In honor of National Craft Month in March, we’re celebrating Asheville’s creative spirit and fine arts scene. One of the biggest fixtures that’s contributed to Asheville’s reputation as an art mecca is the Southern Highland Craft Guild (aka the second-oldest craft organization in America). Representing over 800 makers, the SHCG has partnered with the National Park Service for 50+ years and operates in the Folk Art Center along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
There are 11 different craft mediums represented within the guild: clay, glass, wood, fiber, metal, leather, natural materials, paper, jewelry, man-made materials, and mixed media, so you’re sure to find a treasure to remember your special time in the mountains.
Throughout Asheville, you will see art in its many forms–from stunning art-deco architecture and colorful murals in the urban landscape to dedicated art studios and galleries brimming with paintings, sculptures, and wearable art. Since there are so many avenues of creative expression to explore, we’ve compiled a helpful list of places, events, and experiences to check out during your visit to the artsy and eccentric Land of Sky:
Where to Buy Local Art
RAD Studios
Located within a few miles of downtown Asheville, RAD is home to working art studios in 23 former industrial and historical buildings spread out along a one-mile stretch of the French Broad River. Most studios are within walking distance of each other, and most studios/galleries are open from 10 am–6 pm so you can spend the entire day exploring.
The Marquee
Described as Asheville’s “largest market for the old, the bold, the creative, and the unexpected,” this impressive 50,000 sq. ft. space is filled with extraordinary installations by the creative vendors that “set the stage” with their amazing wares.
Horse + Hero
Located in downtown Asheville, this brick-and-mortar shop specializes in art and craft that is design-centric and rooted in the culture of the southern Appalachian mountains. Filled with prints, wall hangings, cards, magnets, jewelry, shirts, stickers, patches, and more, this space elevates and celebrates the local artists whose work is housed here. Asheville’s creative spirit can be felt even before entering the original Art Deco storefront, which is why it’s one of our favorite places to find that perfect birthday card or art print for the living room.
Open Hearts Art Center
Located on Asheville’s South Slope downtown, this nonprofit studio and gallery is dedicated to supporting, representing, and empowering adults with varied abilities to “reach their full potential through the arts.” Works are for sale in their gallery and throughout the year at various exhibits and venues, and art sales are split 50/50 between the artist and center to cover operational costs. Some crowd favorites include their paper flower bouquets (perfect for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day) along with their annual Talent Show Fundraiser and annual Holiday Market which usually happens the same Saturday as the Christmas parade.
Woolworth Walk
The Historic F.W. Woolworth Building in the heart of downtown Asheville features 170 local artists across various mediums in its nearly 20,000 sq. ft space. Oh, and did we mention there is also a fully operational Old Fashioned Soda Fountain built to resemble the original Woolworth Luncheonette? Sip a milkshake or ice cream soda as you browse creations from regional artists that range from casual crafters to Southern Highland Guild Craft members.
Art Galleries
There are so many art galleries to choose from in our area (a lot of which are named after the artists themselves), but a few of the most well-known include Momentum Gallery, Appalachian Crafts Center, Asheville Gallery of Art, American Folk, Blue Spiral 1, Mountain Made, New Morning Gallery, Tyger Tyger Gallery, Center For Craft, and The Haen Gallery. Whether you’re looking for interactive installations or to live out your own version of the iconic gallery scene with Cameron and Georges Seurat’s painting from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Asheville’s art galleries are great places to get inspired, learn, and contribute to the arts.
Coffeeshops
This one might seem surprising, but many established and up-and-coming artists will have their work on display in local coffee shops. You’ll find everything from prints to handmade jewelry to funny stickers to blockprinted zines to original paintings. I find that a taste of locally-made coffee pairs pretty well with some locally-made art. Odd’s Cafe, Battlecat, Ultra Coffeebar, and Summit Coffee are a few of our team’s favorites that have small troves of creative treasures to uncover.
Annual Arts + Crafts Festivals
The Big Crafty
Voted Best Arts/Crafts Fair every year since its inception in 2008, this “hand-to-heart celebration of creative exuberance” is a time-honored Asheville tradition that hosts 2 annual large-scale fairs every July and December. During the rest of the year, art can be purchased at the shop Horse + Hero mentioned above.
