David Černý, Metalmorphosis, 2007, 40 layers of polished stainless steel, motors, electronics, 7 meters tall, 13 tonnes, installation view, Whitehall Corporate Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo: Metalmorphosis, CC BY 2.0 by nan palmero.

We’ve rounded up a selection of the state’s top art destinations with a focus on the best places for art lovers to stay so, no matter what kind of North Carolina adventure you have in mind, we’ve got you covered—starting with your home base.

The Ivey’s Hotel in Uptown Charlotte offers a carefully curated lodging experience and is within walking distance to the city’s premier museums, galleries and cultural institutions.

Charlotte

 

Stay: Located in the heart of Uptown, The Ivey’s Hotel offers a boutique getaway experience that blends the city’s history with sophisticated design and modern luxury. Across the street from the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, and walking distance from the Mint Museum and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the hotel’s classic Parisian-glamour aesthetic is augmented with carefully curated vintage art and objects from antique markets and dealers from all over the world. www.theiveyshotel.com

Wide landscape view of the Rodin Garden at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. Photo courtesy Visit North Carolina.

Durham/Raleigh
There’s a reason why Raleigh has been called the “Smithsonian of the South.” There is an endless supply of performance art, art galleries and museums. Raleigh’s Nasher Museum of Art on Duke University’s campus houses 10,000 works of art in its permanent collection, and hosts exhibits throughout the year. The city is also home to North Carolina Museum of Art and Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh, which houses no permanent collection but presents fresh, ever-changing experiences in the Warehouse District. Durham, only 25 minutes away, adds to the rich cultural offerings in the state’s capitol, with its arguably funkier vibes and thriving local arts scene.

Wide angle landscape view of couple observing art in the interior of 21C Museum Hotel in Durham. Photo by Steven Yocom, courtesy Visit North Carolina.

Stay: Located in the center of downtown Durham, 21c Museum Hotel is a multi-venue contemporary art museum offering more than 10,500 square feet of art-filled exhibition and event space, a full-service boutique hotel with luxurious guest rooms, and home to Counting House restaurant. Rotating exhibitions and site-specific installations are curated to reflect the global nature of contemporary culture. Galleries are open daily with regular cultural programming as well. www.21cmuseumhotels.com

Asheville’s colorful River Arts District. Courtesy Visit North Carolina.

Asheville
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the small city of Asheville is known for its abundance of fine artists, mountain crafters, folk art, galleries, performing arts venues, and an array of art events and artsy neighborhoods. Asheville’s River Arts District (RAD) is comprised of more than 300 RADA artists across 26 buildings turned into studios, where artists work and welcome guests. The Second Saturday Art Stroll, taking place November 9, is a monthly celebration of local culture, where everyone is invited to explore artist studios and galleries, enjoy pop-up markets and live demonstrations, and purchase artwork directly from area artists. For a full list of Second Saturday Art Stroll events, a digital studio guide and map, visit www.riverartsdistrict.com.

The Radical Hotel in Asheville is located in the heart of the River Arts District. Photo by Matt Kisiday.

Stay: The Radical Hotel is an evolving museum of street, classical and modern art. The previously vacant building was covered in wall-to-wall graffiti, and instead of erasing it, the owners adopted the artwork as design inspiration, incorporating the concept into the hotel. To honor the history of the building and reflect the surrounding River Arts District community, The Radical team engaged local artist Ian Wilkinson to foster the tradition of graffiti in the building and curate what is now a world-class collection of art. The hotel features over 200 unique and original works of art, and Wilkinson and a team of talented artists—from Asheville and beyond—designed and painted murals in each guest room plus large-scale immersive works featured throughout the hotel’s common areas. www.theradicalavl.com

Worm’s eye view of couple holding hands underneath sculpture at ARTivity on the Green in daytime with Winston Salem water tower in background. Photo courtesy Visit North Carolina.

Winston-Salem
Known as North Carolina’s City of Arts and Innovation, Winston-Salem has an abundance of historic and contemporary art offerings. When it comes to visual arts, the heart of the downtown arts district lies between Trade and Liberty streets, home to an eclectic mix of galleries, studios and public art installations. ARTivity on the Green, Winston-Salem’s first public art park, has expanded the arts district, revitalizing an area of downtown with sculptural water misting towers, a bandstand and mural wall over grassy hills that are lit up at night. If you happen to be visiting on the third Friday of the month between April and December, be sure to check out the Art Crush street fair for a night of creative expression, exploration and celebration.

Winston Salem’s West Salem Art Hotel is a perfect retreat for art lovers visiting the area. Photo Haydee Thompson Mural by Gina Franco.

