Upstairs Artspace

United States — Art Center

49 S. Trade St.
Tryon, NC 28782

Phone: +1 (828) 859-2828

Email: frontdesk@upstairsartspace.org

Instagram: @upstairsartspace

Upstairs Artspace, located in Tryon, North Carolina, is a dynamic non-profit contemporary gallery that has been shaping the region’s cultural landscape for more than four decades. With 3,000 square feet of exhibition space, the gallery offers three distinct rooms that host a rotating series of shows. Known for its adventurous programming, Upstairs Artspace introduces audiences to fine art and contemporary craft by established and emerging artists, with a strong presence from the Carolinas and the greater Southeast.

Among its diverse offerings, photography has held a particularly important place in the gallery’s curatorial vision. Regular exhibitions often highlight the medium’s flexibility as both a documentary tool and a platform for creative experimentation. Photographers showcased at Upstairs Artspace frequently present works that capture the cultural richness of the region while also engaging in broader conversations about memory, identity, and place. The gallery provides a space where traditional techniques coexist with digital innovations, offering visitors an ever-changing look at the possibilities of photographic expression.

The Exhibits Committee, often working alongside guest curators, brings forward thematic shows that invite dialogue across media. Within these group or solo presentations, photography often plays a crucial role in expanding the narrative and engaging audiences on multiple levels. This dedication to the photographic arts has positioned the gallery as a place where collectors, enthusiasts, and newcomers alike can discover compelling new perspectives through the lens.

Now celebrating 45 years, Upstairs Artspace continues to be a cornerstone of Tryon’s artistic community. Its inclusion of photography alongside painting, sculpture, and craft reaffirms the gallery’s mission to embrace the full spectrum of contemporary creativity. Each exhibition cycle offers a fresh opportunity to experience the power of photography as part of the gallery’s vibrant and evolving program.

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Upcoming at the Gallery

Martha Strawn: The Phenomenology of Water

event_upcomingOpening on November 01, 2026
Upstairs Artspace
Tyron, NC

Upstairs Artspace in Tryon, North Carolina, presents The Phenomenology of Water: Works by Martha Strawn, on view from 1 November 2026 through 8 January 2027. A free community reception takes place on Sunday, 1 November, from 2 to 4 PM at the gallery, 49 South Trade Street. The exhibition, the gallery’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni Artist presentation, brings together more than 80 large-format color and black-and-white photographs and new video works from Strawn’s long-term project on the relationsh

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