FRESH 2026
Artspace’s biennial fundraising exhibition and celebration of NC artists from the Mountains to the Coast
FRESH is a biennial fundraising exhibition that celebrates the incredible creative output across North Carolina, while demystifying the typical art jurying process.
From September to mid-October, ALL 200+ submissions of original artwork by artists from the Mountains to the Coast will be on view in Galleries 1 + 2. Visitors to the gallery will have an opportunity to purchase works, vote for the People’s Choice prize, and experience the work of artists who have never exhibited before alongside the work of seasoned professionals.
Then, juror Lia Newman, Director/Curator of the Davidson College Art Galleries, will review all of the works in person and choose pieces for a juried exhibition. The final juried selection, opening October 29, will represent a diverse cross-section of the imaginative and thought-provoking art that is being created across our state today.
All works are available for purchase! Each sale of art supports both a North Carolina artist and Artspace in our mission to provide subsidized studio space in the heart of downtown Raleigh, accessible art education for all ages, exhibitions, and artist residencies with regional and national artists.
For purchase information, please visit Artspace in person or email info@artspacenc.org.
Purchase a piece from the exhibition! ALL pieces in this show are available for purchase.
Important Dates:
Open Survey Exhibition // September 3 – October 18, 2026
Final Juried Exhibition // October 29 – December 31, 2026
Programming:
September 4: First Friday and opening reception of the FRESH open survey exhibition
September 26: Zine Folk NC
September 27: FRESH Perspectives: Creative Directors’ Panel
October 3: Raleigh Film & Art Festival
October 17: FRESH Family Day
October 17: Certified FRESH: Oak City Comedy Fest
October 29: FRESH juried exhibition preview party
November 6: First Friday and opening reception of FRESH juried exhibition
November 19: FRESH Perspectives: Ask Artists Anything
The Juried Exhibition
Gallery 2
November 1 – January 5
This year’s juried exhibition contains 35 works of art from artists across the state and a wide variety of different mediums including photography, sculpture, painting, fiber arts, and more! The artists put forward exceptionally creative and high-quality works, all of which are available for purchase.
Congratulations to the featured artists:
- Angelo Arnold
- John Felix Arnold
- Mark Anthony Brown Jr.
- Caitlin Cary
- Pepe Caudillo
- Jane Cheek
- Wendy Collin Sorin
- Derrick Davis
- Jacqueline Dulin
- Kiki Farish
- Patrizia Ferreira
- Donna Hall
- Andra Harrop
- Jerome “Buzzy” Hughes
- Brian Imfeld
- Erin Ives
- Sanjé James
- Linette Knight
- Ina Liu
- Rigoberto Mena
- Ivana Milojevic Beck
- Chieko Murasugi
- Erica Parsons
- Gerardo Ponce-Martinez
- Matt Ramey
- Eliza Redmann
- Ambiorix Santos
- Ann Silverman
- Yana Slutskaya
- Natacha Sochat
- Taro Takizawa
- Matthew Troyer
- Polina Vee
- Janice Withers
- Alexandra Zuckerman
Prize Winners
1st Place
Mark Anthony Brown Jr., American Gothic, After Parks, archival pigment print on baryta paper, 24 x 17
3rd Place
John Felix Arnold, Foundation (2), resin cast, charcoal, ash, with brass mounts, 4 x 8 x 2
Lia Rose Newman has been Director/Curator of the Davidson College Art Galleries since January 2013. In her current role, she provides leadership for the advancement of visual art at Davidson College, curating exhibitions and related programming and providing strategic vision to create an inclusive, interdisciplinary center of learning.
With specific interests in socially and politically-engaged art practices, Newman’s curatorial projects have explored such topics as HIV, climate catastrophe, and immigration. Newman also oversees the Davidson College Art Collection. She has helped the college acquire nearly 1,200 works of art, including significant sculptures and commissions focused on diversifying the collection. Newman also serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Art Department, teaching a course that centers student voices in determining acquisitions for the Galleries.
She earned a BA in Art History and a BFA in General Studio with concentrations in sculpture and photography from Winthrop University, and an MA from Duke University. From 2002 until 2012, she was the Director of Exhibitions and Programs at Artspace in Raleigh, NC.
FRESH Programming
September First Friday
September 4, 5-10pm, FREE
Explore the opening of FRESH, where all 250+ submissions of original artwork by NC based visual artists will be on view. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase artwork, vote for the People’s Choice prize, and experience work by artists who have never exhibited alongside the work of seasoned artists.
Plus, enjoy live music, an art activity, two other exhibitions, and meet our studio artists!
First Friday is free and open to the public, no registration needed.
Zine Folk NC
September 26, 11am-5pm, FREE
Zine Folk NC is a day-long celebration of zines, small press comics & print media coming to Raleigh, North Carolina on September 26, 2026.
The event will feature two floors of exhibitor tables featuring NC-based zine makers and independent comic artists, a classroom with workshops on how to make and trade your own zines, and a live zine-reading hour.
Zine Folk NC is free and open to the public, no registration needed.
FRESH Cultural Leaders Panel
September 27, 2-3:30pm, FREE
This panel discussion brings together three current and former Artspace Creative Directors: Jonh Blanco, Annah Lee, and Lia Newman.
In connection with FRESH 2026, Artspace’s biennial exhibition of North Carolina artists, the conversation will explore the relationship between curators and artists in today’s contemporary art landscape.
Participants will learn about how artists are selected and supported by arts institutions, the individual curatorial approaches of each panelist, and the opportunities and challenges of the field. The panel discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A.
Raleigh Film & Art Festival
October 3, 11:30am-1:30pm, FREE
We are proud to host a series of film screenings in partnership with Raleigh Film & Art Festival, uplifting the voices of local filmmakers and artists.
FRESH Family Day
October 17, 11am-3pm, FREE
A free all-ages day celebrating North Carolina creativity!
Featured Activities:
- Explore the FRESH Open Survey exhibition featuring work from over 300 North Carolina artists
- Participate in hands-on artist demos
- Create your own masterpiece with our all-ages art activity
- Enjoy free refreshments while supplies last
Free to attend and open to the public. Registration is not required, but will help us anticipate attendance!
Stay tuned for more! This webpage will be updated regularly throughout the fall with programming information.
Thank you to our FRESH Sponsor
Accessibility
As part of our mission, Artspace strives to be accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities. If you have an accommodation request or questions regarding accessibility, please contact April Hagins, Arts Administrator + Accessibility Coordinator at ahagins@artspacenc.org.
Questions?
If you have any questions related to the FRESH exhibition, please contact Jonh Blanco, Creative Director at jblanco@artspacenc.org. For questions related to programming, contact Danny Peña, Director of Education + Community Programs at dpena@artspacenc.org.