Independent spaces are often on the cutting edge of emerging art communities. As in major art centers such as New York and Los Angeles, the South also hosts a number of alternative spaces for showing and creating artwork. Often artist-run and ephemeral, these spaces provide an essential site for experimentation in their communities.
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Mild Climate
mild climate is an artist-run space and curatorial collective with an interest in alternative programming as well as traditional gallery exhibitions. Website Address 507C Hagan St, Nashville, TN 37203 First floor, The Packing Plant Arts Building -86.77135100000424,36.14137001098604
FEATURED IN
Mild Climate in Nashville, TN
C for Courtside
Run by a collective of five artists, C for Courtside is based in Knoxville, TN Website Address 513 Cooper St, Knoxville, TN 37917 -83.92646662698553,35.97157585358332
FEATURED IN
C for Courtside in Knoxville, TN
Versa Gallery
VERSA is an artist-run space located at Chattanooga’s Mercy Junction Justice and Peace Center exhibiting contemporary art with an emphasis on experimentation, diversity, and cross-disciplinary exchange. Website Address 1918 Union Avenue Chattanooga, TN 37404 -85.27542754232468,35.031939289309065
FEATURED IN
VERSA in Chattanooga, TN
Bad Water
BAD WATER is an artist-run space opened in 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Website Address 320 E. Churchwell Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917 -83.9324636269651,35.9894798713113
FEATURED IN
BAD WATER in Knoxville, TN
Lump
Founded in 1996, Lump is a longstanding artist-run space located in Raleigh, NC. Website Address 505 S. Blount Street Raleigh, NC 27601 -78.63650581349555,35.77380211392621
FEATURED IN
Lump in Raleigh, NC
School of the Alternative
School of the Alternative is an experiment in education and community that holds sessions at Black Mountain College. Website Address P.O. Box 711 Black Mountain, North Carolina 28711 -82.32041718414399,35.61356282219475
FEATURED IN
School of the Alternative in Black Mountain, North Carolina
The Sunroom
Founded by recent graduates of the VCU Masters of Fine Arts Program, The Sunroom exhibits artists from throughout the US. Website Address 2801 E Marshall St Richmond, VA 23223 -77.41521008465168,37.53063247520636
FEATURED IN
The Sunroom in Richmond, VA
Good Enough
Good Enough is an artist-run space run out of a basement in Atlanta, GA. Website Address 3517 Spring Cir, Decatur, GA 30032 -84.24583416930614,33.724285459766776
FEATURED IN
As Far As We Can Go, Happiness Is Always Just Over That Horizon
Good Enough in Atlanta, GA
Hi-Lo Press
Print studio providing design services, plus an exhibition space for emerging and established artists. Website Address 696 Charles Allen Dr NE Atlanta, GA 30308 -84.37303572882502,33.7734894591257
FEATURED IN
Hi-Lo Press in Atlanta, Georgia
The Front
Fostering the work of emerging contemporary artists through innovative exhibitions, lectures, screenings, performances, arts programming and career building programs which are free and open to the public. Website Address 4100 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117 -90.03439536441886,29.965088057932064
FEATURED IN
The Front in New Orleans, LA
Vinegar Projects
Vinegar Projects is an artist-run non-profit space that focuses on emerging and experimental art forms, and art that pushes the boundaries of its medium Website Address 701 37th St S #12 Birmingham, AL 35222 -86.7758609999969,33.51751083445906
FEATURED IN
VINEGAR in Birmingham, Alabama
Good Weather
Good Weather has transformed a single-car garage into a participant-guided gallery in Little Rock, AR. Website Address 4400 Edgemere North Little Rock, Arkansas 72116 -92.2496323644084,34.79452859473189
FEATURED IN
Good Weather in North Little Rock, Arkansas
Falling into the Abyss: Azikiwe Mohammed and Inga Danysz at Good Weather
Coco Hunday
Coco Hundray is an artist- run gallery whose programming is anchored by solo presentations of emerging and mid-career artists. Website Address 212 W. Thomas St. Tampa, Florida 33604 -82.46271917791069,28.007140012503086
FEATURED IN
Coco Hunday in Tampa, Florida
Bas Fisher Invitational
BFI creates a bridge between Miami and the international art world by curating programs featuring both local and global artists at sites throughout Miami-Dade County, and in collaboration with national and international partnering organizations. Website Address Miami, FL -80.19439113828105,25.772820328357668
FEATURED IN
Bas Fisher Invitational in Miami
2021 Projects
2021 Projects is an artist-run, contemporary art space. They plan to run four exhibitions between January and June of this year. Website Address 55 South Main St. Memphis, TN -90.05359599999906,35.14371700000065
FEATURED IN