Weaverville Art Safari + Studio Tour
This two-day juried studio tour takes place every spring and fall (usually the last weekend of April and the first weekend of November). One of the longest-running (and first studio tours in Western NC), this beloved event is widely recognized both for the quality of work on display and for the unique opportunity it provides to meet area artists and see the spaces where they work and live. This free event draws thousands of art lovers to Weaverville's little neck of the woods and is a favorite of locals and tourists alike!
Fire on the Mountain Festival
This annual celebration of blacksmithing is held on the last Saturday of April in downtown Spruce Pine (50 miles NE of Asheville). The event is a result of the Spruce Pine Main Street, Penland School of Craft, and the Toe River Arts organizations. The festival has everything from blacksmith demonstrations to craft and food vendors to hands-on kids’ activities and forge-offs, and more!
The festival began in 2007 and was originally called “Hammerin’ on the Toe.” Today, it is one of the largest blacksmith festivals on the East Coast, and thousands gather each year to “watch world-renowned blacksmiths use techniques that have been utilized for centuries.” Free to the public, this fascinating festival will have sculptures, jewelry, furniture, and other creations available for purchase.
Lake Lure Arts & Crafts Festival
This annual craft festival takes place in Lake Lure (across from the mountain beach) every spring and fall. A celebration of Appalachian arts & crafts, the festival features 90+ artisans across various mediums. Along with craft vendors, you can expect food and beverage vendors, all-day live music, a creekside picnic area, and a kids' activity zone. While in Lake Lure, take a stroll atop the quirky and colorful Flowering Bridge before sampling traditional meads (aka honey wine) at Fae Nectar just next door.
Asheville Art in the Park
Hosted in the historic Pack Square Park at the center of downtown Asheville every June and October for 3 consecutive Saturdays, this outdoor art market features some of the finest regional artists in the mediums of glass, ceramics, wood, jewelry, and metal. Nearing its second decade, this market has generated over $1M in needed income for area artists–there’s no better way to show your love for Asheville than putting your money where your heart is!
Mountain Glory Festival
This craft fair, held every year on the 2nd Saturday of October in downtown Marion, has been alive and well for over 40 years. A celebration of small-town life and the arrival of autumn in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it features locally-made arts and crafts, classic festival foods, live entertainment, and old-time mountain music. When visiting, don't miss out on the Mountain Glory Quilt Show inside the McDowell Arts Council, the "Children's Arena" with hands-on activities, or the beloved best-dressed pet contest.
Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
Celebrating 77 years in 2024, this unique shopping experience takes place twice a year in July and October over 4 days and features live music and craft demonstrations. Tickets are $12 and are available for individual days and children under 12 are free. If traveling to the area during other times of the year, there are four shops where you can purchase handmade originals from Guild members— Southern Highland Craft Guild in Biltmore Village, Southern Highland Craft Guild at the Folk Art Center, Southern Highland Craft Guild on Tunnel Road, and Southern Highland Craft Guild at Moses Cone Manor.
Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair
Hosted in Burnsville (40 minutes NE of Asheville), this annual craft fair takes place in the town square each August and includes work from over 200 juried crafters from across the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The fair has a selection of items that include handmade quilts, hand-turned wooden bowls, pottery, furniture, traditional mountain instruments, soaps, lotions, and stained glass art. Between shopping, enjoy live music, dancing, and performances, and sample Southern delights like BBQ pork and homemade ice cream in the food court.
If traveling to the Burnsville area the second weekend of June or the first weekend of December, check out the Toe River Studio Tour and the Toe River Arts Council Gallery on West Main Street. Burnsville is also home to the prestigious Penland School of Crafts, where you can walk around the historic campus and browse the impressive gallery.
North Carolina Ceramic Arts Festival
Hosted in Pack Square Park on the fourth Saturday in October, this annual festival brings regional ceramicists together and features live demonstrations, food trucks, and an awards ceremony for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Best in Show. Beginning at 10 AM, casually stroll through to meet the artists, hear more about their making process, and purchase handmade pottery for gifts (or for yourself).
