Upstairs Artspace

Upstairs Artspace A nonprofit contemporary art gallery in downtown Tryon, NC dedicated to promoting and educating our The Upstairs is Tryon’s oldest art gallery.

It was founded in 1978 by a local artist because “there was no gallery in North Carolina showing avant-garde art.”

The mission of the Upstairs is to aid the development, understanding, and appreciation of contemporary art and craft forms in order to enrich the cultural life of the region. The Upstairs is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The Upstairs has exhibited hundreds of regional artists as

well as artists from other parts of the United States. The Upstairs was in three “upstairs” locations between 1978 and 1986. That is why it is called the Upstairs. The Upstairs is “owned and operated” by its current Board of Directors, many members, volunteers and a staff consisting
of an Executive Director, Gallery Manager, Sponsorship Coordinator, Graphic Artist, and several collegiate interns. The Upstairs is funded through art sales, grants, private and corporate donations, and fundraising events. The Upstairs has three interior galleries with a total of about 3000 square feet of exhibition space. Exhibits are changed every six to eight weeks. The Upstairs welcomes students and senior citizens and encourages their participation in gallery activities. The Upstairs Artspace is “more than just an art gallery.” It is a cultural center with art education programs, workshops, musical concerts, plays, dance, film, the monthly Literary Open Stage, and much more!

🎤 Join us for an Art Talk with Hague Williams!Learn the story behind Threaded Voices: Stories from Duquesa, a powerful t...
06/24/2026

🎤 Join us for an Art Talk with Hague Williams!

Learn the story behind Threaded Voices: Stories from Duquesa, a powerful textile installation created in collaboration with children living in a Haitian refugee community. Through art, storytelling, and found materials, the project highlights resilience, creativity, and hope.

Hear directly from Hague Williams as he discusses his work in Haiti and the inspiration behind Land of High Mountains: The Art of Survival.

📅 Sunday, July 12, 2026
⏰ 2:00 PM
📍 Upstairs Artspace, Tryon, NC

🖼️ Land of High Mountains: The Art of Survival
On view through August 28, 2026

Fathers of HaitiThis powerful historical painting by Serge Moleon Blaisem of the Cap-Haïtien School depicts two military...
06/23/2026

Fathers of Haiti

This powerful historical painting by Serge Moleon Blaisem of the Cap-Haïtien School depicts two military leaders conferring during the Haitian Revolution, a struggle that led to the creation of the world’s first independent Black republic.

The figure in the hat is believed to be either Toussaint Louverture, who led resistance against Napoleon’s forces, or Jean-Jacques Dessalines, revolutionary hero and the first leader of independent Haiti. Both are revered as “Fathers of Haiti.”

The figure on the left may be François Capois, known to the French as Capois-La-Mort (“Capois Death”) for his fearless courage in battle and unwavering resistance during the revolution.

Through works like this, Haitian artists preserve and celebrate the nation’s history, resilience, and fight for freedom.

🎨 Fathers of Haiti
Serge Moleon Blaisem
Cap-Haïtien School
Oil on Panel
27½ × 23½ inches (framed)

🖼️ On view in Land of High Mountains: The Art of Survival through August 28, 2026.

🎤 Want to learn more about Haiti’s history, culture, and artistic traditions? Join us for an Art Talk with Hague Williams on Sunday, July 12 at 2 PM.

📍 Upstairs Artspace
49 S. Trade St., Tryon, NC

Admission is free.

♻️ These striking sculptures are crafted from recycled metal barrels and are part of the Haitian Art Collection featured...
06/22/2026

♻️ These striking sculptures are crafted from recycled metal barrels and are part of the Haitian Art Collection featured in Land of High Mountains: The Art of Survival.

Transforming discarded materials into works of beauty, these sculptures reflect the ingenuity, creativity, and resilience that are hallmarks of Haitian art and culture.

🖼️ Land of High Mountains: The Art of Survival
On view through August 28, 2026

🎤 Learn more about the stories, artists, and communities behind the exhibition during a special Art Talk with curator Hague Williams.

📅 Sunday, July 12, 2026
🕑 2 PM

Admission is free. Bring a friend and join the conversation!

