and serving as a Creative Director, I retired and moved to the Wilmington area. The beauty and natural energy of the places and artists here have rekindled my creative energy.

Along with this exhibit is “Unique & Precious: Our Coast’s Irreplaceable Landscapes” featuring the newest paintings of Joanne Geisel, who lives in Wilmington, NC. Joanne began a new series of paintings commenting on how unique our particular geographic area is.  She illustrates this through local coastal scenes and her paintings of Venus Flytraps.

Join us in the gallery on Friday, January 28th from 6-9pm, in downtown Wilmington, as part of the Fourth Friday Gallery Night hosted by the Arts Council of Wilmington for the 2022 Season.  Visit with the artists and purchase original art!  Fourth Fridays Gallery Nights are an after-hours celebration of art and culture. Art-savvy locals and visitors flock to downtown Wilmington galleries for a fun, free, family-friendly experience.

The gallery is open Monday – Thursday 10am-4pm and Friday – Saturday 10am-5pm and by appointment.   If you prefer to shop from home the Art in Bloom Gallery Website (www.aibgallery.com) is always open!  Purchase art online and pick up at the door or take advantage of our free local delivery.  Plus we can also ship anywhere within the U.S. Art in Bloom also offers complementary gift wrapping.

“Emerging “Welded Bronze by Karen Paden Crouch

What We Keep is an exhibit with a continuing conversation between two old friends Karen Paden Crouch and Angela Rowe.  Along with this exhibit we will display the work of our photography feature Audrey Kriss Berkowitz.

Events of this past year drew us inside, kept us inside and made us look inside. We have examined our history, our symbols, and what matters most to us when so much of what we considered essential became inaccessible. Evolving from that experience, “What We Keep” is a continuing conversation between two old friends Karen Paden Crouch and Angela Rowe who have relished the blessing of time to make art and make sense of what has sustained us and what we will take with us as we emerge from this complex experience. The work includes individual and collaborative pieces in clay, bronze, paper and canvas.

The exhibit opens on Friday, August 13 and continues through September 19, 2021.

The gallery is open Monday – Thursday 10am-4pm and Friday-Saturday 10am-5pm.  If you prefer to shop from home the Art in Bloom Gallery Website (www.aibgallery.com) is always open!  Purchase art online and pick up at the door or take advantage of our free local delivery.  Plus we can also ship anywhere within the U.S.

“Spiraling” Oil on canvas by Debra Bucci

Art in Bloom Gallery is delighted to partner with Opera Wilmington to celebrate the production of The Magic Flute Opera.  Harmonious Relationships: Art Inspired by Music celebrates the convergence of music and visual art.  This exhibit will include works of art by artists Debra Bucci, Bradley Carter, Elizabeth Darrow, Helen Lewis, Lori Joy Peterson, Jameka Wrisbon Purdie, Traudi Thornton, and Pam Toll among others.  In addition to this exhibit our photography feature is Gary Allen.

The exhibit opens on Friday, June 25, during Fourth Friday Gallery Night and continues through August 8, 2021.

A portion of art sales from the Opera Wilmington Shop on the Art in Bloom Gallery website will be donated to Opera Wilmington.

Stay tuned for more details and to preview the work that will be featured in the exhibit.

About Opera Wilmington

Founded in ­­­­2013 as the area’s only live, fully staged professional opera company, Opera Wilmington has become a cultural touchstone in the coastal Carolina region. Artistic Director Nancy King, along with a board of dedicated community supporters and devoted opera lovers, envisioned a dynamic company that would provide excellence in operatic performance and education, as well as inspire appreciation of the art form within the Wilmington community and surrounding areas.

To bring this vision to life, Nancy King (a voice/opera professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington) brought together a collaborative artistic team of fellow UNCW faculty members: Assistant Artistic Director and costume designer Mark Sorenson, scenic designer Max Lydy, conductor and chorus master Joe Hickman, and choreographer Nancy Podrasky Carson.

