Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery is a private venue providing affordable workspaces, support, and representation for emerging fine artists. We focus on the visual arts and are known mainly for our exhibitions featuring fine artists of color. However, we offer a nurturing, inclusive, accessible platform focused on equal opportunities for and representation of all creatives.

Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery opened its private venue as 9.18.9 Studio Gallery in February of 2020 at a home located at 8838 Balsam Bay Road and moved within the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Center in 2021.  Joanne Rogers, Nine Eighteen Nine’s founder, launched the studio in 2015 with her first exhibit “I’m Painting Mas” featuring the work of her husband, renowned Charlotte artist Arthur Rogers Jr. at Clearwater Arts Center and Studios. 

 “Artists are definitely a bridge,” she told Queen City Nerve. “When you have difficult conversations — all the social turmoil that we go through — if two people were to get together and talk, it’s more combative and you get more defensive. But, when you put it on a wall and people walk by, they can take it at their own comfort level.”

VAPA has been the home of Nine Eighteen Nine for the last couple years, as Joanne has put on exhibits such as Projected Realities, The Soul Finger Project, and America Gentrified. The space provides mentorship opportunities, skills training, networking and representation for emerging artists, with a goal to support local artists of color, and to make them feel seen by their peers and neighbors.

Story credit: QC Nerve

Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery is a member of the Global Arts Project. Through this partnership, NENSG has access to over 20 galleries world wide.

Awards and Recognitions:
2024 Trailblazer Award – Center City Partners
2023 Humanitarian Award –  Socialite Charlotte
2023 Best in the Nest Award for Best Art Gallery – Queen City Nerve
2022 Best in the Nest Award for Best Art Installation – Queen City Nerve