Artwork by Mac Bartine
July 11–25, 2025 @ Knoxville Arts & Culture Alliance
The Arts & Culture Alliance presents a Summer Members Show, the largest annual exhibition of local artists in the Greater Knoxville area. The fresh mix of two- and three-dimensional works created within the last two years encompasses a wide variety of media such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, mixed media, photography, fine craft, sculpture, ceramics, fiberand more from regional artists who are all individual members of the Arts & Culture Alliance, which serves and supports a diverse community of artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions. Membership is open to all, and information may be found atwww.knoxalliance.com/join-renew.
A free celebration with the artists takes place on the second Friday of the month, July 11, from 5-9p.m., featuring music by Nick Horner Family. Downtown Knoxville's First Friday celebrations are delayed by one week due to the July 4holiday.
"I am always amazed when walking through an open exhibition at the Emporium," says Liza Zenni, executive director of the Arts & Culture Alliance. "No other exhibition space in the city can accommodate and compliment artwork at every level made by artists of all ages from every neighborhood of Knoxville. It is an astonishing snapshot of what's in the minds and hearts of our community as a whole."
Individual members of the Alliance participate locally and regionally in gallery exhibitions, art festivals, sculpture trails, weekend shows, studio tours, and public murals. Some Alliance members are full-time artists, while others have day jobs and create on evenings and weekends. Some members include art professors with the University of Tennessee, Carson-Newman University, Maryville College, Pellissippi State, Roane State, and Walters State. Others are teachers within Knox and surrounding counties’ elementary, middle and high schools. Some Alliance members teach classes privately or through community classes with the Appalachian Arts Craft Center, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Fountain City Art Center, Knoxville Art Center, Knoxville Museum of Art, Mighty Mud, and Oak Ridge Art Center. Many of the artists have working studios in their own homes, while some are part of studio collectives such as Broadway Studios & Gallery, The Emporium, Mighty Mud, Relay Ridge, Sunday Studiosand West Fifth Studios.
The Summer Members Show is on display throughout the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville from July 11-25. Most of the works will be for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition by visiting in person or via the online shop atwww.knoxalliance.store. The Emporium is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.For more information, seewww.knoxalliance.comor call (865) 523-7543.
The Arts & Culture Alliance serves and supports a diverse community of artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions.The Alliance receives financial support from the Tennessee Arts Commission, Knox County and the City of Knoxville. Special thanks to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Category: Exhibits