During the exhibition’s opening weekend, visitors will be immersed in an extraordinary display of floral artistry as the gallery is transformed by an array of flower arrangements created by florists, floral designers, and creative talents who share a deep appreciation for Virginia’s natural splendor. These floral installations serve as both unique interpretations and companions to the paintings on view, creating an intricate interplay between the vibrancy of living flowers and the contemplative stillness of painted forms.

Floral interpretations will be created by Cedarmere In The Blue Ridge, Fiori Floral Studio, Flora Design and Farm, Gregory Britt Design, Hedge Fine Blooms, Horse and Hen, Spring Creek Blooms, Tami Keaveny, Tourterelle Floral Design, Verde Natural Florals, and Wayflowering.

The concept for Fine Art + Flowers is inspired by the grand floral-interpretation events presented at major institutions such as the New Orleans Museum of Art (New Orleans, LA), the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond, VA), and the Wadsworth Atheneum (Harford, CT). By bringing this tradition to Charlottesville, Second Street Gallery invites the community to experience a unique convergence of fine art, horticulture, and creative expression.

In keeping with the gallery’s mission to inspire new ways of thinking, seeing, and doing, Fine Art + Flowers celebrates the expansive and versatile nature of artistic practice. Whether expressed through painting or through the ephemeral medium of floral design, the exhibition underscores that art is multifaceted, continually evolving, and open to interpretation and reinvention. Visitors are encouraged to step beyond the confines of the canvas and engage with a broader understanding of the many forms in which creativity can manifest.

Throughout the exhibition’s run, the gallery will host a series of special events designed to deepen engagement with the artwork and participating artists, including a VIP Preview Party, our popular First Friday public reception, a breakfast and conversation with the artists, and a flower arranging workshop. These programs offer multiple opportunities for visitors to connect with the themes of the exhibition and celebrate the enduring relationship between art and the natural world.

Fine Art + Flowers is generously sponsored by KNB Art Advisory the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.