Affectionately called “Disco Chicken” by Charlotte locals, the glittering Firebird sculpture was created in 1991 by French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle and now stands outside the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. 

We suggest you begin your art adventure in Charlotte, where the skyline and distinctly modern architecture is a work of art in and of itself. As North Carolina’s largest city, art abounds on the street in the form of  murals and in the many museums and galleries concentrated in and around the Uptown Loop. Centrally located Charlotte is the perfect jumping off point to explore top art destinations in other parts of the state like nearby Greensboro; Chapel Hill and Carrboro; Seagrove, Winston-Salem, Durham and Asheville.

Anne Neilson Fine Art, Together We Go, mixed media on canvas, 30 x 30", by Lisa Noonis.

Anne Neilson Fine Art represents more than 50 emerging and established artists. Artist and owner Anne Neilson had a vision for a space that would be a lighthouse in the Charlotte area, and opened the gallery with a mission to give back through art and spotlight organizations dedicated to serving the local community.

Anne Neilson Fine Art, Spirit Weavers, oil on linen, 36 x 48", by Mary Calengor.

“Using our gallery as a platform for philanthropy is our highest priority and honor,” says gallery director Logan Sutton. “We represent regional, national and international artists of all styles and media, and that range allows us to introduce our clients to pieces that enhance their collections and will inspire them in their daily lives.”

Anne Neilson Fine Art, Passage, oil on canvas, 48 x 30", by Christopher Groves.

Some of the most renowned artists they represent, in addition to Neilson, include Lisa Noonis, Jacob Dhein, Dusty Griffith, Gary Komarin, Maggie Siner, Christopher Groves, Mary Calengor and others. “Our artists and collectors are like family,” says Sutton. “And we seek to foster creative relationships through our work. Because we strive to connect people and art, ANFA is an inviting and uplifting space where all are welcomed.”

Laura Pollak, Ancient Buttresses, pastel, 14 x 15"

“My clearest memory is of driving up to the overlook of Half Dome at Yosemite—what majesty!” Pollak recalls. “Even as a child, I understood that this was well beyond the machinations of any human being. The forces of nature over the millennium were directly in front of me. The summer day was crisp and clear, and the shadows and light were singing.”

Laura Pollak, Ancient Columns, pastel, 9 x 12"

Upon returning home, Pollak started drawing mountains. “I’d take a piece of plain white paper, fold it in half and make a tent,” she says. “Then I would cut out peaks at the fold and voila! I created atmospheric perspective. I fell in love with the magic of distant, craggy pinnacles and was able to create that mystical moment on a piece of paper.”

Laura Pollak, Ancient Citadel, pastel, 9 x 12"

“My series Ancient Architecture is a collection of these dramatic examples of the earth reaching skyward and simultaneously downward through the depths of fissures—tectonic plates shifting and moving mountains,” she says. “Doesn’t everyone hear the groaning of rock sliding on rock?” —