Upstairs Artspace in Tryon, North Carolina, has opened its second biennial Salon d’Upstairs exhibition. The show features over 100 works by more than 70 local artists, ranging from high school students to professionals, displayed in a dense, salon-style format. The exhibition serves as both a community engagement initiative and a fundraiser, with sales proceeds split between the artists and the gallery.
This event matters because it democratizes access to exhibition space, allowing amateur and professional artists alike to participate in a public showcase. By adopting the historic salon model, the gallery fosters local creative productivity and provides a vital platform for community expression and financial support for both artists and the non-profit institution.