New City Arts Initiative

10/06/2026

Stop in on Thursday (10/8) for free coffee, pastries, and co-working! We would love to see you there. https://newcityarts.org/events/co-working-at-welcome-october-2026

09/25/2026

We’re so excited to introduce you to the next New City Artists-in-Residence, Lady Taij (Fall/Winter ’26) and Ibby Han (Spring/Summer ’27). Chosen by Selection Committee members Stephanie Germosen Salazar and Lauren Williams in a competitive open call process, earch artist will each receive a 6-month studio space grant, a $1,000 stipend, and the opportunity to share their work with the public through an event or series of events during their residency.

➡️ Lady Taij (she/her) is a multifaceted hip hop artist and songwriter from Virginia. Blending lyricism with contemporary flows and new-age harmonies, her sound is both timeless and forward-thinking. Lady Taij has been featured on the video game NBA 2K. In 2024 & 2025, she earned the Best Female Hip Hop Artist award from Soul of Cville Best In Black, and made history as the first female hip hop artist to perform at the Ting Pavilion Fridays After Five. Lady Taij's Research Residency project, "Who Owns the Block," explores Black homeownership, wealth, and community through storytelling, music, and conversations that examine who gets to own, shape, and remain in our neighborhoods.

➡️ Ibby Han (she/her) is an illustrator and printmaker whose work draws from the comically wide variety of hats she has worn: dog walker, farmers market fruit seller, volunteer ambulance driver, Virginia Student Power Network executive director, mutual aid coordinator, Luce Scholar, aspiring fiddler, Mandarin language student, and community organizer. She has lived in Arlington, VA; Charlottesville, VA; and Taipei, Taiwan. During her Research Residency, Ibby will research and develop a hand-drawn graphic novel about her experience as a youth organizer during the white nationalist protests and counter-protests in Charlottesville in summer 2017.

Photo credits: Ryan Long (photo of Lady Taij) and Dri Chiu Tattersfield (photo of Ibby Han).

09/17/2026

Up next at Welcome Gallery! Arc Studio artists Maude Brown, Dottie Swangin, Julia Manley, and Selina Thurston bring us an exhibition of new work curated by Arc Studio founder and director, Amy Keenan-Amago. “Take a Bath in It” opens on October 2 with a First Friday reception from 5-7:30PM and a brief artist talk at 6PM. Stop in to see the work, celebrate the artists, and enjoy a snack and a glass of w**e at this free, public event. Learn more: Services.https://newcityarts.org/exhibitions/the-arc-studio

This First Friday opening is sponsored by William Taylor and the Taylor Group of Truist Investment.

In October 2026, New City Arts will present an exhibition of work by artists Maude Brown, Dottie Swangin, Julia Manley, and Selina Thurston from The Arc Studio.

09/01/2026

🗓️ Friday, 9/4 from 5-7:30 PM & Saturday, 9/5 from 10AM-5PM

Browse a delightful collection of handmade ceramics from artists of Milkweed Clay Studio at this pop-up market organized by Emma Terry, whose work is currently on view. From mugs and bowls to whimsical sculptures, tiny pins, and curious creations, you'll find unique work by a collection of local artists. Learn more:

Join Emma Terry and Milkweed Clay Studio artists for a pop-up ceramic market.

08/19/2026

Meet our newest board members!: https://mailchi.mp/newcityarts/2026-new-board-members

07/30/2026

Adrienne Jacobson Oliver has been walking, listening, looking, feeling. When we met with Adrienne earlier this month to share a meal and hear how her residency is going, she shared that this embodied research has guided her in unexpected directions, literally and metaphorically. This possibility—that time and space for research might lead an artist to new discoveries and ways of knowing and practicing—is core to the purpose of the Research Residency program. Swipe to learn about Adrienne’s Research Residency project, and stay tuned to for opportuniites to engage with Adrienne and her work later this year.

Adrienne’s Research Residency is supported by the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation.