Cast members include nationally emerging singers along with local talent and advanced UNCW students, and the Opera Wilmington Orchestra is composed of UNCW faculty and other professional musicians from across the state.

The gallery is open Monday – Thursday 10am-4pm and Friday – Saturday 10am-5pm.  If you prefer to shop from home the Art in Bloom Gallery Website (www.aibgallery.com) is always open!  Purchase art online and pick up at the door or take advantage of our free local delivery.  Plus we can also ship anywhere within the U.S.

Exhibit Graphic

Springtime Celebration with New Elements Gallery is a collaboration presenting an eclectic mix of paintings capturing elements of Spring – when life is alive with everything! The artists included that are represented by New Elements Gallery are Kristen Dill, Fritzi Huber, and Sheila Keefe Ortiz.  Art in Bloom Gallery artists include Debra Bucci,  Bradley Carter, Mark Gansor, Laurie Greenbaum Beitch, Jeri Greenberg, Joan McLoughlin, and  Kirah Van Sickle.   In addition to our featured painters, our photography feature is by Nydheri Brown.

The exhibit opens on Friday, March 19 and continues through May 2, 2021.

Click here to preview the work that will be featured in the exhibit.

The gallery is open Monday – Friday 10am-4pm and Saturday 11am-4pm.  If you prefer to shop from home the Art in Bloom Gallery Website (www.aibgallery.com) is always open!  Purchase art online and pick up at the door or take advantage of our free local delivery.  Plus we can also ship anywhere within the U.S.

Exhibit Graphic

Beauty in Everyday Life: Photography by Nydheri Brown is a photography exhibit in conjunction with Springtime Celebration with New Elements Gallery.

Nydheri Brown is a contemporary multidisciplinary artist based in southeastern North Carolina. Experimenting with different materials and mediums and exploring her interests, Nydheri enhances her ability to see the spectacular and create new things reimagining what inspires her. Being homeschooled allowed her to explore different avenues of creative expression and to experiment with different mediums. She has been featured in several group showings. She is currently enrolled at Cape Fear Community College.

In her artist statement, Nydheri states “I am passionate about creating and exploring art. For as long as I can remember, and certainly before I could articulate it, I have taken a multidisciplinary approach to art. My parents share fond memories of me combining unlikely things to create new textures, colors, and shapes. As an artist, I endeavor to capture the beauty of everyday life. Most people miss the spectacular because they do not slow down to appreciate the beauty surrounding them in real-time; at the moment. I have found that photography is the most accessible way to capture and share the spectacular beauty that draws my eye.”

The exhibit opens on Friday, March 19 and continues through May 2, 2021.

The gallery is open Monday – Friday 10am-4pm and Saturday 11am-4pm.  If you prefer to shop from home the Art in Bloom Gallery Website (www.aibgallery.com) is always open!  Purchase art online and pick up at the door or take advantage of our free local delivery.  Plus we can also ship anywhere within the U.S.

“Grey Canteen Vessel” by Brian Evans

Canvas and Clay: Creating Art with Expression is a new exhibit celebrating the two and 3 dimensional art of Debra Bucci, Brian Evans and Dianne Evans along with featured photographers.

The exhibit opens on Friday, May 7 and continues through June 20, 2021.

Debra continues to experiment with abstract and nature-based images to build emotional connection. She is exploring the rhythm of repeating elements with high contrast to build depth and explosive color to lift up and empower the viewer.

In his recent work, Brian explores complex geometric, linear, and abstract forms. He focuses on how they relate to each other and how they entice the viewer’s eye to explore the intricacies of each piece.

In her recent work, Dianne continues to focus on the relationship of dynamic graphic patterns and forms. She is interested in how the interplay of these individual elements elevate each other into a more harmonious design.

Click here to preview the work featured in the exhibit.

