“It is Art, and Art only, that reveals us to ourselves.” – Oscar Wilde
 

In Savannah, art isn’t just another home accessory to match your sofa or to add a splash of color to your living room.  At its best, art in Savannah symbolizes an uncompromising passion for pushing the boundaries of creativity.

From traditional photography to experimental paintings, Georgia’s First City truly serves as a creative paradise along the Southeast coast.  In fact, Savannah’s gallery scene has grown steadily over the last decade, anchored by the Savannah College of Art and Design’s success and fueled by a growing appetite for original work by local artists.

With several dozen art galleries scattered across the city like dazzling jewels, art aficionados can discover a wide array of styles, media and approaches that rival treasures found in established art meccas such as New York and Santa Fe.  

It was certainly no easy task to create a list of Savannah’s leading art galleries.  In doing so, we considered a number of factors, from rotating exhibition schedules to the variety of media on display.  Organized alphabetically, these seven art galleries offer an ideal introduction to Savannah’s surprisingly sophisticated, edgy and eclectic art scene.  With so many galleries to choose from, here’s a quick overview of some of the city’s trend-setting artistic venues, from established veterans to plucky newcomers.

2CarGarage Contemporary Art Gallery

30 W. Broughton St., Suite 205

Open Monday-Saturday from 2-5 p.m. and by appointment

236-0221
www.2cargallery.com

Nestled above Paris Market on Broughton Street, 2CarGarage Contemporary Gallery brings a bit of Soho style to downtown Savannah.

This intimate venue exhibits paintings, mixed media and drawings by leading artists from Savannah as well as from Atlanta, New York and other parts of the country.  Since the gallery opened in 2006, it has attracted attention for its cutting-edge sensibility and for its commitment to contemporary art.

“2CarGarage’s mission is to feature and promote primarily Georgia artists who are intellectually motivated and who are leaders in their craft and their conception,” said gallery director Wendy Cooper.  “We seek to bring to the Savannah art and retail scene progressive works by artists whose styles reflect a range of influences.  We seek to enhance dialogue and educate the Savannah community about national contemporary art trends.”

One of the things that differentiates 2CarGarage from other galleries in Savannah is its focus on helping buyers acquire work that enhances their personal or corporate art collections.

“The serious art collector is our market,” explained Cooper.  “Our artists are in tune with the contemporary art scene and the direction that art is progressing on an international level.”

 
Chroma Gallery
31 Barnard St.

Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

232-2787
www.chromaartgallery.com

Named after the Greek word for “color,” Chroma Gallery near City Market serves as living proof that collecting art can be fun.  Founded 2001 by artists Jan Clayton Pagratis and Lori Keith Robinson, the gallery features 2,000 square feet of exhibition space and represents a wide range of contemporary artists and artisans with roots in the Southeast.

Vibrant paintings, hand-blown glass and creative jewelry are among the items that can be found at this popular downtown gallery, which occupies a prominent corner at Barnard and west Congress streets.  With a friendly, well-educated staff, Chroma cheerfully exposes customers to new work by emerging artists and mid-career artists working in a contemporary style.  

“Even though Chroma is a commercial gallery, we are dedicated to working with the local community in a variety of ways,” explained co-owner Pagratis.  “We offer educational opportunities for local school systems and universities, provide internship positions for college students and offer demonstrations and workshops.  We offer a unique group of artists who are committed to creating high-quality original artworks.”

 
Dimensions Gallery

412 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Open Monday and Saturday 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

236-4993 

www.dimensionsartgallery.com

When Dimensions Gallery opened its doors in June 2007, it quickly branded itself as a prime venue for young, gifted, yet-to-be-discovered artists.  From an unassuming storefront on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, this ambitious venue specializes in rotating exhibits showcasing original work by emerging talent.

The gallery’s owner and curator, Cryselle Stewart, who hails from Guyana and moved to Savannah by way of New York City, has a deep commitment to the revitalization of the MLK corridor and believes that art serves as a critical addition to this historic Savannah street.

Throughout the year, Dimensions Gallery exhibits a wide range of paintings, photography, fiber art and more in its main 1,600-square-foot exhibition space, attracting large crowds at frequent art openings.

“The response has really been great,” enthused Stewart.  “Savannah’s art community has been dying for emerging talent.  These are going to be the new established artists of the future.”

 
Gallery Espresso
234 Bull St.

Open Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.-11 p.m.

233-5348 
www.galleryespresso.com 

Gallery Espresso may be best known as a bustling coffee house that serves up a divine cup of cappuccino, but it also doubles as a vital art gallery that has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the city’s best places to buy art.

Art director Jessica Barnhill oversees the rotating exhibits, which can range from mixed-media work by Savannah artist Scott Griffin to the latest otherworldly musings by Atlanta underground artist R. Land.  With oversized plate glass windows, exposed brick walls, comfortable couches and a steady stream of patrons, Gallery Espresso provides a comfortable setting in which to view an ever-changing parade of exhibits by new and established artists.

“We get a lot of tourist traffic, plus business people in the morning and students throughout the day and the evening,” said Barnhill.  “The art definitely inspires a lot of conversation.  At the same time, we’re a great launching point for emerging artists.  The possibilities are pretty endless.”

 
Gallery S.P.A.C.E
9 W. Henry St.

