Augusta River Region Galleries

Augusta is alive with art! From public art tours, to locally owned art shops, to galleries and museums there are always things to do and see in our beautiful city. On this page you can find all the information on the galleries that the Greater Augusta Arts Council manages — the City Gallery and the Augusta & Co. Gallery — in addition to a list of local galleries and art museums throughout our community.

 

The City Gallery 

 

Since 2016, The Greater Augusta Arts Council, on behalf of the City of Augusta, has utilized the lobby of the Augusta-Richmond County Municipal building as a Gallery space to promote the vibrant cultural arts and talents that are abundant in the Augusta River Region.

 

Located at 535 Telfair St, in Downtown Augusta, GA. Exhibitions are typically held every 6 weeks to 3 months depending on availability. 

 

Please contact Gallery Director, Heather Dunaway at heather@augustaarts.com for more information.

 

Open Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Currently in the City Gallery...

Ray Sturkey in the City Gallery July 22- October 16, 2025. Reception July 25 from 11am-1pm. 535 Telfair St. Augusta, GA. 30901

Ray Sturkey is a classically trained artist whose work explores the spiritual and emotional depths of human experience. Blending traditional techniques with his own personal style, Ray creates pieces that reach beyond the visible and resonate on a soul-deep level.

 

His artistic journey has been shaped by a range of influential figures, including local icons Janice Williams Whiting and Philip Morsberger, as well as renowned artists Benny Andrews and Martin Puryear. While their work has informed his approach, Ray says it is the power of honest emotional expression that fuels his passion for creating.

 

Beyond his own art, Ray is a dedicated educator at Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School. He finds great joy in nurturing young talent, especially when students go on to become Artist Educators themselves. Watching them grow and use their voices through art is, for him, the most rewarding part of his career.

 

A recent highlight was Ray’s leadership on a crosswalk mural at East Boundary and Telfair Street in South Augusta. Created with local volunteers, the mural not only brought beauty and attention to a dangerous intersection but also celebrated community pride. Ray describes the experience as extraordinary.

 

You can find Ray’s work through social media, with a new website coming soon. His art is also featured in projects with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Augusta and in DefEd Magazine.

 

Through his art and teaching, Ray Sturkey invites us to look deeper, where spirit, emotion, and creativity meet.

 

To purchase works, visit www.shopaugustaarts.com

Up Next in the City Gallery
  • The Annual Winter Art Showcase
  • The Annual Exhibition of the Mayoral Collection of Augusta Black History
  • This Is AugUSta – A group exhibition of visual local artwork that highlights the Augusta Arts scene and the importance of supporting local creatives, as told by visual artists.
  • Recycled – an exhibition of works by local artists that utilize found, recycled materials.
  • “Well, pAIN’T that sumthin’? – An exhibition of painted works that explore the southern experience and culture.

…and more!

Augusta & Co. Gallery

The Augusta & Co Gallery is located within the innovative visitor’s center and retail experience, Augusta and Company at 1010 Broad Street.

 

The Greater Augusta Arts Council, in partnership with Visit Augusta and Augusta & Co. staff invites both the “company” of fellow Augustans, or that of visiting friends and family, to experience the authentic flavors of Augusta through its rotating locals only art gallery

 

The works seen in this space are created by Augusta River Region based artists or artists who call Augusta home. This gallery hosts many forms of visual artwork, from paintings to photography to sculpture.

 

Open Mon – Sat 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Closed on Sunday

 

Currently in the Augusta & Co. Gallery...

“People” A Collection of Works by Rhian Swain

 

“People” is a solo exhibition of artworks created by Augusta based artist Rhian Swain. This showcase is a mixed display of recent and archived works over Rhian’s cultivated career and friendship with the Greater Augusta Arts Council. Her infamous “Festival People” has become synonymous with the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival, that happens annually in downtown Augusta, GA. Rhian draws inspiration from the human figure. By painting them in their bold, uniqueness, Rhian brings the vivacious qualities of the human spirit to life through her work.

