25 Years of McColl Center
Twenty-five years ago, the dream of creating an urban artist's colony in a fire-ravaged church in uptown Charlotte became a reality. Today, as a hub for creativity and a catalyst for growth, McColl Center is dedicated to putting artists first, supporting them throughout their careers with subsidized studios, access to modern equipment and tools, entrepreneurship programs, and 5,000 square feet of gallery space to exhibit and sell their work. Since 1999, our artist residency program has provided a haven for artists—a space where they have the time, resources, and freedom to turn their dreams into reality.
Join us in celebrating our rich history and the incredible artists who have shaped our community. Throughout the year, we’ll share inspiring stories and opportunities to engage with our community at upcoming celebratory events. Learn more.
Meet our Artists-In-Residence
Welcome Kimberly English, William Evans, Njaimeh Njie, and Preetika Rajgariah.
The 2026 Winter Artists-in-Residence approach their practices through lineages outside traditional power structures: centering experiences often overlooked in patriarchal cultural spaces. Textiles stretch into collage, yoga mats become painted ground, beads and shells form constellations, and photographs carry the weight of history. The art that emerges is a collective reimagining of how materiality can unravel, mend, and re-thread the stories we inherit. Read more about them here.
Upcoming Events + Exhibitions
Thursday, February 5
Artists-in-Residence Talk + Tour
This is more than a talk, it’s an opportunity to meet the artists, see their studios up close, and engage in meaningful dialogue with our fall cohort.
Saturday, February 28 - Sunday, March 1, 2026
The Liberated Brush: Two Day Painting Workshop with Felicia Van Bork
The Liberated Brush is an amazing, intensive, two day painting workshop taught by a dynamic teacher, Felicia van Bork.
Press + News
McColl Center Updates
McColl Center’s The Contemporaries Is Changing the Way Charlotte Collects Art
In spring 2024, McColl Center launched The Contemporaries, a first-of-its-kind art collecting community in Charlotte.
McColl Center Updates
THANK YOU FOR AN INCREDIBLE BENEFIT ART AUCTION
We’re still feeling the excitement from our Fifth Annual Benefit Art Auction! It was a remarkable celebration of art, community, and 25 years of McColl Center.
McColl Center Updates
Artist-in-Residence Alumnus Asa Jackson Named Next President and CEO of McColl Center
“I am deeply honored and excited to join McColl Center at this pivotal moment. My experience as a resident artist here was transformative, and I look forward to leading an organization that has been a cornerstone in empowering artists and fostering creativity. Together with McColl Center’s talented team, I’m eager to deepen our impact and expand opportunities for artists to thrive.”