Open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

651-6417
www.savannahga.gov/arts

Gallery S.P.A.C.E. has the distinction of being Savannah’s only city-funded art gallery.  Run by the City of Savannah’s Department of Cultural Affairs, this venue offers an eclectic variety of exhibitions featuring local painters, sculptors, photographers, potters, metalsmiths, quilters and more.  Each exhibit also includes an educational component, from artist lectures to hands-on workshops.

“We’re a community gallery,” explained Debra Zumstein, art programs coordinator for the City of Savannah.  “Our gallery has an educational basis.  We offer our space to up-and-coming artists as well as exhibitions with educational and outreach components.”

With more than 2,000 square feet of exhibition space, Gallery S.P.A.C.E. schedules eight to 10 shows each year and serves as the host location for community exhibits such as the LINKS show featuring art by local students each February and the National Arts Program for City of Savannah employees each fall. 

“The gallery is really gathering momentum,” Zumstein explained.  “We emphasize variety and want to keep building programs in the future.”

 
Red Gallery 
201 E. Broughton St.

Open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.– 6 p.m.; Saturday noon – 5 p.m.; Sunday 1-4 p.m.

525-4743
www.scadexhibitions.com

Red Gallery proudly serves as the Savannah College of Art and Design’s premier exhibition space, showcasing work by nationally and internationally established artists as well as SCAD students, faculty, alumni and staff.  Since the gallery opened in 1999, it has featured a hefty menu of world-class art, from Rembrandt etchings to Andy Warhol prints.

“Red Gallery is our hub for commercial sales of outside artists and SCAD students, faculty, staff and alumni,” explained Erin Dziedzic, curator of SCAD’s exhibitions department.  “Also, the Red Gallery hosts lectures, gallery talks and panel discussions, which are unique in comparison to the way other fine-art galleries operate in Savannah.”

Located in a former cafeteria on east Broughton Street, Red Gallery provides a versatile raw space with oversized plate glass windows offering tantalizing views of the art on display.  In addition to solo shows by leading contemporary artists such as Edouard Duval-Carrie and Titus Kaphar, this signature SCAD gallery serves as a showcase for the college’s juried exhibitions, including the popular “Small Works” holiday show every December.  

 
Whitney Gallery
415 Whitaker St.
Open by appointment only
495-0024 
www.whitney-gallery-savannah.com

Ensconced in an 1880s brick building in the heart of the Downtown Design District, Whitney Gallery is one of Savannah’s best-kept secrets.  This charming two-story gallery showcases contemporary paintings, photography and mixed-media work by some of the Southeast’s most talented artists.

Under the leadership of owner and artist June Stratton, who ran a successful art gallery in Seattle for many years, Whitney Gallery organizes thematic group shows throughout the year while maintaining a steady supply of talent ranging from experimental photographer Adela Holmes to abstract painter Daniel E. Smith.

In addition to an elegant exhibition space with high ceilings and plenty of ambient light, the gallery also features a high-definition video display, enabling collectors to browse the gallery’s extensive inventory not currently on display. 

“We have selected a stable of young to mid-career contemporary artists who  we feel demonstrate unique creative perspectives,” said gallery owner June Stratton.  “They must also possess a high level of skill in their medium of choice.  As a painter myself, I lean toward contemporary realism, but we show artists with a full range of artistic visions.  Some artworks may have an edge that will not appeal to everyone’s taste, but for those clients who buy their art before they buy the sofa, we provide an array of exceptional artistic creations worth appreciating and collecting.”

 
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A HOPPIN’ GOOD TIME

One of the hottest and hippest ways to explore Savannah’s art scene is to attend a gallery hop, which provides free transportation between art galleries across downtown Savannah, as well as wine, cheese and hors d’oeuvres at choice stops along the way.

The Savannah College of Art and Design has offered the popular SCAD Gallery Hop for several years, while the Savannah Fine Art Dealers’ Association officially launched a Fine Art Trolley hop in the spring of 2006.  Both gallery hops attract sizeable crowds and serve as ideal introductions to the city’s growing art scene.  Here’s the 411 on two of the area’s best hops, both of which are free and open to the public:

 
SCAD Gallery Hop

With more than a dozen art galleries scattered throughout the downtown area, the Savannah College of Art and Design boasts more venues for exhibits devoted to painting, photography, illustration, sculpture, fibers, mixed-media work and jewelry than any other organization in town.

SCAD’s monthly gallery hop, which typically spotlights a half-dozen or more exhibits at the college’s featured galleries, makes exposing yourself to art easy, fun and enlightening.  A shuttle offers handy transportation, allowing participants to join the hop at any of the stops along the way.

SCAD will host a gallery hop on Oct. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m.  For more information,  call the SCAD exhibitions department at 525-4727.

Fall Fine Art Trolley Hop

Six leading Savannah art galleries will be featured on the Fall Fine Art Trolley Hop on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 5-9 p.m.

Organized by the Savannah Fine Art Dealers’ Association, also known as SavFADA, the trolley hop provides free transportation between galleries and offers the opportunity for patrons who visit all six galleries to win a $500 gift certificate, which is redeemable at any of the participating SavFADA galleries.

Venues showcased on the trolley hop include the Ray Ellis Gallery, 2CarGarage Contemporary Art Gallery, Chroma Gallery, Friedman’s Fine Art, Grand Bohemian Gallery and Whitney Gallery.

For more information, call the Ray Ellis Gallery at 234-3537.