We’re excited to host a gallery talk by Therese Bisceglia, Kathleen V Stuart, Michelle McKnight Davis, and Kathleen Spicer. The four artists are being featured in the gallery’s current show, Distinctive Aesthetics: Exploring Four Artistic Narratives. These are four good friends with four wildly different approaches to their art – the common thread being that they each upend the concept of mixed media, using tools and materials to build their layered pieces in very unexpected fashion. After an introduction by gallery director Samantha Spalti, a panel discussion among the artists coupled with Q&A from the audience is sure to result in a lively exchange. Due to increased interest in the show, it has been extended through Saturday, March 28. Please note, this is a free event, but seating is limited, so we ask that you to RSVP. Please call the gallery at 910.575.5999.
Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC is set to hold its 12th annual Holiday Art Market from Friday, Nov. 13– Sunday, Nov. 17, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each of the three days. Over 30 popular artists are being featured to include Holiday pottery, jewelry, oil paintings, acrylics, watercolors, home decor items, photography, turned wood, handmade furniture and more. An eight-foot Christmas tree will be filled with artisan-made ornaments, so customers can choose their favorites directly from the tree. There will also be free gift certificate drawings, holiday treats, refreshments, and hot mulled cider. Check back for more details!
The gallery will hold its annual Summer Art Market – extended to three days this year – from Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19. It will feature artwork by the 100+ local and regional artists who exhibit here at Sunset River Gallery, many of whom will be bring in unique pieces especially for the Market. Featured artwork will include pottery, paintings, fused and stained glass, hand-sewn pillows, turned wood, hand-crafted furniture, photography, basketry, fibers art and more. There will also be art demonstrations including pottery and painting. More details will be posted as we have them.
We’re pleased and excited to host the Waterway Art Association 35th Annual Spring Show & Sale. The show runs from Monday, April 20 to Saturday, April 25, with an opening reception & awards presentation on the 20th from 5 – 7 p.m. The show will include works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, graphite, pen & ink, and mixed media. We hope you’ll come by to support this group of accomplished local artists. For additional information visit waterway art.org or email Questionswaa@gmail.com
This group show featuring work by Sunset River Gallery artists includes both wall art and three-dimensional pieces. All pieces in this show are text-based. Every artist has incorporated some kind of text into their artwork. It might be poetry, phrases, quotes, political text, a personal message, or something else!. We think you’ll be surprised at the scope of the work. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, April 11 from 2 – 4 p.m. The public is invited and there is no charge. It’s a great opportunity to meet the artists and talk about the work! We hope to see you! Shown: Fragile State by Chantal Tomiello, acrylic, 30×30.
Don’t miss our special Artist Spotlight display featuring SC artist Roseann Bellinger from Feb. 9 – April 11. Roseann works primarily in acrylic but you’ll find her painting in oil as well. Roseann’s coastal marshscapes and still life compositions depict a vivid path of light and vibrant abstracts. Citing influences that include Asher Brown Durand, Claude Monet, and Robert Motherwell, the artist says, “It is the challenge of conveying an emotion to the viewer that constantly drives me. Weaving vibrant color and texture through my paintings helps achieve that goal. Gallery hours are Monday _ Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. See you soon!
This will be the first of what will hopefully be a monthly workshop/conclave (LOL). Sam is more facilitator than instructor as she guides you to trusting your intuition to develop your art practice. It’ll be a new experience every time. What you work on depends on what you need. And if you don’t know what you need, we can help you figure that out, too! Limited to 10 participants per session. Bring your own supplies & snack or lunch. $45 per session. Non-refundable.
Choose from three five-week hand-building or wheel sessions for experienced potters. Session 1 begins Friday, Jan. 16 and runs through Feb. 13. Morning classes on the wheel are from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Afternoon hand-building classes are from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. $185 each plus cost of clay. Class fee non-refundable. You supply your own tools. Please note, there are no make-up classes. Visit Instruction page for sign-up.