2021 Projects in Memphis, Tennessee
Parallelogram Gallery
Parallelogram Gallery is an independent, artist-run gallery founded in 2015. Previously operated out of a garage in Tampa and now in a bigger space in Ybor City. Website Address 1521 1/2 E 7th Ave Studio 8 Tampa, FL -82.4422820038955, 27.960255770407542
FEATURED IN
Parallelogram Gallery in Tampa, Florida
Wavelength Space
Wavelength Space is an artist-run gallery with a focus on the organization of conceptually themed, group exhibitions in which local and regional artists can show in communication with artists from around the country. Website Address 854 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga -85.29400427115058,35.04283199999243
FEATURED IN
Wavelength Space in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Residual Dwelling at Wavelength Space, Chattanooga
THE END Project Space
THE END Project Space is a non-profit exhibition space committed to the presentation of new artwork by Atlanta artists, or artists with significant connection to Atlanta. Website Address 1870 Murphy Avenue SW -84.42689227116279,33.70358646277029
Gradient Projects
Gradient Projects is a contemporary art initiative based in Thomas, West Virginia since 2018. We operate a project and event space that hosts exhibitions, artists-in-residence, performances, concerts, films and other art-based experimentation. Website Address 218 East Avenue, Thomas, West Virginia -79.49827600000492,39.149921199558634
FEATURED IN
Gradient Project Space in Thomas, WV
Attic 506
Attic 506 is an art space that houses a coalition of artist-run initiatives in Chapel Hill, NC. Through collective effort, the gallery provides much needed exhibition venues, art studios and the regions first art book store. Website Address 506 W. Franklin St, 2nd Floor, Chapel Hill, North Carolina -79.06384399999887, 35.910295059371364
My Friend Sparksburg
My Friend Sparksburg is a contemporary art space currently existing on the flagpole holder of a modest suburban ranch home in Columbia, South Carolina. Website Address -81.02275745392834, 34.014225234212034
FEATURED IN
My Friend Sparksburg in Columbia, SC
Stone House Art Gallery
SHAG is an artist run project space located in a repurposed garage in Charlotte, North Carolina. The intent of SHAG is to allow emerging artists the opportunity to show their work in a gallery setting with the freedom to direct the content and curation of their exhibitions. Website Address Located on Hwy 27, Charlotte, North Carolina -81.03640790369145, 35.31072364498611
FEATURED IN
Stone House Art Gallery in Charlotte, NC
Dimensions Variable
Dimensions Variable (DV) is an artist-run space, committed to the education, presentation, and support of contemporary art in Miami. Through a supportive community, DV provides studios, curates exhibitions, produces external projects, manages art acquisitions, publishes content, hosts discussions, develops education, organizes events that engage the community, and supports challenging and experimental art practices. Website Address 101 NW 79th Street, Miami -80.19906707739776,25.84768336052673
FEATURED IN
Get Well Soon at Dimensions Variable, Miami
BASEMENT
Founded in 2019, BASEMENT is a provisional artist-run project space located in Chapel Hill, NC that supports experimental and critical art practices. We choose to strengthen and build connections between artists and communities specifically in the regional southeast. Website Address Chapel Hill, NC -79.05545424953785,35.915458751862346
Random Sample
Random Sample highlights local emerging artists looking for an approachable space to exhibit their work. RS also hosts small concerts, book clubs, and is home to a small gift shop that showcases artisanal goods from multiple local artists. Website Address 407 48th Ave N, Nashville, TN -86.84485738147639,36.15234622011032
Institute 193
Institute 193 collaborates with artists, musicians, and writers to document the cultural landscape of the modern South by providing artists from Kentucky and the Southeastern United States with exhibition and publication opportunities.. Website Address 193 N. Limestone Lexington, KY -84.49472703550455,38.048170201468054
FEATURED IN
Almost Heaven :^) at Institute 193
Eric Rhein at Institute 193 in Lexington
Melissa Watt at Institute 193, Lexington
Melissa Carter at Institute 193 in Lexington
Dry Ice Gallery
Dry Ice is low-brow, messy, and approachable.Emerging artists have room and opportunity to find their voice, while established artists have the freedom to explore new avenues of work. In addition to exhibitions, the gallery hosts artists talks and performances every third Saturday of the month. Website Address 1505 E. 27th Street, Chattanooga, TN -85.29224418726218,35.01596623755407
FEATURED IN
Dry Ice Gallery in Chattanooga, TN