The gallery is open Monday – Friday 10am-4pm and Saturday 11am-4pm.  If you prefer to shop from home the Art in Bloom Gallery Website (www.aibgallery.com) is always open!  Purchase art online and pick up at the door or take advantage of our free local delivery.  Plus we can also ship anywhere within the U.S.

“Harbor Island” by Kelly Starbuck

Full Circle features the photographic of Kelly Starbuck alongside the paintings of artist and poet, Helen Mirkil, in her featured show Birdsong.

Deeply inspired by memories, documentation and the feeling of a specific moment, Kelly’s personal work seeks to capture a sense of time and space by playing with light and shadow. Growing up in Wrightsville Beach, then experiencing the intensity of New York City, her latest collection honors her relationship with both nature and city life. “New York is where I became a photographer. This exhibit is all about utilizing the energy of the city, the bright lights and connecting it to where I am now, back at my roots, back at the beach,” explains Starbuck.

Kelly Starbuck, a native of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, moved to New York City where she resided for 14 years. During those years Kelly found her calling to become a photographer. Fernando Bengoechea, an international celebrity, interior and lifestyle photographer gave Kelly her start as his studio manager. She assisted on photo shoots and worked as a teaching assistant at The International Center of Photography. Kelly began her work as a photographer soon thereafter with a focus on portraiture, interior, product, travel and lifestyle projects as well as personal fine art projects. At the end of 2009, Kelly returned to Wilmington, NC to be near her family at the beach and to make Wilmington her home base for business. Starbuck made her mark in the Wilmington art community by curating fine art photography shows at her gallery, SALT Studio Photography, in the Brooklyn Arts District.

“The Holiday Art Exhibit + Sale” Featuring Art in Bloom Gallery Artists & 
“Artistic Photography: Frank Fierstein”
December 11, 2020 – January 24, 2021
View more about this exhibit.
Virtual Tour created by Matterhorn Media.

“Out of the Mist”

This month’s photography feature is focused on artistic photographer, Frank Fierstein. The exhibit opens on Friday, December 11 and and continues through January 24, 2021.

A friend of  Frank’s, a world renowned doctor of pharmacology, once asked him a question with regards to his artistic photography; “What is your purpose?“. For decades, Frank has tried to understand, answer and pursue what that purpose has been. “To visually see my feelings in images, that represent myself as a child and young adult, has given me a  better connection, a deeper understanding, and a clearer meaning  in my personal life. Even as I have become a photography dinosaur, still working in my “chemical darkroom” and still using film for all of my artistic work, I continue to seek images that represent and connect with my heart and soul. Making prints that emit light from the silver they are made from is as important today as it ever was in this digital age of ink and sensors. After being given clear guidance by a great teacher about creating art with my photography, my artistic quest to find wonderful images has never ceased and to this day remains amazingly strong.”  Currently, Frank teaches a class in Artistic Photography at Brunswick Community College, where he encourages his students to connect with who they are through their own photography.

Click here to view the work that will be featured in the exhibit.

Now you can view and shop the gallery virtually!

The 2020 Holiday Season is here and Art in Bloom Gallery is celebrating with a rotating exhibit featuring over 28 of Art in Bloom Gallery’s Artists!  Feast your eyes on new work directly out of the artists’ studios. Shop for meaningful, original and special gifts of art that will bring smiles all year round!  All of our artists are offering fine art under $250.

The gallery is open Monday – Friday 10am-4pm and Saturday 11am-4pm.  If you prefer to shop from home the Art in Bloom Gallery Website (www.aibgallery.com) is always open!  Purchase art online and pick up at the door or take advantage of our free local delivery.  Plus we can also ship anywhere within the U.S. Art in Bloom also offers complementary gift wrapping.

Click here to view the work that will be featured in the exhibit.

