Tryon’s Upstairs Artspace gallery invites the public to the opening reception of two new exhibitions on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 2 p.m.: Fight or Flight , a solo exhibition by Erika Diamond, and Birds of a Feather , a dynamic group exhibition featuring eight artists working across a wide range of media. Both exhibitions will be on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026, at 49 S. Trade St., Tryon, NC. Fight or Flight  features textile sculptures by Asheville-based artist Eri

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Fight or Flight, an exhibition by Erika Diamond on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Erika Diamond is a textile-focused artist, curator, and educator based in Asheville, NC. Her work is influenced by dance, costume, materiality, and the politics of queer safety and visibility. She received a BFA in Sculpture from Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA in Fiber from Virginia Commonwealth University. Diamond has exhibited nationall

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Located in Asheville, NC, Liz Williams has worked as a visual artist for 10 years exploring the line between the real and fantastic elements of life in the South in a variety of media including photography and illustration. Her work ranges from t-shirt designs calling for the dismantling of anti-LGBTQ legislation for Equality NC to portraits of nationally a

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Luis Sahagún Nuño is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice transforms drawing into ceremony and art into medicine. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México, and raised in Chicago’s Southland, his practice is grounded in curanderismo, the traditional healing practices of Latin America. His work reimagines Mexica and Yucatec Maya rituals within contemporary

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Kimberly Thomas is a biracial interdisciplinary sculptor and flameworker. She is a current artist in residence at Penland School of Crafts in Bakersville, NC. and is known for her work’s intentionally flawed and unusual motifs as well as her intricate sculptural inventions. A self-taught glass artist, Thomas earned a BFA in Ceramics from the Rhode Island Sc

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Barbara Schreiber’s works on paper appear lighthearted at first glance, but often have disturbing undertones. Born in Baltimore MD, Schreiber was a Cold War baby. Her aesthetic was formed in part by dinner-table discussions of political brinksmanship, her upbringing in a gritty town, and the solace she found gazing at tiny, enameled antiquities at the Walte

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Jeannie Regan is a Hong Kong born, Australian native, USA-based artist. She received her BFA in 2004 from RMIT (Melbourne, Australia) and her MFA in 2025 from WCU (Cullowhee, NC). I create art and education experiences that build community, incite joy and inspire action for the collective good. By day I am a curator and program developer with a steadfast co

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Rachel Meginnes is a textile artist based in Bakersville, North Carolina. She received her BA from Earlham College and her MFA in Fibers from the University of Washington. Having first learned to weave in high school in rural Vermont, Meginnes later studied textile production in Japan, New Zealand, India, and Nepal. Her work is rooted in her mother and gran

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Holly Hill is a studio artist and educator based in the mountains of North Carolina with a professional background in costume design and textile fabrication. Her interdisciplinary practice integrates ceramics, fiber, drawing, and found materials to explore themes of labor and bodily autonomy. Moreover, her work asserts the quiet power of craft as a form of

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Anna creates expressive, politically charged photographs, paintings, and performances informed by the strangeness of being alive. Growing up as a feral child in the woods of northern Wisconsin, Anna’s most formative memories are filled with trees, mud puddles, and wild creatures. Her parents moved back to the land in the mid 1970s to start an organic farmin

Virginia Derryberry is pictured in front of her four-paneled piece titled, The Four Elements. Upstairs Artspace invites the public to an engaging Artist Talk with Virginia Derryberry and guest curator Mary Edith Alexander on Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 PM. The conversation will take place in conjunction with Private Domain, Derryberry’s current exhibition on view at Upstairs Artspace through April 10, 2026. During the talk, Derryberry and Alexander will discuss the themes, inspi

Engagement with art has proven to be beneficial for people with memory issues as well as benefits for their caregivers, family, and friends. This is true whether the experience involves looking at, learning about, discussing, or creating art.   Recognizing that this type of beneficial interaction could be a real asset to the Foothills region, Upstairs Artspace in Tryon, N.C. is collaborating with Foothills Memory Café on a program that would connect this population with conte

Taiyo as Mercury Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Private Domain, an exhibition of new work by Virginia Derryberry, on view from March 8 through April 10, 2026. The contemporary art gallery is located at 49 S. Trade St., Tryon, NC.  Featuring large-scale narrative figure paintings, the exhibition will explore themes of duality, transformation, and human complexity through imagery drawn from alchemy, mythology, and contemporary life. An opening reception will be held on S

Upstairs Artspace is pleased to announce the promotion of Megan Allen to Gallery Assistant. After interning the past year at the contemporary non-profit art gallery in Tryon, Allen has stepped into her new role, and serves as a welcoming and knowledgeable presence for artists, collectors, and visitors. “My academic training, paired with hands-on experience at Upstairs Artspace, has given me a strong understanding of both the creative and professional aspects of the art w

On July 29, Upstairs Artspace received a long-awaited new HVAC system.Thanks to Thomas Mechanical of Laurens, SC for the delivery and...

Eldred Hudson will lead the Aug. 27 art crit class. Have you ever wondered what goes on in an art critique class?  Wonder no more and...

Joyful Seeker, 24x48, Oil on wood Walter Gurbo to exhibit recent work at Upstairs Artspace Walter Gurbo is probably best known for his...

Mushroom Bowl Since an early age, art making has been a huge part of who I am. Growing up in a home with a designated ‘art room’ full of...

A Fail Safe Way to Navigate Dating Apps in 2025,  Mixed media, 22"x30", unframed Reflections on Teaching and Making  I never wanted to be...

Solastalgia 10, Mixed Media on Pastel Board, 8”x8”, unframed Solastalgia Series The term solastalgia describes the emotional distress...