THE Charleston Artist Guild (CAG) was founded in 1953 by a small group of local artists, including Anne Worsham Richardson, Alfred Heber Hutty and Elizabeth O’Neill Verner, who sought a way to display their works, network with other artists and become more involved in the community. 

Today, the CAG has approximately 700 members and operates the CAG Gallery where more than 70 of the Lowcountry’s most well-respected artists sell their work. The gallery was voted the Lowcountry’s Best Art Gallery in 2020, boosting its reputation as Charleston’s premier gallery for high-quality, diverse local art. A nonprofit organization, CAG fulfills the vision of its founders and members by hosting annual community outreach programs for youth, residents of area Alzheimer’s care facilities and other partner organizations.

New artists are juried into the gallery twice annually, and educational programs, critiques and other artistic development opportunities are held throughout the year. The gallery is open daily at 160 E. Bay St., with safety precautions in place, from 11 a.m.–5 p.m.