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
McColl Center’s Spring 2025 Artists-in-Residence, three visionary artists—Mark Anthony Wilson Jr., Maya Goded, and Laura Walkingstick— explore themes of identity, heritage, and healing through diverse artistic practices. Mark Anthony Wilson Jr., an interdisciplinary artist from Virginia, utilizes industrial materials to craft sculptures.
Collaborating artists Maya Goded and Laura Walkingstick delve into the intersection of art and wellness, emphasizing the unique support found within communities of women. Inspired by the exhibition Women of Land and Smoke, they facilitate workshops for femme-identifying participants, fostering healing and strength through art-making and community engagement.
Opportunities at McColl Center
Upcoming Programs + Events
Thursday, May 8 - Monday, May 12, 2025
Between Form and Feeling: Paintings by Francisco Alvarado
Francisco Alvarado is a self-taught painter who approaches art as a kind of joyful escape from his work as an engineer and businessman.
Thursday, May 22 - Saturday, June 28, 2025
The Paglees: Between Reason and Madness
The Paglees are a feminist collective of artists of South Asian origin living across the United States.
Friday, May 30
REVERBERATE | EXHIBITION OPENING
Reverberate is the inaugural event for SECLT x McColl Center’s commemoration of the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death, and the movements, developments and reactivity resulting from May 25, 2020.
Thursday, June 12
The Paglees: Guest Talk with Melia Belli Bose
Join us for a guest talk by art historian Melia Belli Bose, who contributed the catalog essay for The Paglees: Between Reason and Madness. She’ll explore how the artists connect feminism, identity, and cultural histories across the South Asian diaspora.
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.”