LOCATED IN PAWLEYS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, ISLAND Art Gallery is everything that one would expect to find in a place affectionately—and proudly—described as “arrogantly shabby.” The weather-beaten, century-old building that houses the gallery creaks and groans with age, boasting hardwood floors worn with the patina of the thousands of footsteps that have traversed them and high ceilings that, before air-conditioning, served as a form of climate control.
It fits Pawleys Island’s laid-back, beachy embrace of all things old, appreciating them for their history—and, in doing so, inspires fingers to dig into clay, brushes to explore the canvas, creativity to find its expression.
“All of it influences the artists who live here or visit, because this easy-going, charming place that feels as though it has gone back in time is the embodiment of a mood that people want to hold onto,” says artist-owner Kelly Atkinson, one of eight artists who own and operate the gallery as an artists’ co-op. “And that’s what our clients love. They want to buy art that emanates that same feeling, and they want to carry that home with them and hang it on their walls.”
The gallery’s walls showcase the work of about 24 artists, spanning from realism to abstraction and expressed through every imaginable medium—watercolor, acrylic, pastel, oil, mixed media and printmaking—alongside pieces in blown glass, handmade furniture and porcelain. “We’re a blend of so many things, which gives us an incredible uniqueness and a lot of freedom in how we display the work we represent,” notes Atkinson. “Every three or four months, we swap walls around to keep things feeling fresh and interesting. I try to diversify each room but also find what works well together in the shared space so that it doesn’t feel repetitive. That can mean creating a balance between abstract and realism and finding a through line or, in some cases, pairing contrasting mediums. For example, we have some 3-D art that makes an incredible juxtaposition to something that might be really soft-spoken and more impressionistic.”
That same sense of balance and care extends beyond the walls themselves, shaping how the gallery curates its artists and operates as a collective. When the original gallery was bought by the co-op in 2014, it was rebranded as Island Art Gallery, LLC, bringing with those changes an unwavering focus in advocating for its artists. Its eight artist-owners handle all of the day-to-day responsibilities of running the gallery, each handling their respective tasks to create an environment where art lives and breathes. Of their represented artists, the majority are based in or around Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island and Charleston, with a few from North Carolina in the Charlotte area. “The fact that these artists are local is important to us,” says Atkinson. “It’s intentional. We love that their work is connected to the Lowcountry—you see it reflected in the color, texture and moods of the pieces.”
In addition to operating the gallery space, Island Art also offers educational art classes and workshops, which the artist-owners view as important in creating and maintaining a connection to the community. “We have a high demand for these classes,” Atkinson notes. “When people come in for the summer, they want something fun to do on a rainy day, but we also work with a lot of locals during the wintertime. We’ve got artists that come our way, and they just want to be painting while they’re here. It fills that gap for them, but it also helps in the quiet times for us as a gallery.”
The fact that the gallery’s team of artist-owners works in various styles and mediums means that the classes they offer also reflect that diversity. Anyone who wants to paint can usually find a class that suits their interests, giving the gallery an appeal beyond the finished paintings that hang on its walls. In a way, it’s a collaboration between accomplished and aspiring artists, as being in such an environment where expression and experimentation is encouraged offers an inspiration all its own. “We have something special here,” says Atkinson, who works largely in oils and watercolors, teetering between impressionism and realism. “Instructors from local primary and secondary schools and universities will often send students from their art study programs to our gallery. It’s a good place to come study or see different types of artwork. That’s been an incredible thing to foster in our gallery—this ecosystem of learning and experiencing.”
That experiential atmosphere is just as important in how the gallery connects with its clientele. “Whether someone comes into the gallery and goes home with something or not, we want them to remember this as a place of beautiful art and somewhere relaxing to be,” Atkinson says. “We encourage them to take their time and to study the art, free from the thought that it’s got to be something that fits into the décor of their room. We want everyone to come in and find a piece that resonates with them, that speaks to them. Because if it’s something that they love, that’s where the magic is.”
In a place where the pace slows and the air is scented by salt, sunlight and the stories of generations of artists who draw from its timeless beauty, Island Art Gallery stands as both an anchor and reflection of Pawleys Island itself. A sanctuary for creativity with a quietly confident voice, art isn’t just displayed within its age-worn walls—it’s lived, shared and passed from one hand and one heart to another. *
Liesel Schmidt lives in Navarre, Florida, and works as a freelance writer for local and regional magazines. She is also a web content writer and book editor. Follow her on X at @laswrites or download her novels, Coming Home to You, The Secret of Us and Life Without You, at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
