Athens has a handful of interesting galleries, and even more eye-catching artwork can be found around town, adding bursts of color and character to the walls of coffee houses, restaurants, bars and shops. Check Flagpole’s Art Around Town for a weekly list of current exhibitions. Organizations like the Athens Cultural Affairs Commission and Athens Area Arts Council continue to fund public art projects, while many working artists frequently show off their studios during open houses and seasonal sales. For info on receptions and events, check Flagpole’s calendar in print and at flagpole.com.
ACE/FRANCISCO Gallery
675 Pulaski St., Suite 1500 • acefranciscogallery.com
Located inside of the historic Leathers Building, this new gallery was established in May 2022 by Jason and Beth Hall Thrasher. The gallery looks forward to an exhibition featuring Jason’s photography of the Murmur Trestle in the fall of 2024. Exhibitions are accompanied by a limited edition of numbered and signed prints, the sales of which support the gallery as well as student arts organizations in the Southeast..
The Athenaeum
287 W. Broad St. • art.uga.edu/athenaeum
Much like the scholarly sanctuaries of ancient Greece, the newly opened Athenaeum of UGA’s Lamar Dodd School of Art is dedicated to creative engagement and education. Established in 2021, the Athenaeum is a downtown contemporary art space focused on internationally and nationally acclaimed artists and cross-disciplinary conversation.
Athens Institute for Contemporary Art (ATHICA)
675 Pulaski St., Ste. 1200 • 706-850-7770 • athica.org
ATHICA balances Athens-centric exhibitions with those of professional contemporary artists from across the globe. A community hub for over 20 years, the all-volunteer organization successfully purchased its building in 2021. In addition to traditional opening receptions, exhibitions are often accompanied by educational workshops, performances and panel discussions with visiting artists. Artist-in-ATHICA residencies spotlight artists working in a variety of disciplines.
ATHICA@Ciné Gallery
234 W. Hancock Ave. • 706-353-3343 • athenscine.com
More than just an indie movie theater, Ciné is also a venue for visual art. The exhibit space runs down the main entrance and is curated through a partnership with ATHICA. Art can be viewed during the same hours as the theater, but you don’t have to buy movie tickets to check it out or enjoy opening receptions.
Aurum Studios
125 E. Clayton St. • 706-546-8826 • aurumstudios.com
With multiple in-house jewelers, Aurum specializes in custom jewelry. The shop also offers pottery, painting, woodwork and metalwork, the majority of which was made by local artists. Aurum reopened under new ownership in 2022, and plans to continue hosting rotating displays of artwork.Aurum Studios.
The Bogue Gallery
2025 Baxter St. • 706-613-3650 • athenslibrary.org
Nestled on the second floor of the Athens-Clarke County Library, the Bogue Gallery is a comfortable reading room with rotating exhibitions celebrating established local artists.
The Classic Center
300 N. Thomas St. • 706-208-0900 • classiccenter.com
In addition to awarding grants and scholarships, the Classic Center Cultural Foundation exists to fund the purchase of local art, which adorns the large walls of the conference and events venue. Some art remains on view permanently, while even more changes biannually through exhibitions in the Classic Galleries. Expected to open in late summer of 2024, the new Classic Center Arena will incorporate multiple public artworks into its design.The Classic Center
The Dodd Galleries
270 River Road • 706-542-1511 • art.uga.edu/galleries
UGA’s renowned art school neighbors the Georgia Museum of Art. In addition to the popular BFA exit shows, which showcase the works of graduating students near the end of each semester, galleries host exhibitions by students, faculty members and visiting artists that rotate year-round. Regular events include receptions and lectures by artists and art historians.
Flicker Theatre and Bar
263 W. Washington St. • 706-546-0039 • flickertheatreandbar.com
In addition to a jam-packed calendar of concerts, film screenings and trivia nights, Flicker showcases a different local artist along its iconic orange wall every month.
Georgia Museum of Art
90 Carlton St. • 706-542-4662 • georgiamuseum.org
Georgia’s official art museum, located on UGA’s East Campus, houses a large permanent collection of paintings, prints, decorative arts, sculpture and more. This season’s diverse lineup includes “Saint Petersburg as Franz Liszt Saw It,” Micah Cash’s “Waffle House Vistas” and “Joel Sternfeld: When It Changed,” among others. Admission is free, as are almost all of its many events: gallery tours, lectures, films, workshops and family activities. The museum celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023.
Hotel Indigo Athens
500 College Ave. • 706-546-0430 • indigoathens.com
Located outdoors and viewable 24/7, GlassCube@Hotel Indigo is a literal glass cube housing creative installations. The hotel also features a handful of artists such as Mark Steinmetz, Brittany Lauback, Alex Murawski and Rebecca Kreisler in its permanent collection.