 

Rhian Swain has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Atlanta College of Art. She is a painter, photographer, designer, illustrator, writer, and former talk show host. She owns RedWolf Advertising, an ad agency that provides marketing services to national and international clients for 30 years.

 

In 2024 Rhian had three major exhibits in Augusta, GA; one at Sacred Heart Cultural Center, another called “21st Century Goddesses” at the Ellis and Anne Johnson Gallery, and a three-month showing of her traveling exhibition “Breaking the Barriers: Women Who Impacted the Arts” at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. The series of paintings was partially funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The exhibit has been met with critical acclaim and will continue to tour for the next several years.

"People" by Rhian Swain in the Augusta & Co. Gallery at 1010 Broad Street from June 26 - October 2, 2025. Reception August 2 fro m5-7:00 p.m.

Rhian was inducted in the National Association of Women Artists in September 2023 and currently serves on the Board of the South Carolina Chapter. In 2025 She was appointed as Co-chair of the PR Committee for NAWA National in NYC. Rhian is past President of the Greater Augusta Arts Council and currently serves on their board.

 

She’s curated several themed shows that featured the work of local and national artists. She recently had three paintings on exhibit in the Burroughs Chapin Museum in Myrtle Beach South, Carolina, as well as a piece at the Salmagundi Club, in New York. She currently has two paintings in the Brook green Gardens’ prestigious Rosen Gallery, a painting in the Lenovich Gallery in New York and an exhibit at the Laney Museum of Black History called “A Thousand Words.”

 

Rhian has been exhibiting and selling artwork regularly for 40 years. She works in many mediums, including acrylic, watercolor, multi-media and digital (non-AI) painting. She loves to infuse symbolism into her pieces. Humor and bright colors are often found in her work. Her recent creative explorations have included merging figurative and abstract techniques that evoke an emotional impact and working with new techniques.

Up Next in the Augusta & Co. Gallery…

 

  • Augusta In Focus – An Exhibition of photographic artworks priced to sell at $200 and under for the gift giving season.
  • The Art of Music – A cross-disciplinary exhibition that allows local musician’s work to inspire local visual artists to create.
  • Down by the River – An exhibition of  art works inspired by the Savannah River.
  • Modern Americana – In celebration of the United States of American turning 250, the Augusta & Co Gallery will feature a group exhibition of Modernized Americana art, which encompasses a wide range of artistic expressions reflecting the culture, history, and traditions of a diverse United States. It often features nostalgic depictions of rural life, historical events, and iconic American symbolism. This includes not only paintings and prints but also various crafts and decorative items.
  • From the Earth – An exhibition of clay based works priced to sell at $200.00 and under for the gift giving season.

… and more!

Hanging Your Work In Our Galleries

Walker Display French Cleat

Both the City Gallery and Augusta & Co. Gallery use the Walker Display Rod-Rail hanging system (pictured at left). Many local galleries utilize this system, as it has minimal damage to walls and is historic building friendly. For more information on this system, please visit www.walkerdisplay.com . To learn about what methods work best for hanging on this system, check out this site.

 

We encourage all artists interested in displaying work in our galleries to research this display method, as several types of store-bought frames are not designed to hang from this type of system.

 

You can also read Gallery Director Heather Dunaway’s Blog, the Word, for tips on how to properly frame, wire and hang your work. 

Are you an artist interested in being featured in one of the Greater Augusta Arts Council’s galleries?

 

You can submit your solo and group exhibition proposals for the City Gallery and Augusta & Co. Gallery.  The Arts Council also hosts several open calls for art for our group exhibitions throughout the year. Please sign up for our Artist’s Newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates on open calls for art.

 

Email our Gallery Director, Heather Dunaway, for more information at heather@augustaarts.com 

Augusta River Region Art Galleries and Museums

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