See What's Happening
Whether you're looking for a creative workshop, artist talk, exhibition opening, or simply a chance to connect with other creative people, Queen City Art hosts events that bring artists, art lovers, and community members together. We believe creative opportunities should be accessible, welcoming, and community-driven, whether you're just beginning your creative journey or have been making art for years.
Explore the calendar to discover upcoming events.
Figure Drawing
Figure Drawing sessions in a variety of formats and themes every Thursday 7-9OPM unless noted.
Paint Like Bob Ross
Come experience the joy of painting with a Certified Ross Instructor (CRI) in a make-and-take workshop inspired by the techniques of Bob Ross. You’ll be guided step-by-step through the signature methods that made his landscapes so beloved. All materials are provided, and no experience is required.
Figure Drawing
Figure Drawing sessions in a variety of formats and themes every Thursday 7-9OPM unless noted.
Word on the Street Exhibit Opening
Words shape culture, memory, protest, identity, fantasy, and connection. Word on the Street invites artists to explore the visual power of language in all its forms.
This exhibition seeks artwork inspired by written text, typography, handwritten notes, graffiti, poetry, books, signage, symbols, coded messages, fictional languages, maps, annotations, lyrics, public statements, and the marks humans leave behind to communicate. Artists are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly, from literal text-based works to pieces influenced by storytelling, translation, communication, censorship, language systems, or invented scripts and symbols.
Free to attend. All ages welcome.
Figure Drawing
Figure Drawing sessions in a variety of formats and themes every Thursday 7-9OPM unless noted.
QCA Summer Juried Show Exhibit Opening
July 11 — Don’t miss the most anticipated juried show of the season, where the region’s strongest voices in art compete for top honors. Work is judged by a panel of locally connected art professionals—curators, gallerists, and critics who know our community and what makes it distinctive. Expect an engaging mix of emerging talent and established artists across media, thoughtful selections that reflect our city’s creative pulse, and awards that spotlight innovation and craft. Join us for an evening of discovery, conversation, and celebration as the best in local art are recognized and rewarded.
SOLD OUT SOCA Sip and Paint
SOLD OUT
This event is SOLD OUT. Please check back for other opportunities!Unwind with an evening of creativity, conversation, and community at SOCA's Sip & Paint! Led by Queen City Art artist Cy Guest, this beginner-friendly class invites participants to enjoy a relaxed painting experience while exploring their artistic side.
Whether you're picking up a paintbrush for the first time or simply looking for a fun night out, Cy will guide you step-by-step in creating your own unique work of art. Bring a friend, enjoy a beverage, and leave with a finished painting and a memorable experience.
No prior painting experience is necessary. All materials are provided. FREE to attend.
Annual Membership Appreciation Event
Join us for our annual Board Meeting & Membership Appreciation Event. Members will convene to vote on new board candidates, hear brief updates on organizational priorities, and participate in shaping the year ahead. After the meeting, stay for a relaxed reception with a small catered dinner and drinks—an opportunity to mingle with fellow members, meet the new board, and celebrate our community. Please RSVP and ensure that your membership is current so that you are able to vote. We look forward to seeing you there!
June 2026: Emancipation: Perspectives of Freedom, Independence, and Liberation
Join Queen City Art as Charlotte’s vibrant art community comes together to celebrate summer and Caribbean Independence on June 13th. This special show features local and regional artists whose paintings, photography, mixed media, and sculpture reflect the warmth, color, and rhythms of Caribbean culture and the season ahead. Expect lively installations, new work inspired by island traditions, and a curated selection that highlights diasporic voices shaping Charlotte’s creative scene.
The event offers a welcoming space to connect with artists, enjoy light refreshments, and experience collaborative performances that blend visual art with music and movement. Whether you’re a longtime supporter of the arts or curious about Charlotte’s growing cultural tapestry, this exhibition is a joyful showcase of community, heritage, and summer energy.
Date: June 13th Venue: Queen City Art Opening reception and programming throughout the evening
Celebrate with us—honoring Caribbean independence and the artistic spirit that enriches Charlotte.
Eren Telimen, our Featured Artist of the Month, blends meticulous craftsmanship with a bold, contemporary palette to explore themes of color and form. Visitors will find both quiet introspection and striking energy in Telimen’s featured art series.
Mental Health Reimagined - Bridges Reception
Join us for the opening reception of Bridges, a new group exhibition exploring connection, transition, and ending stigmas around mental health and suicide. Experience the Bridges Project.
Mental Health Reimagined - Build, Bundle, Bond - April 25th
BUILD, BUNDLE & BOND
Join Queen City Art for a hands-on Community Art Build Day
as we prepare the Bridge to Wellness—a powerful installation created from 700,000 threads of connection.
