Press Release - Art Garden re-opens in downtown Asheville, May 7-10
- Sarah Gilliam
- Apr 27
- 3 min read
Updated: May 5
Media Contact: Annie Kyla, annie@artgardenavl.com, 336-420-9100
Art Garden celebrates Grand Re-Opening in new downtown gallery
Media preview and “green ribbon” cutting scheduled for May 7, 10:30 a.m.
Asheville, NC - April 27, 2026 – After a challenging year and half, Art Garden re-opens its gallery doors to a fresh start in downtown Asheville (98 N. Lexington Ave.). Join artists and performers on Thursday, May 7 at 10:30 a.m. for a preview to the Grand Re-Opening weekend. There will be a “green ribbon” cutting as well as ceramic and live painting demonstrations. Local elected officials have been invited. The media is welcome to tour the space, interview artists and capture b-roll footage. The official events for the public begin at 11:00 a.m. and run through Sunday, May 10. To view the full schedule, scroll down or click here.
“I’ve built my artistic career around painting the wonders of Nature,” said Annie Kyla Bennett, co-founder and Creative Director of Art Garden. “Helene’s devastating power nearly destroyed our dream of Art Garden. The only thing more powerful was the love and dedication of our community to rebuild and re-open. Let these next four days of celebrating be a love letter to those who helped us shovel mud, donated money and held our hands during this incredibly difficult rebuilding process.” Twenty months have gone by since Helene brought devastating flooding to the River Arts District in Asheville, North Carolina. Art Garden, once located in the Riverview Station, was on the frontlines to the historic flooding when more than 25 feet of floodwater inundated the building, reaching into the second floor of the well-loved art studio. The months that followed were defined by uncertainty, resilience, and an unwavering belief in the importance of keeping this community alive.
“The flood was heartbreaking and it has been a long, intense process of rebuilding. Western North Carolina is coming back, recovery continues and we are returning stronger,” said Darci DeWulf, a sculptural artist with Art Garden. “I am so happy to be a part of the rebirth of Art Garden. Wonderful things are coming.”
About Art Garden
Art Garden is a place where cultivation and creativity meet community and care. It began as a sanctuary for artists, nurturers, and dreamers—those inspired by the wonders of nature and the power of creative expression. On the surface, Art Garden is an art gallery and plant shop. In practice, it has always been something more: an ever-evolving container for imagination, built as fertile ground for wonder, growth, collaboration, and joy. Learn more here. To view their active Go Fund Me page, go here.
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Art Garden's Grand Re-Opening Weekend Schedule
May 7-10 at 98 N Lexington Ave
Open Gallery Hours 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., with evening events til 9 p.m. on May 7, 8, and 9.
Daytime Activities Include: Pop-up art demos, live painting, live music, roaming performers, workshops, art auction, plant sale, and more. Enjoy over 40 local artists’ displays, throughout the weekend.
Evening Events:
Thursday, May 7th
Gallery Preview Party, 6-9 pm
ReRoot: an art exhibit featuring Art Garden Artists, celebrating resilience and rebirth
Live Music by Jenna Jaffe
Friday, May 8th
Art Garden Gallery Gala, 6-9 pm
Silent Auction supporting Art Garden’s rebuild, and its Artists
Live Art: Ashton Hill, Annie Kyla Bennett, Dillon Endico, and more
Live Music by Zack Lutman, and more
Catering by New Stock Pantry
Saturday, May 9th
Art Garden Theatre Opening Night, 7-9 pm
FaerieTale Theatre Presents: Same Same but DifferentLive Music by Derian Blane
Purchase tickets here
Sunday, May 10th:
Mother’s Day Plant Sale, 11-5 pm Mark Making with Natural Materials, with Mel Sozer, 10-11 am
Inkmaking with Plant Pigments, with Annie Kyla Bennett, 3-5 pm
Please note: More workshops and performances are still in the works. Please check Art Garden's website for the most up-to-date event listing.