Applications for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 Research Residencies are open now. Learn more and to submit your proposal by August 28: https://newcityarts.org/apply-to-2026-2027-residencies

07/28/2026

“Keepers of Wonder”, Emma Terry’s solo exhibition, opens at Welcome Gallery on Augsut 7 with a First Friday reception from 5-7:30PM. Join us to see Emma’s ceramic worlds, hear her share about the work (6PM), and enjoy a glass of w**e and a snack at this free, public event. Link in bio to learn more about Emma and the exhibition.

🎉 This exhibition is supported by Pond Life. First Friday events are sponsored by William Taylor and the Taylor Group of Truist Investment Services.

🖼️ Artwork image and courtesy of the artist.

05/29/2026

🌱 Ruby Zielinski is up next at Welcome Gallery! “Think Like A Gardener” opens on June 5 with a First Friday reception from 5-7:30PM. Ruby will share a brief artist talk at 6PM. Stop in to see the work, enjoy a glass of w**e, and catch up with friends at this free, public event. ➡️ Link in bio to learn more about Ruby and the exhibition.

🎉 This exhibition is supported by The FUNd at CACF and the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band at CACF. First Friday events are sponsored by William Taylor and the Taylor Group of Truist Investment Services.

🖼️ Artwork image and courtesy of the artist. Image descriptions can be found in the comments.

05/28/2026

📚 Read with us! For our next New City Read, June/July exhibiting artist, Ruby Zielinski selected “The Well Gardened Mind” by Sue Stuart-Smith. We’ll meet on at Welcome Gallery on Wednesday, June 24 from 6-7:30PM to talk about the book, take in Ruby’s work, and share snacks. ➡️ RSVP here: https://newcityarts.org/events/new-city-reads-june-2026

📌 Facilitated by local arts educator, Emily Hagan Lazaro, New City Reads is a book club with art. Each of this season’s exhibiting artists is selecting a book that connects with their work. New City Reads gatherings are free.

📖 Featured books will be available for a 10% discount when you mention New City Reads. Additional copies will be available at Central Library.

——

ID: The image features a person holding the book “The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature” by Sue Stuart-Smith. The book has a white cover with the title and author’s name printed in green. An illustration of a human head filled with leaf patterns is centered below the title. The background appears to be an outdoor area with visible potted plants and a wooden surface. The bottom part of the image displays text on a muted green background, promoting an event called “New City Reads” with the date and time, “June 24 | 6-7
:30 PM”, along with the logo for “Welcome Gallery.”

05/14/2026

🎉THANK YOU SO MUCH! At last Wednesday’s Spring Gala & Art Auction, nearly 200 of you walked the red carpet and joined us for a glittering celebration of art and community at the Violet Crown (link in bio for photos!). We’re thrilled to share that you all helped us raise $101,715 to fund our programs for Charlottesville-area artists. 🥂

❤️ New City Arts is truly community-powered! From participating artists to the sponsors who made the event possible, and enthusiastic auction bidders to can-do volunteers, we’re so grateful to each and every one of you. A big thank you to our Blockbuster Sponsor: Ann Hay Hardy of Frank Hardy’s Sotheby’s International Realty ( ); Marquee Sponsors: , , , and ; to our Star Sponsors: , , AHB Studio and friends (), Annie Galvin & Lindsay Meck, Carrington Alvarez & Shreve Ariail, Emily & Anthony Lazaro; Marysunny & Michael Luegering; Nicole & Ashley Snyder; Rachel Baker & James Burnett; Sarah & Derrick Waller; and to our event sponsors, , , , , , Pura Photo (), .blue, , , Professional Art Handling (), , and .

📸 Photo 1 by Big Day Poloroids. Photos 2, 4, 6-19 by Alisa Foytik. Photos 3, 5, 20 by Kori Price Photography. Maureen’s FUND THE ARTS embroidered blazer by Annie Drury of .