Stay: A hidden-gem, the West Salem Art Hotel is a six-suite boutique hotel in Winston-Salem that offers a unique blend of beauty and authenticity, artistry and tranquility, crafted by founder and artist Haydee Thompson, alongside a talented community of creatives. Nestled in the charming West Salem Historic District, just a mile from downtown, it’s the perfect retreat for art lovers seeking inspiration and relaxation. The space has been designed to nourish the spirit and celebrate creativity at every turn. As an added bonus, every guest receives a complimentary piece of art from a curated Art-O-Mat machine to make the stay that more memorable. www.wsarthotel.com

A couple enjoys the Wilmington Riverwalk along the Cape Fear River at sunset. Photo courtesy Visit North Carolina

Wilmington

The Hive, a boutique art hotel in Wilmington, is curated with original art to immerse visitors in an artistic experience that showcases both local and global art. Photography by BlueStar Real

Stay: The Hive offers a unique lodging experience that captures the essence of Wilmington. Every corner of the hotel is adorned with original artwork, and each guest suite has been uniquely curated to immerse visitors in an artistic experience that showcases both local and global art. From vibrant paintings to intricate sculptures, guests can explore a diverse array of styles and cultures, making their stay not just comfortable, but also creatively enriching. Whether you’re an avid collector or simply appreciate the beauty of modern fine art, The Hive offers a cultural escape that is as inspiring as it is relaxing—a haven for travelers seeking both creativity and comfort. www.hivewilmington.com

Jessica Wicken, Sunset on the Marsh, oil, 10 x 16"; Jessica Wicken, Surfers, oil, 6 x 9"

The subject matter Wicken loves comes from a deeply personal response to life’s scenes, people, animals and objects. Since moving to Wilmington, North Carolina, Wicken has been deeply touched by the beauty and magnificence of the trees, and this year they have been a major focus of her work. 

Jessica Wicken, Beach Reverie, oil, 12 x 16"

Wickens work can be found in North Carolina at theArtWorks, a cultural center and gallery in Wilmington, and the Martin House Gallery in Blowing Rock.

Interior of Crown Gallery, Blowing Rock, NC.

Owners James and Carolyn Rue bring many years of combined experience in the field of art and a shared passion to their roles as curators. “We understand that art galleries can be intimidating,” says James. ”Therefore, we felt it was important for us to foster an environment that would feature art of the highest quality in a warm and relaxed setting.”

Crown Gallery, Fish On!, oil, 12 x 24", by Frank Baggett; Crown Gallery, Summer Warmth, oil, 36 x 24", by Ingrid Derrickson.

In addition to Carolyn’s work, the gallery represents a select group of nationally and internationally recognized artists including the gallery’s “original seven”: Frank Baggett, Jim Carson, Dottie T. Leatherwood, Sherrie Russ Levine, Jacki Newell, James Pratt and David Russell Smith.

BF Reed, Red Stripes Purple Skies, pastel, 27 x 21"; BF Reed, Side Pocket, acrylic, 36 x 24"

“There is duality everywhere,” says Reed. “Summer vs. winter. Up vs. down. Light vs. dark. In my work I straddle the line. I do very realistic and often surrealistic work in pastels, and I go a completely different direction and create graphic abstracts in acrylics. The variety in my mediums and techniques helps me move from one piece to the other. I can get to a sticking point with one piece, so I'll work on another, because they are so different. The sticking point goes away. In this way, the duality has become an integral part of my creative process.”

Fay Wood, Three Ring Pandemic Circus-Can We Work Together, galvanized, plastic-coated copper wire, found wood, metal objects and brass rings, 19 x 13 x 14"

“I make art to satisfy a need in myself,” says the artist. “To have some way to communicate with people my emotions and thoughts. It seems to work—an assistant at a recent exhibition of mine said people were in tears as they saw certain works and joyful when they saw others…art at work!”

Fay Wood, Aftertaste, metal, found objects, paint, rag paper and beeswax, 16 x 39 x 16"

Wood has recently won several prizes, validating many years of artistic dedication. Wood says, “At first, I was refused the exhibiting of my work in many galleries. ‘Women’s work doesn’t sell,’ they’d say. Well, no, not without promotion, as they did for men. So, I used the long years to perfect my methods.”

SM Botstein, Swan, oil on linen, 14 x 11"

Botstein says, “I realize I’ve been painting and drawing a long time, but only recently have I felt I’ve achieved a technical facility to, as David Leffel says, ‘paint the finish.’ My formal art training has all been as an adult through workshops and wonderful mentors. I prefer to paint from life and use a variety of mediums including oil, watercolor, pastel and graphite. All subjects are fair game. Both alone in my studio or plein air painting with friends (so fun!), I try to portray the three-dimensional world on a two-dimension surface. A great challenge!” —