Session 1: Fridays, Jan. 16 – Feb. 13
Session 2: Fridays, Feb. 20 – March 20
Session 3: Fridays, March 27 – May 1 (no class April 10)
Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC has set its calendar for 2026. The eclectic, 10,000 square-foot art-lover’s haven plans to feature two exhibits showcasing artists represented by the gallery, one show featuring gallery instructors and students, a four-woman show, one solo show, and at least one local art league exhibition. In addition, there will be several eight-week Artist Spotlight displays throughout the year.
Clockwise from top left: Kathleen Spicer, Michelle McKDavis, Kathleen V Stuart, Therese Bisceglia.
The year’s first show is Distinctive Aesthetics: Exploring Four Artistic Narratives, which features the work of Kathleen V. Stuart, Kathleen Spicer, Michelle McKDavis, and Therese Bisceglia. Four friends, four artists, four wildly different approaches to their art, the common thread being that they each upend the concept of mixed media by using tools and materials to build layered pieces in a very unexpected fashion. The creative results reflect the out-of-the-box thinking of all four. Stuart works primarily with mixed media fabric. Bisceglia utilizes layered mixed media with encaustic. McKDavis works with oil on canvas, often adding embroidery. And Spicer creates work using cut out wood with layered oil paint. The show runs from Saturday, Feb. 7 through Saturday, March 14.
An invitational group 2D and 3D show, titled Quotables will feature text-inclusive art pieces. It opens Saturday, April 11 and runs through Saturday, May 16. Additional shows include the Waterway Art Association Spring Show (April 20 – 25); Small Works, from June 6 through July 19, an annual exhibit of pieces smaller than 12” x 16”; a Student/Instructor Show, from Saturday, Aug. 1 through Saturday, Sept. 5; and Wild Places, a one-woman show featuring work by oil painter Gail Black, which is scheduled from Saturday, Sept. 19 through Saturday Oct. 24.
Artist Spotlights for 2026 begin with Roseann Bellinger’s acrylic landscapes from Feb. 9 through April 11. Subsequent featured artists will be Ginny Lassiter, April 20 through June 20; Yuriy Petrov, June 29 through Aug. 29; and Clay Johnson, Sept. 7 through Nov. 21.
The gallery features two popular art markets every year. The 2026 Summer Art Market, which features three days of on-site pottery and painting demonstrations, will run from Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19. The Holiday Art Market, set for Nov. 13 -19, includes on-site artists, handmade ornaments, and seasonal arts in addition to a wide range of fine art and crafts by the gallery’s 125+ North and South Carolina artists.
About Sunset River Gallery
Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring works by over 100 fine regional artists including Chantal Tomiello, Janet Sessoms, and Clay Johnson, among others, the gallery is well known in the area for its selection of oil paintings; watermedia; pastels; photography; hand-blown, stained, and fused glass; pottery and clay sculpture; turned and carved wood; unique home décor items; and artisan jewelry.
There are two onsite kilns and six wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. The gallery also offers ongoing oil/acrylic and watercolor classes as well as workshops by regionally and nationally known instructors.
In 2022, Sunset River Gallery acquired Cordier Auctions, a premier auction house, which regularly holds estate and consignment auctions of fine and decorative art; coins, sterling, and fine jewelry; real estate; antiques, firearms and militaria, and more. Information about appraisal to auction can be obtained by emailing appraisal@sunsetrivergallery.com.
Sunset River Gallery is located at 10283 Beach Drive SW (NC179) in Calabash, NC. Telephone: 910.575.5999. Website: https://sunsetrivergallery.com . Regular gallery hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Distinctive Aesthetics: Exploring Four Artistic Narratives. Four friends. Four artists. Four wildly different approaches to their art – the common thread being that they each upend the concept of mixed media, using tools and materials to build layered pieces in a very unexpected fashion. The creative results reflect the out-of-the-box thinking of all four. Participating artists are Kathleen Spicer, oil paint & wood; Kathleen V. Stuart, fiber & encaustic; Therese Bisceglia, oil paint & found objects; Michelle McKDavis, oil paint & thread. Each artist takes traditional painting and sculpture ideas beyond expected boundaries. We think you’ll find the work as exciting and interesting as we do! Distinctive Aesthetics opened Saturday, Feb. 7 and runs through Saturday, March 28. An insightful gallery talk is set for Saturday, March 7 at 1 p.m.