Featured artists include:  Bradley Carter (painting), Debra Bucci (painting), Richard Bunting (blown glass), Judy Hintz Cox (abstract painter), Karen Paden Crouch (sculpture), Elizabeth Darrow (painting), Brian Evans (ceramics), Dianne Evans (ceramics), Susan Francy (photographer), Mark Gansor (painter), Joanne Geisel (painting), Dumay Gorham (sculpture), Jeri Greenberg (pastel artist), Liz Hosier (encaustic painter), Curtis Krueger (photographer), Dave Klinger (photography), Brooks Koff (stained glass), Helen Lewis (encaustic painter),  Joan McLoughlin (painting), David Norris (printmaker),  Jameka Purdie (jewelry), Jessie Robertson (painter), Gale Smith (painter), Barbara Snyder (photographer),  Traudi Thornton (ceramics), Gayle Tustin (ceramics), Angela Rowe (painter),  Michael Van Hout (sculpture), Kirah Van Sickle (painter), Roberto Vengoechea (jewelry), Virginia Wright-Frierson (painter), Rebecca Yeomans (fiber artist), among others! 

Mixed Media Paintings by Pam Toll on view at Acme Art Studios

Art in Bloom Gallery is excited to partner with Pam Toll of Acme Art Studio to open a new exhibit, “Summer Reprise”.  The exhibit, opening on August 1^st, showcases Pam’s diverse paintings incorporating a variety of mixed media and found objects. The exhibit features an array of work from 2007 to the present and highlights how an artist’s works continue to connect even after years of separation.

Pam Toll, an Associate Professor at UNC Wilmington, received a BA in Art and English Literature from UNC Chapel Hill and has been painting since childhood. Her studio is located at Acme Art Studios (Wilmington) which she co-founded in 1991, as a work and exhibition space for artists. She also co-founded No Boundaries International Art Colony (Bald Head Island, NC) in 1998, a residency program that in the last twenty years brought over 200 artists from around the world with the goal of creating a cross-exchange of cultures and artistic practices to share with our local community.

The works of art will be exhibited at Acme Art Studio and can be viewed in person or via our Virtual Tour!

Click here to view and purchase the work featured in the exhibit.

To view and purchase the art in-person, an appointment can be made by calling 910-352-4314. Acme Art Studio is located at 711 N 5th Ave, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401.  The exhibit can also be viewed virtually on the web with a virtual tour created by Angle Pros, LLC of Wilmington. The exhibit continues through October 10, 2020.

Art in Bloom Gallery offers free local delivery, curbside pick-up or shipping to other locations at reasonable rates.

We are pleased to feature the work of two local artists and photographers, Susan Francy and Barbara Snyder.   These two photographers have created work especially for Art in Bloom Gallery.

Left to Right: Susan Francy and Barbara Snyder

Susan Francy is photojournalist, commercial photographer and art photographer for more than 35 years. The overall theme of her art images could be described as “ordinary beauty, closely observed.” These images are often from nature and although they are focused on still life subjects, there is a dynamic sense of movement and emotionalism in them. In recent years she been playing around with scanning objects, as opposed to photographing them, creating “scanographs”. Scanography is a process of image capture using a flatbed scanner as the image capturing device. I work from nature, scanning live flowers, etc. I then print out the resulting digital images on high quality, archival photo paper. Susan lives and works in Wilmington.

Barbara Snyder is a self-educated photographer.  Her work is deeply personal and focused on the full cycle of creation to destruction. Reflecting on her Catholic upbringing her work sometimes draws on the metaphysical in life. She has shown in numerous national exhibitions and was a recipient of the 2014 and 2017 North Carolina Regional Artists Grants. Snyder lives and works in Wilmington, NC.    Barbara’s newest body of work entitled  “virtus  valor, fortitude, strength”.   

virtus is a new body of work centered on the internal strength that comes from deep within oneself.

As of right now Fourth Friday receptions, held during the Arts Council of Wilmington’s Fourth Friday Gallery Night are on hold until January of 2020.  Stay tuned for other virtual opportunities!