📍 Upstairs Artspace
49 S. Trade St., Tryon, NC

We'd like to give a shout out to one of our board members, Sarah Schroth, PhD, who was recently recognized at the "Her L...
06/21/2026

We'd like to give a shout out to one of our board members, Sarah Schroth, PhD, who was recently recognized at the "Her Legacy Toast" event which celebrates women, connection, community and legacy. Sarah has been on the Upstairs board for several years and has been instrumental in her role as co-Chair of the Exhibitions Committee in bringing first class exhibitions to the gallery, in addition to helping to secure much needed grant funding. Sarah is the director emerita of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, and we are so lucky to have her!👏👏👏

06/21/2026

Land of High Mountains: The Art of Survival
On view through August 28, 2026

📅 Art Talk with Hague Williams
🕑 Sunday, July 12, 2026 | 2 PM

Admission is free. Bring a friend and join the conversation!

📍 Upstairs Artspace
49 S. Trade St., Tryon, NC

🎤 Don’t Miss an Art Talk with Hague Williams!Join us on Sunday, July 12 at 2 PM for a special presentation by artist and...
06/20/2026

🎤 Don’t Miss an Art Talk with Hague Williams!

Join us on Sunday, July 12 at 2 PM for a special presentation by artist and educator Hague Williams, whose collaborative textile installation Threaded Voices: Stories from Duquesa is at the heart of Land of High Mountains: The Art of Survival.

Created with children living in a Haitian refugee community beside the Caribbean’s largest open-air landfill, Threaded Voices is a moving testament to creativity, resilience, and the power of being heard. Through handmade story flags, drawings, stitching, and found materials, children shared their experiences, dreams, and perspectives in their own voices.

During this free public talk, Williams will discuss the origins of the project, the collaborative process behind its creation, and how art can foster connection across cultures and communities.

The exhibition also features selections from the Haitian art collection of Harold Maass and Margaret Curtis, offering a vibrant look at Haiti’s rich artistic traditions and enduring spirit.

📅 Art Talk with Hague Williams
🕑 Sunday, July 12, 2026 | 2 PM
📍 Upstairs Artspace
49 S. Trade St., Tryon, NC

🖼 Land of High Mountains: The Art of Survival
On view through August 28, 2026

Admission is free. Bring a friend and join the conversation!

WATCH OUT!!! There’s an American alligator! 🐊 It almost got you!This striking sculpture by Herbie Marshall is crafted fr...
06/18/2026

WATCH OUT!!! There’s an American alligator! 🐊 It almost got you!

This striking sculpture by Herbie Marshall is crafted from papier-mâché and is part of the Haitian art collection of Harold Maass, currently on view in Land of High Mountains: The Art of Survival at Upstairs Artspace.

In 1993, Maass, then a reporter for the Miami Herald, moved to Haiti to cover the aftermath of the military coup that deposed the nation’s first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

During a difficult and often violent period, Maass found solace in Haiti’s vibrant art scene, spending time in galleries and warehouses throughout Port-au-Prince and beyond.

Reflecting on the experience, he writes:

“The art was uplifting. At a time of crisis, I was struck by how the painters celebrated every achievement—from the farmers who dug an existence out of the land to their ancestors who were dragged to the country in chains and won their own freedom by defeating what was then the world’s greatest military power.”

Want to learn more about the exhibition and Haiti’s rich artistic traditions? Join curator Hague Williams for an Art Talk on Sunday, July 12 at 2 PM at Upstairs Artspace.

🗓 Exhibition on view through August 28, 2026
🎤 Art Talk with Hague Williams: Sunday, July 12 at 2 PM
📍 Upstairs Artspace, Tryon, NC

At the heart of Land of High Mountains: The Art of Survival is Threaded Voices: Stories from Duquesa, a powerful collabo...
06/10/2026

At the heart of Land of High Mountains: The Art of Survival is Threaded Voices: Stories from Duquesa, a powerful collaborative project by artist and educator Hague Williams.

Created with children living in a Haitian refugee community near the Caribbean’s largest open-air landfill, the work began with a simple act: listening. Through handmade story flags, drawings, stitching, and found materials, children shared their experiences, emotions, and imaginations in their own voices.

The resulting textile installation reflects resilience, creativity, and connection across borders, reminding us of the power of art to build understanding and community.

Join us for the opening reception on June 14, 2026 at 2 PM and hear more from Hague Williams during a special public presentation and art talk on July 12, 2026 at 2 PM.

📍 Upstairs Artspace
🗓 Exhibition on view June 14–August 28, 2026

Address

49 S Trade Street
Tryon, NC
28782

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 5pm
Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

(828) 859-2828

Website

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