This Bridge began here at QCA in 2025…
and on May 27, it will launch into the world.
Come wrap a thread.
Stay for the connection.
Be part of something that matters.
Queen City Art
April- 4th, 11th, 18th, 28th.
In collaboration with Mental Health Reimagined
Turning stories into connection—one thread at a time.
OPTION 3: SHORT + GRAPHIC-READY
We Need Your Help
Help bundle 700,000 threads
to build the Bridge to Wellness
Queen City Art
April- 4th, 11th, 18th, 28th.
From 1-4pm
Build. Bundle. Bond.
Mental Health Reimagined - Build, Bundle, Bond - April 18th
BUILD, BUNDLE & BOND
Join Queen City Art for a hands-on Community Art Build Day
as we prepare the Bridge to Wellness—a powerful installation created from 700,000 threads of connection.
This Bridge began here at QCA in 2025…
and on May 27, it will launch into the world.
Come wrap a thread.
Stay for the connection.
Be part of something that matters.
Queen City Art
April- 4th, 11th, 18th, 28th.
In collaboration with Mental Health Reimagined
Turning stories into connection—one thread at a time.
OPTION 3: SHORT + GRAPHIC-READY
We Need Your Help
Help bundle 700,000 threads
to build the Bridge to Wellness
Queen City Art
April- 4th, 11th, 18th, 28th.
From 1-4pm
Build. Bundle. Bond.
Mental Health Reimagined - Build, Bundle, Bond - April 11th
BUILD, BUNDLE & BOND
Join Queen City Art for a hands-on Community Art Build Day
as we prepare the Bridge to Wellness—a powerful installation created from 700,000 threads of connection.
This Bridge began here at QCA in 2025…
and on May 27, it will launch into the world.
Come wrap a thread.
Stay for the connection.
Be part of something that matters.
Queen City Art
April- 4th, 11th, 18th, 28th.
In collaboration with Mental Health Reimagined
Turning stories into connection—one thread at a time.
OPTION 3: SHORT + GRAPHIC-READY
We Need Your Help
Help bundle 700,000 threads
to build the Bridge to Wellness
Queen City Art
April- 4th, 11th, 18th, 28th.
From 1-4pm
Build. Bundle. Bond.
Mental Health Reimagined - Build, Bundle, Bond - April 4th
BUILD, BUNDLE & BOND
Join Queen City Art for a hands-on Community Art Build Day
as we prepare the Bridge to Wellness—a powerful installation created from 700,000 threads of connection.
This Bridge began here at QCA in 2025…
and on May 27, it will launch into the world.
Come wrap a thread.
Stay for the connection.
Be part of something that matters.
Queen City Art
April- 4th, 11th, 18th, 28th.
In collaboration with Mental Health Reimagined
Turning stories into connection—one thread at a time.
OPTION 3: SHORT + GRAPHIC-READY
We Need Your Help
Help bundle 700,000 threads
to build the Bridge to Wellness
Queen City Art
April- 4th, 11th, 18th, 28th.
From 1-4pm
Build. Bundle. Bond.
Paint with Kate (February)
Come hang out, fight over the playlist, and paint/draw/sculpt/create with CAL’s Executive Director. Feel free to shoot the breeze, talk about art, or ask any CAL questions! This is also a great opportunity to meet and collaborate with fellow artists.
What to expect:
Pay As You Can for CAL Members
$20 for Non-Members
BYO Supplies
Canvases available for purchase
Pay at the door
Meet in the main gallery. Doors are on the left side of the building, past Eighty Eights Coffee and Cocktails.
Paint with Kate (January)
Come hang out, fight over the playlist, and paint/draw/sculpt/create with CAL’s Executive Director. Feel free to shoot the breeze, talk about art, or ask any CAL questions! This is also a great opportunity to meet and collaborate with fellow artists.
What to expect:
Pay As You Can for CAL Members
$20 for Non-Members
BYO Supplies
Canvases available for purchase
Pay at the door
Meet in the main gallery. Doors are on the left side of the building, past Eighty Eights Coffee and Cocktails.
Paint with Kate (December)
Come hang out, fight over the playlist, and paint/draw/sculpt/create with CAL’s Executive Director. Feel free to shoot the breeze, talk about art, or ask any CAL questions! This is also a great opportunity to meet and collaborate with fellow artists.
What to expect:
Pay As You Can for CAL Members
$20 for Non-Members
BYO Supplies
Canvases available for purchase
Pay at the door
Meet in the main gallery. Doors are on the left side of the building, past Eighty Eights Coffee and Cocktails.
Figure Drawing
The human figure has been the subject of art since the beginning of time. Every other week, a live nude model is available for all to draw, paint, or sketch. Participants will be able to observe the model and explore different techniques of approaching the human form on paper or canvas.
