The Blue Phrog Gallery, a staple of the downtown Montevallo art scene for over 15 years, has announced its permanent closure. Founded in 2009 by Phil and Suzanne Hurst in a repurposed bank building, the gallery served as a primary venue for Alabama-based artists and University of Montevallo students to showcase and sell their work. The building at 955 Main Street is currently listed for sale following the recent passing of co-founder Phil Hurst.
The closure marks a significant loss for the regional arts community, as the gallery functioned as both a commercial space and a civic hub that supported emerging talent and local charities. By providing a professional platform for artists who lacked traditional representation, Blue Phrog Gallery played a vital role in fostering the creative economy of central Alabama, a contribution recently recognized by its induction into the Montevallo Chamber Business Hall of Fame.