Indie South
470 Hawthorne Ave. • 706-850-0644 • theindiesouth.com
After establishing itself as one of the largest handmade markets in the Southeast, Indie South opened a brick-and-mortar boutique full of artisan, handcrafted and vintage goods, rare plants, crystals, tarot decks and more. The space, which also houses its own screen printing studio, stocks several popular artists including David Hale and Chris Hubbard. In between huge biannual craft fairs, Indie South hosts creative classes and frequent pop-up markets.
The K.A. Artist Shop
127 N. Jackson St. • 706-850-1224 • kaartist.com
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in the fall of 2024, the K.A. Artist Shop is a one-stop shop offering art supplies, creative gifts, photography and printing services, camps and classes for all ages. Framed local artwork decorates the store, with an even wider selection available online. Occasional group exhibitions are typically hung in eclectic salon-style arrangements.
Lyndon House Arts Center
211 Hoyt St. • 706-613-3623 • accgov.com/lyndonhouse
Run by Athens-Clarke County, the arts center displays professional exhibitions in large, sunny galleries upstairs and down, while the Ware-Lyndon House museum offers a glimpse into Athens’ past through period decor and artifacts. In addition to offering classes instructed by professional artists, summer camps and the occasional festival, the center serves as meeting grounds for local craft groups. This year’s programming spotlights artists including Amiri Farris, Jack Burk, Claire Clements, Leonard Piha and Jamele Wright Sr.
Madison-Morgan Cultural Center
434 S. Main St., Madison • 706-342-4743 • mmcc-arts.org
The nonprofit is outside of Athens in a beautifully restored 1895 Romanesque Revival building. Programming ranges from visual art exhibitions to performing arts, and annual events include an antiques show, chamber music festival and tour of homes. In addition to rotating exhibitions, permanent exhibitions include a 1895 schoolroom, a gallery of original furnishings from the Arts and Crafts Period, a museum of Madison and Monroe counties, and a series of portraits by George Andrews aka “The Dot Man.”
Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF)
34 School St., Watkinsville • 706-769-4565 • ocaf.com
Centered in a renovated turn-of-the-century schoolhouse, OCAF is a nonprofit that promotes performing, visual and literary arts through a range of exhibitions and classes for all ages. Longstanding annual events include “Southworks,” a national juried art exhibition; “Perspectives,” the Georgia pottery invitational; a members exhibition and a holiday market. Smaller exhibitions are hosted in a converted classroom adjacent to the main gallery.
Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum
2450 S. Milledge Ave. • 706-542-1244
Located at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum opened in 2021 to showcase the personal collection of Deen Day Sanders. The state-of-the-art facility blends conservation, botanicals, art and history.
tiny ATH gallery
174 Cleveland Ave. • [email protected] • tinyathgallery.com
Athens’ smallest physical gallery space packs a punch with high-quality pop-up exhibitions that rotate each month. Limited-capacity receptions and pop-up events are typically held on Thursdays. Upcoming artists include Kelsey Wishik, Jason Matherly, Adam Void, Joseph Leone and Noah Lagle.
UGA Special Collections Libraries
300 S. Hull St. • 706-542-7123 • libs.uga.edu/scl
The galleries feature items from the Hargrett, Russell and Brown Archives. Historical pieces include photographs, manuscripts, maps and memorabilia.
Winterville Cultural Center Gallery
371 N. Church St., Winterville • 706-389-9844 • wintervilleccgallery.com
Located on the second floor of the WCC, this new gallery opened in June of 2024 with three spacious rooms full of natural lighting to host concurrent exhibitions. Upcoming events include the first annual juried exhibit, an invitational show spotlighting the Wonders of Watercolor artist group, and a group show of small works.
Public Art Projects to Check Out
Art Shelters
Serving transit riders while also injecting creativity into the built environment, many of Athens-Clarke County Transit’s bus shelters double as public art. The program produced 11 art shelters between two phases in 2005 and 2011 as a partnership between ACC Transit and the Athens Area Arts Council called “You, Me and the Bus.” Under the guidance of the Athens Cultural Affairs Commission, ACC Transit added a new round of 13 art shelters and an additional 20 artist-designed laser cut shelters in 2020. Look out for Joni Younkins-Herzog’s giant pillbug on Lexington Road and Richard Herzog’s larger-than-life gingko leaves on North Avenue.
Athens Creative Directory
Organized by the Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department and CREATE Athens (a division of Envision Athens), the Athens Creative Directory serves as a hub for finding and interacting with creatives working in a variety of disciplines. Visit athenscreatives.directory to search through profiles.
Cobbham Triangle Park
Occupying the slice of land nestled between Prince Avenue, Cobb and Harris streets, the Cobbham Triangle Park is a neighborhood gathering spot accentuated by public art. Highlights include an entranceway designed by St. Udio, a mosaic sitting wall called “Flow” by Krysia Ara, a towering sculpture called “Spirit of Inspiration” by Harold Rittenberry, the “Venus Flower of Love” sculpture by Steve Sweetser and granite sculptures by Stan Mullins for games of chess and ping pong.