Please bring your own supplies.
Model: Dasia
Figure Drawing
The human figure has been the subject of art since the beginning of time. Every other week, a live nude model is available for all to draw, paint, or sketch. Participants will be able to observe the model and explore different techniques of approaching the human form on paper or canvas.
Please bring your own supplies.
Model: Teresa
Figure Drawing
The human figure has been the subject of art since the beginning of time. Every other week, a live nude model is available for all to draw, paint, or sketch. Participants will be able to observe the model and explore different techniques of approaching the human form on paper or canvas.
Please bring your own supplies.
Model: Terry
Figure Drawing
The human figure has been the subject of art since the beginning of time. Every other week, a live nude model is available for all to draw, paint, or sketch. Participants will be able to observe the model and explore different techniques of approaching the human form on paper or canvas.
Please bring your own supplies.
Model: Rachael
Afternoon Reception for “Climate Conversations” Exhibition
Celebrate Earth Day 2024 beautifully and thoughtfully with a visit to Wil Bosbyshell’s Climate Conversations art exhibit.
Bosbyshell manages to make the vast climate challenges we face personal and relevant. His large-scale drawings of trees—the largest is over 6 feet tall--are mesmerizing in the level of detail they provide; and they hang amidst suspended banners that flutter as you walk through them like leaves in a forest.
The exhibit is interactive in several ways, inviting your participation. You can touch the fabric tree hangings as you walk through. You can write a thought from your past and hang it on the memory tree. You can take a tree memory poster home with you.
Opening Reception: April 12, 6-9PM
Afternoon Reception: April 14, 1-5PM
Exhibition on display from April 5, 2024 - April 30, 2024
Opening Reception for "Climate Conversations" Exhibition
Celebrate Earth Day 2024 beautifully and thoughtfully with a visit to Wil Bosbyshell’s Climate Conversations art exhibit.
Bosbyshell manages to make the vast climate challenges we face personal and relevant. His large-scale drawings of trees—the largest is over 6 feet tall--are mesmerizing in the level of detail they provide; and they hang amidst suspended banners that flutter as you walk through them like leaves in a forest.
The exhibit is interactive in several ways, inviting your participation. You can touch the fabric tree hangings as you walk through. You can write a thought from your past and hang it on the memory tree. You can take a tree memory poster home with you.
Opening Reception: April 12, 6-9PM
Afternoon Reception: April 7, 1-5PM
Exhibition on display from April 5, 2024 - April 30, 2024
Figure Drawing
The human figure has been the subject of art since the beginning of time. Every other week, a live nude model is available for all to draw, paint, or sketch. Participants will be able to observe the model and explore different techniques of approaching the human form on paper or canvas.
Please bring your own supplies.
Model: Dasia
Figure Drawing
The human figure has been the subject of art since the beginning of time. Every other week, a live nude model is available for all to draw, paint, or sketch. Participants will be able to observe the model and explore different techniques of approaching the human form on paper or canvas.
Please bring your own supplies.
Model: Jarrell
Figure Drawing
The human figure has been the subject of art since the beginning of time. Every other week, a live nude model is available for all to draw, paint, or sketch. Participants will be able to observe the model and explore different techniques of approaching the human form on paper or canvas.
Please bring your own supplies.
Model: Shaggy
Airy Knoll's "Exploring Nature Exploring Approaches" Exhibition
The Airy Knoll Arts Project is an intensive summer residential art program of artmaking and writing on a form in the Virginia Shenandoah Valley. As a nonprofit organization, student scholarships are supposed by donations. Find out more at airyknollarts.org/support
Featured Artist: Ida Irby Exhibition Reception with Live Watercolor Demo
Experience the beauty of watercolors with this month's Featured Artist as she demonstrates a demo of watercolor techniques! View her beautiful watercolor paintings on display as well!
Figure Drawing
The human figure has been the subject of art since the beginning of time. Every other week, a live nude model is available for all to draw, paint, or sketch. Participants will be able to observe the model and explore different techniques of approaching the human form on paper or canvas.
Please bring your own supplies.
Model: Teresa
Heartrepreneurs: A Valentine’s Event
Come enjoy an art experience of your choice with your loved one! There will be a variety of activities from creating a clay tray, face painting your friend, creating a valentine, baking a shrinky dink, paint pouring, and much more. Prices vary from donation! Maximum donation is $50.00, so there is something for all. Come stop by!
1+1=3: An Ekphrastic Writing Workshop
New Date! Using the art-filled galleries at Charlotte Art League, writers will respond to what they see before them and learn to use visual art as a tool to prompt rich reflective writing. Participants may choose to respond in poetry or prose or any combination of genres. The aim will be to create rough drafts to expand and/or revise