Where to Create Your Own Art
NC Glass Center
Located in the River Arts District, this non-profit, public-access glass studio and gallery offers 1-day classes along with weeks-long classes for those serious about learning this craft. During the 1-day classes, you can choose from a 3-hour Feel for the Furnace workshop, a 30-minute Make Your Own workshop, a 50-minute Flameworking Sculpture, or a 50-minute Fun With Fusing. No matter the class you choose, you’ll get to bring home your very own creation!
Odyssey Clayworks
Located in the River Arts District, this 5,000 sq. ft. ceramics center functions as a school, gallery, and working studio that hosts a wide range of classes and workshops for adults and children alike. For adults they have everything from Beginner Wheel Throwing to Raku Firing to Live Model Figurative Sculpting, and for the little ones, they have camps with themes like Under the Sea, Mythical and Magical, Wings on Things, and Animal Pots + Robots. For those looking for a fun one-day class with no previous experience, they even have private lessons!
Fired Up Creative Lounge + Claying Around
Both studios in Asheville offer Pottery Painting, Glass Fusing, Clay Handbuilding, Pottery Wheel, and Canvas Painting. If doing the latter, you’ll be able to bring your creation home the day of, but the other projects require kiln firing and take a week or more to finalize. Depending on how long you’re in town, you can either swing by to pick your pieces up or have them shipped. While walk-ins are welcome, reservations are encouraged to ensure your spot. These spots are perfect for families, friends, and solo travelers looking for a quiet afternoon of creative (and meditative) activity.
310 Art LLC
The oldest and most comprehensive school in the River Arts District, this dual art gallery and fine arts school offers instruction across various mediums. There are 1-day and weekend workshops in oils, acrylics, watercolor, alcohol inks, mixed media, resin casting, printmaking, encaustic, bookbinding, and so more throughout the year. Their encaustic and cold wax program is the largest and most comprehensive in Asheville and the surrounding area. During these classes, you can create beeswax-infused journal pages, wall tiles, pendants, and wall hangings to name a few of the possible projects.
Majik Studios 207
Located in the River Arts District, this marbling studio promises that you’ll leave “relaxed, refreshed, and empowered by new learning.” Offering marbling painting classes for those with no art experience to skilled artists, Pam will lead you through the whole process. With fun colors and endless patterns, you can marble everything from paper to scarves to ceramics.
Purple Crayon
Founded in 2017 by Pam Robbins, this creative space for women is an encouragement to play and create. The name “Purple Crayon” was inspired by the 1955 children’s book Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. In the story, Harold is a curious four-year-old boy who creates a world of his own simply by drawing it with his purple crayon. Offering workshops in pottery, watercolor painting, collage, block printing, drawing, alcohol inks, mosaic, mixed media, and more, the studio offers a private Girls’ Night Out so you can get your closest friends together for a night of arts and crafts!
Mountain Institute for Lifelong Learning
This new addition from Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa (15 minutes east of Asheville), offers adult short courses taught by faculty, staff, and local artisans. Their craft courses range from Beginning Loom Weaving to Wooden Bowl Making to Soap Making to Fiber Sewing and Dyeing while the art courses range from Plein Air Painting to Screen Printing to Podcasting to Surrealist Art Creation. Most workshops take place over 5 days and are a great opportunity to adopt new hobbies and experience the magic and tradition of craft in Appalachia.
Asheville Is A Work of Art
Feeding wonder, Asheville artists invite people to watch and create alongside them in their working studios which fosters an environment where creativity thrives. For an even more intimate glimpse into the lives of artists in Asheville, check out the film project SoundsPretty which captures artists in their work spaces at home telling the stories behind their creations. One of the minds behind the project, Justin Rabuck, is the founder of Horse + Hero and The Big Crafty.
Our “weird” city encourages its artists to push boundaries and think outside the box, and the products of that unconventional thinking are celebrated and proudly displayed. Standing out and fitting in is what the Asheville art scene is all about–a community of misfits with dreams and ideas as big as the Blue Ridge mountains!
