25 Years of McColl Center
Twenty-five years ago, the dream of creating an urban artist's colony in a fire-ravaged church in uptown Charlotte became a reality. Today, as a hub for creativity and a catalyst for growth, McColl Center is dedicated to putting artists first, supporting them throughout their careers with subsidized studios, access to modern equipment and tools, entrepreneurship programs, and 5,000 square feet of gallery space to exhibit and sell their work. Since 1999, our artist residency program has provided a haven for artists—a space where they have the time, resources, and freedom to turn their dreams into reality.
Join us in celebrating our rich history and the incredible artists who have shaped our community. Throughout the year, we’ll share inspiring stories and opportunities to engage with our community at upcoming celebratory events. Learn more.
Meet our Artists-In-Residence
Welcome Hai-Wen Lin, Rebecca Lipps, Jason Lord and Leigh Suggs. The Fall 2025 Artists-in-Residence bring together four dynamic voices whose practices explore structure, rhythm, and transformation. Through material and movement, each artist reimagines how we connect with the world around us. Together, their work reveals how systems of order can also open pathways to new ways of seeing. Read more about them here.
ON VIEW | The Long Exposure
Upcoming Events + Exhibitions
Saturday, September 20 - Saturday, November 22, 2025
The Long Exposure
Over the course of twenty-five years at McColl Center, moments accumulated: frames were captured in spiritual time, light was traced in residual patterns, and stories slowly revealed themselves.
Thursday, October 16
Fall 2025 Artists-in-Residence Artist Talk + Studio Visits
This is more than a talk, it’s an opportunity to meet the artists, see their studios up close, and engage in meaningful dialogue with our fall cohort.
Saturday, October 18
Big Ink + Queen City Zine fest
Join BIG INK at the McColl Center in Charlotte, NC, for a relief printmaking workshop of epic proportions! Learn how to carve a woodblock, then print your carving on a custom-built giant printing press. Beginners are welcome.
Thursday, November 6
The Long Exposure - Artist Talk
Join us for a discussion around The Long Exposure with photographer Chris Edwards and artist-educator Ben Premeaux, who have skillfully documented the artists of McColl Center for the past 15 years.
Monday, November 17
Beyond the Studio: Ink on Paper: A Practical Guide to Artists' Contracts
In this essential workshop, art lawyer Katherine de Vos Devine demystifies the contract process, empowering artists with practical knowledge to protect their work, secure fair compensation, and build sustainable creative practices.
Monday, January 12
Beyond the Studio: Art Pricing + Valuation for Artists
Kait McElwee of Arcadia Art Consultancy will unpack the methodology behind pricing and valuation in the art world.
Press + News
McColl Center Updates
McColl Center’s The Contemporaries Is Changing the Way Charlotte Collects Art
In spring 2024, McColl Center launched The Contemporaries, a first-of-its-kind art collecting community in Charlotte.
McColl Center Updates
THANK YOU FOR AN INCREDIBLE BENEFIT ART AUCTION
We’re still feeling the excitement from our Fifth Annual Benefit Art Auction! It was a remarkable celebration of art, community, and 25 years of McColl Center.
McColl Center Updates
Artist-in-Residence Alumnus Asa Jackson Named Next President and CEO of McColl Center
“I am deeply honored and excited to join McColl Center at this pivotal moment. My experience as a resident artist here was transformative, and I look forward to leading an organization that has been a cornerstone in empowering artists and fostering creativity. Together with McColl Center’s talented team, I’m eager to deepen our impact and expand opportunities for artists to thrive.”