Fire Up the Hydrants
A project of the Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department, Fire Up the Hydrants transformed 20 ordinary hydrants into functional, life-saving works of art. Spread across downtown, the hydrants were cleverly hand-painted by local artists, including Tonya Allen, David Lunde, Lilli Sams, Ellen Walker and Jennifer Zwirn.
Frequency
Debuted in December of 2022, Maryland-based artist Eric Leskinsky’s “Frequency” is a 14-piece installation of three-dimensional blue “squiggles” inspired by soundwaves that run along Clayton Street from Thomas to Lumpkin streets. A trained architect and planner, Leskinsky’s work encourages viewers to consider how the forms interact with objects along the path.
Hope
Located downtown on the exterior walls of Epiphany Athens and The Rook & Pawn, David Hale’s mural, “Hope,” depicts barn swallows—a symbol of rebirth and hope—flying across a prismatic, rainbow-colored sky. “Hope” celebrated the 25th anniversary of the AthFest Music and Arts Festival, and replaced “BirdSong,” Hale’s mural of 20 species of native songbirds that was commissioned by AthFest Educates to commemorate the festival’s 20th anniversary. Additional murals by David Hale can be found at Bear Hollow Zoo, Athens Humane Society and Barnett Shoals Elementary School.
Hot Corner: An Athens Legacy
Located at the corner of Lumpkin and Washington streets, “Hot Corner: An Athens Legacy” is dedicated to the rich history of Hot Corner, a hub of African-American entrepreneurship. Organized by the Athens Cultural Affairs Commission with support from a National Endowment for the Arts grant, the mural was created by Miami-based muralist Elio Mercado and local artist Broderick Flanigan.
Project Ginkgo
Beautifying 20 concrete bases of light poles with intricate mosaics, Krysia Ara’s Project Ginkgo adds glittering charm and color into the downtown landscape. Funded by the Athens Downtown Development Authority, each design is unique and can be found outside of Flicker Theatre & Bar, The World Famous, Morton Theatre, Epiphany, Creature Comforts, Musician’s Warehouse, Ciné, Chamber of Commerce, Post Office, Last Resort, Ted’s Most Best, Wuxtry Athens and others. Ara also created the “Heron Sighting” mosaic mural at Dudley Park, as well as large-scale mosaic sculptures at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and Harris Shoals Park.
Rainbow Forest
Visible from Martin Luther King Parkway on the North Oconee River Greenway, “Rainbow Forest” is a public art installation by Los Angeles-based designer Andrew Kovacs, who worked alongside local artist assistants Eli Saragoussi and Patrick Sprague. Supported by the Athens Cultural Affairs Commission and unveiled in August 2021, the outdoor installation consists of a grid of 36 brightly colored columns.
Sculptures and Murals
Athens’ most recognizable sculptures are a series of giant bulldogs painted in colorful designs. To check out more sculptures, visit Steve Sweetser’s kinetic “Tree of Oneta” near the historic Southern Mill complex, Rick Herzog’s “Trail Blossom” at Dudley Park or “Origins,” a work by David Hale, David Harrison and Peter McCarron located at the Athens-Clarke County Extension Office. Popular murals include Taylor Shaw’s ATHENS Mural near Classic City Cycling and those of David Jenkins at Last Resort Grill, Anthony Wislar at Creature Comforts Brewery, Jamie Calkin at Flowerland and Michael Ross on Hawthorne Avenue.
Art Classes
ARTini’s Art Studio, Gallery & Lounge 337 Prince Ave. • 706-353-8530 • artinisartlounge.com
Learn to paint while enjoying an adult beverage.
Community 260 N. Jackson St. • 706-316-2067 • shopcommunityathens.com
Garment-making in beginner and intermediate sewing courses.
Good Dirt 485 Macon Hwy. • 706-355-3161 • gooddirt.net
Pottery classes for all ages in a variety of techniques.
Indie South 470 Hawthorne Ave. • 706-850-0644 • theindiesouth.com
Artist-led workshops in subjects such as soap making, Tarot and dyeing.
The K.A. Artist Shop 127 N. Jackson St. • 706-850-1224 • kaartist.com
Camps, classes and workshops for all ages in topics like painting and calligraphy.
Lyndon House Arts Center 211 Hoyt St. • 706-613-3623 • accgov.com/lyndonhouse
Adult and youth classes in diverse media, plus an open studio membership program.
Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF) 34 School St., Watkinsville • 706-769-4565 • ocaf.com
A wide variety of art and craftwork programs.
The Pearl Girls 548 Hawthorne Ave. • 706-850-5296 • thepearlgirls.com
Classes in pearl-stringing and wire-wrapping.
Revival Yarns 585 Barber St., Unit D • 706-850-1354 • revivalyarnsathens.com
Knit and crochet classes.
Twisted Moon Studios 2971 Monroe Hwy., Bogart • 678-661-0126 • twistedmoonstudios.com
Classes, camps and workshops for children and adults alike, as well as paint parties.
Winterville Community Center 371 N. Church St., Winterville • 706-742-0823 • wintervillecenter.com
Oil painting, botanical sketching and more.
