Rainbow Row in Charleston. Photo by leo heisenberg.

Queen Street is a major downtown Charleston thoroughfare. Strolling closer to the waterfront, you’ll be met with the scent of salty ocean air and an array of excellent art galleries. For a wonderful afternoon of art exploration, start at Principle Gallery on the corner of Meeting Street and Queen, make your way to Robert Lange Studios, also on Queen Street. near the shoreline, then head one block down to Dare Gallery on Broad Street.

Charleston Waterfront Park. Photo by Cody Manning.

A vibrant collective of more than 35 fine art galleries (including the aforementioned), the Charleston Gallery Association elevates the work of local, national and international artists. Every month, the association holds its First Friday ArtWalk from 5 to 8 p.m., where art lovers can explore original artworks and connect directly with artists and fellow collectors.

Downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Photo by Leo Heisenberg.

Other institutions to experience in the Holy City include the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, the Gibbes Museum of Art and the City Gallery at Waterfront Park. For even more to do in South Carolina, be sure to check out the nearby towns of Mt. Pleasant, Sullivan’s Island and North Charleston, as well as Kiawah Island, an idyllic barrier island located 25 miles southwest of Charleston.

Southern Charm in Chucktown. Photo by Kelsey Schisler.

+++

A view of the Charleston shoreline. Photo by Ian Palmer. 

+++

Dare Gallery, Flying High, oil on canvas, 36 x 36", by Michael Cyra; Dare Gallery, October Skies, oil on panel, 11 x 14", by Michael Cyra.

In October, Dare Gallery will showcase the work of Michael Cyra, a representational oil painter inspired by the timeless wonders of the Lowcountry of South Carolina.  In Common Ground, Cyra explores how nature’s universal beauty can bridge divides and foster unity. Each painting is a testament to the way landscapes and natural scenes resonate with our shared human experience. Whether capturing serene woodlands, tranquil waters or vibrant skies, these works reflect the artist’s belief that nature’s majesty can inspire a sense of commonality among us all; a hopeful reminder that we can find common ground through experiencing art and perhaps discover shared values that transcend the everyday discourse.

Lori Putnam, The Peony, oil on linen, 30 x 40"

Lori Putnam’s work is a prime example of modern impressionism. She is not bound by a specific subject. Painting interiors, florals, animals, landscapes and more, the artist’s work is her personal response to light effects, color patterns and interesting shapes. Using a variety of thin and thick paint, Putnam paints what she wants the viewer to see, nothing less, nothing more. 

Lori Putnam, The Peony, oil on linen, 30 x 40"

Putnam stays excited and motivated by experimenting. She often allows herself a day of play to explore how far she can push her use of her primary medium, tools or colors—to take an idea further to abstraction or to work with a different medium altogether. “Some days,” says Putnam, “my studio is a sanctuary of silence. On others, the music is blaring, and I sing and dance with a loaded brush of paint.” The artist is currently working on large pieces for a museum exhibition in 2025.

Mary Whyte, Hampton Park, watercolor on paper, 20¾ x 18"; Mary Whyte, Rooster, watercolor on paper, 20 x 16½"

Her works are in private, corporate, university and public collections nationwide, and have been featured in numerous media outlets including CBS Sunday Morning, PBS and NPR. The author of seven books including We the People: Portraits of Veterans in America, Whyte’s work has also been featured in many international publications, including periodicals and books in China, Russia, France, Germany, Canada and Taiwan. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Portrait Society of America’s Gold Medal, the Carolinas Freedom Foundation’s Freedom Award, and the South Carolina Governor’s Award for the Arts, South Carolina’s highest honor in the arts.

Mary Whyte, Oyster Bank, watercolor on paper, 29¾ x 38"

Whyte’s private studio is available by appointment. Contact Sharon Crawford at sharon@marywhyte.com for more information.

Top: Principle Gallery Charleston, Donuts and coffee, oil on panel, 18 x 36", by Larry Preston. Bottom: The entrance to Principle Gallery in Charleston, South Carolina; Principle Gallery Charleston, Alongshore, oil on linen, 24 x 36", by Joseph McGurl.

Current and upcoming exhibitions include Scenes of the South, a group exhibition on view through the end of September, Kyle Stuckey’s solo exhibition Waterways opening October 4, J. Louis’ solo exhibition opening November 1, France Jodoin’s solo exhibition opening March 7, and Christine Lashley’s solo exhibition opening April 4. Visit the gallery’s website for more information on its artists and events.

Robert Lange Studios, Dreaming In Open Waters, oil on panel, 60 x 60", by Nathan Durfee; The interior of Robert Lange Studios in downtown Charleston.

For the past 20 years Robert Lange Studios has represented some of the finest contemporary painters in the country. Yet, beyond their aptitudes and accolades, the gallery also feels “fortunate to represent some of the most authentic, passionate and caring people.” These artists enhance the world around them through a vocabulary of creative expression.

Robert Lange Studios, Ocean, oil on panel, 44 x 44", by Anne Marie Kornachuk.

In addition to multiple traditional exhibition spaces with rotating exhibits, the gallery has three working studios and a year-round residency program where artists from around the globe come and use Charleston as a backdrop for inspiration. Creating an enriched artistic community, while showcasing world-class art, the gallery has a strong reputation as a “must see” for art lovers and the art curious.

Guests explore artwork during a previous SEWE.

The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition curates a collection of fine art from some of the most talented wildlife painters and sculptors in the nation. Explore the SEWE Gallery online to find a new piece of art, learn more about the artists and discover the inspiration behind their work. Plan a visit to Gallery by SEWE, located downtown in The Shops at the Charleston Place Hotel, in February to shop premier wildlife artwork in person.

Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, Swans Galore, oil on linen, 30 x 40", by Julia Rogers; Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, Snowy Egret, charcoal, 14 x 18", by Cole Johnson.

An expression of the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition’s passion for wildlife, Gallery by SEWE is a permanent art gallery and studio space just steps from award-winning restaurants, world-class shopping and historic landmarks. Celebrating the artwork and sculpture of an evolving collection of wildlife artists, the gallery hosts curated exhibitors and artist residencies, special exhibitions and events. In centering wildlife art and artists, Gallery by SEWE is a year-round extension of SEWE’s mission to preserve wildlife art and support conservation by helping us transform our love for them into advocacy and action.