Juried Fine Art Show
Fine Art Exhibition
Celebrate creativity, storytelling, and artistic excellence at the Virginia Highlands Festival Juried Fine Art Show, a long-standing regional exhibition showcasing original works from talented emerging and established artists across Appalachia and beyond.
Hosted at the Abingdon Arts Depot, the annual exhibition features artwork across multiple mediums while highlighting the creativity, perspectives, and cultural identity that continue to shape the Appalachian region.
Event Overview
A Regional Celebration of Art, Creativity & Appalachian Storytelling
The Juried Fine Art Show invites artists of all ages to share work inspired by personal experience, regional heritage, natural beauty, history, imagination, and contemporary life.
This year’s exhibition theme, Beauty & History: Celebrating 250 Years of Appalachia, joins Virginia’s statewide 250th anniversary commemoration and encourages artists to explore the region’s rich and complex history through their own unique creative voice.
Juried fine art exhibition
Adult & youth artist categories
Original paintings & mixed media
Appalachian-inspired creative storytelling
Award-winning regional artists
Historic downtown gallery setting
Featured Festival Event
Juried Fine Art Exhibition
July 24 - August 2
Experience a curated exhibition featuring original artwork from regional and national artists working across a wide variety of mediums and artistic styles.
The exhibition is hosted inside the Abingdon Arts Depot and welcomes visitors throughout the festival week to explore contemporary and traditional works inspired by Appalachia’s landscapes, people, stories, and cultural identity.
Visitor Information
- Original artwork available throughout the exhibition
- Featuring multiple artistic mediums and styles
- Located in Historic Downtown Abingdon
- Family-friendly arts experience during the festival
Date(s): Jul 24 – Aug 1
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: The Abingdon Arts Depot
Cost: Free
2026 Theme: Beauty & History: Celebrating 250 Years of Appalachia
Registration: Not Required
Date(s): Jul 26 & Aug 2
Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: The Abingdon Arts Depot
Cost: Free
2026 Theme: Beauty & History: Celebrating 250 Years of Appalachia
Registration: Not Required
Date(s): Jul 18 - Jul 19
Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: The Abingdon Arts Depot
Cost: Free
For: Juried Fine Art Submissions
Registration: Pre-Registration Required
Date(s): Jul 20
Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: The Abingdon Arts Depot
Cost: Free
For: Juried Fine Art Submissions
Registration: Pre-Registration Required
Art Intake
July 18 - July 19: 2pm-5pm
July 20: 4pm-7pm
Artist Information
Art Intake & Exhibition Submissions
Artists interested in participating in the 2026 exhibition can submit work during the official intake weekend at the Abingdon Arts Depot.
Artist Participation
- Adult & Youth categories accepted
- Juried exhibition process
- Multiple mediums encouraged
- Original artwork only
Meet the 2026 Juror
Russell Facemire
Russell Facemire serves as the Curator of Fine Arts and the Worrell Collection of Wildlife Art at the William King Museum of Art.
Originally from Braxton County, West Virginia, Russell earned his Master’s Degree in Art History from the University of South Carolina and later obtained an MFA from SUNY Buffalo. In addition to his museum work, he is a practicing artist whose creative practice continues to influence his curatorial perspective and artistic voice.
Before joining WKMA, Russell worked with nonprofit organizations through AmeriCorps and taught art to elementary and middle school students.
Juror Highlights
- Curator of Fine Arts at WKMA
- Practicing contemporary artist
- Art historian & educator
- Appalachian creative perspective
- Experience in museum curation & arts education
Featured Quote
“But every day produces some new wonder; jests are turned into earnest, and those who designed to laugh at others happen to be laughed at themselves.”
— Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quijote
Featured Artwork
Platypus — Pen & Ink
Starbuck! — Oil on Canvas
Award-Winning Artists
2025 Juried Fine Art Exhibition Winners
Each year, the Juried Fine Art Show recognizes outstanding artists and emerging creative voices across both adult and youth categories.
Best in Show
Annamarie Buchanan, The Birds and the Bees, graphite on paper
Peoples' Choice Award
Jeff Chapman-Crane, Gravedigger, Egg Tempera
1st Place
Richard Shrewsbury, There was a Crooked Girl, ceramic, found objects
2nd Place
Shawn C. Whiteside, Fading Future, acrylic
3rd Place
Ken Johnson, EFFNA-Big Walker North, oil
Honorable Mentions
Carole Ferris Blevins, Gotic, watercolor
Greg Howser, Birds and the Bees, watercolor
Youth Awards
Celebrating Emerging Young Artists
The Juried Fine Art Show also recognizes exceptional creativity and artistic achievement from youth artists participating in the exhibition.
1st Place
Emma Lawson, Slice of Still Life, watercolor
2nd Place
Charlotte Sullivan, Me, watercolor
3rd Place
Olivia Jackson, The Sketchy Snake, pencil
Honorable Mention
Joshua Bond, Blackburnian Warbler, watercolor
Workshops & Creative Experiences
Monotype Workshop with Professor Emeritus Charles Goolsby
The 2026 workshop lineup is currently in development. Visitors can also explore highlights from previous years, including special artist-led demonstrations and educational art workshops.
Our Leading Sponsors
We’re grateful for the partners who help make the festival possible.
Additional Sponsors & Community Partners
This project was supported [in part] by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Get Involved
Celebrate Creativity & Support the Arts
Interested in exhibiting your work, volunteering during the festival, sponsoring arts programming, or helping support opportunities for artists of all ages throughout our region?
We’d love to hear from you.
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