Bender Gallery is downtown Asheville’s international contemporary art gallery. The gallery showcases over 35 artists, from fine art specialties to sculpture.
We had a chance to speak with Miles and Bernadette Bender to give us an idea of what to expect from upcoming exhibits, as well as an inside look at Bender Gallery as a whole.
Q. For those that aren’t familiar, how would you describe the Bender Gallery, and what makes you unique compared to other galleries in the region?
A. Founded in 2005, Bender Gallery is a fine art gallery located in the popular tourist city of Asheville, NC. We specialize in contemporary figurative and abstract works of United States and international artists creating exceptional paintings and sculpture at all stages of their careers. The gallery has earned a sterling reputation and is considered one of the area’s top fine art galleries.
Q. You represent so many talented artists. What’s your process like when deciding if an artist will be a good fit for the gallery?
A. We conduct a great deal of research before extending invitations to potential artists to exhibit at the gallery. Most of our prospective artists have already achieved recognition in their areas of specialty. Our major considerations are the style and quality of the work, the artist’s education, public and private collections where their work can be found, and whether an artist’s work complements Bender Gallery’s aesthetic
Q. Even though you are located in Asheville, what kind of expertise can buyers in Charlotte expect? What makes you uniquely qualified?
A. Bender Gallery offers a unique selection of fine art paintings and sculpture by artists from all over the world, including the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia. We focus on a select group of contemporary abstract and figurative artists to provide our clients with in-depth expertise on the work and genres of our artists.
Q. Do you have any upcoming exhibitions that are a “must see?”
A. Yes, we do!
Bender Gallery is excited to present Harpies, Hybrids, and Hidden Worlds, a solo exhibition of extraordinary paintings by Columbus, Ohio based artist Laine Bachman. Inspired by myths, folklore, and nature, Bachman infuses the colorful worlds she creates with lush foliage, archetypal imagery, underlying themes, exotic fauna, and meticulous detail. The exhibition runs from October 2 through August 31 during the gallery’s regular business hours. There will be an opening reception for Bachman on Saturday, October 2, from 6 to 9 PM.
Opening on November 4, we have a have another fantastic exhibition scheduled, Beauty is the Meaning, featuring figurative portraits by Tennessee artist Seth Haverkamp. Haverkamp is an internationally acclaimed portrait artist and 2019 recipient of the Portrait Society of America International Competition Draper Grand Prize and Best in Show in 2008.Haverkamp describes his style as expressive realism, and his portraits are exquisite with magical backgrounds inspired by Gustav Klimt’s paintings. Haverkamp derives his primary inspiration from beauty: color, form, and the drama of light and dark.
There will be an opening reception on Saturday, November 6 from 6 to 9 PM.
Q. Say a buyer can’t make it to Asheville, but they came across a piece they loved. Are you able to ship or purchase online?
A. Bender Gallery has a robust up-to-date website with images of all our artists’ available work in inventory. Making a purchase is as easy as sending an email or giving us a phone call. We give each potential client personal attention and provide information to make a thorough decision. We safely ship all over the world and are available to make deliveries and provide installation service to the Charlotte area.
Check out Bender Gallery online and in downtown Asheville, located at 29 Biltmore Ave.
Artwork photographed by Bender Gallery. Featured photo by Colby Rabon.
