David Birmingham Exhibition

Flat Rock

The natural world has provided inspiration for artists worldwide since the beginning of time. The earliest evidence of art on cave walls depicts forests, animals and water bodies. Long before landscape art became a major genre of interest in the Western World, Chinese artists worked to portray nature through their beliefs in balance of life. This was done by highlighting the contrast between huge solid mountains and soft flowing water. Today, landscape art takes on many forms and can adapt to any genre and style but the appeal of natural elements like sunlight, lively color, leafy textures and the magnanimous mountains will forever be a source of creative inspiration. 

The Art Cellar Gallery is celebrating its 30th season as an arts destination in beautiful Banner Elk, North Carolina. With no shortage of creativity in the area, the gallery focuses on regional artists that have roots in the surrounding Appalachian communities. An exciting exhibition lineup has been prepared for this Summer - David Birmingham will have a solo exhibition on display in the gallery from July 6th through July 23rd.

David Birmingham practices classical realism with a focus on landscape. Born in England, Birmingham has been an artist for as long as he can remember “in my own work I try to learn from new experiences every day and am influenced by the artists of the past and of the present in many ways.” He studied at the University of London and the Royal College of Art in Brighton and later became an instructor at the South Florida Art Institute. During his time as a professor, he would visit the Blue Ridge Mountains to teach his students to paint the woods, waterfalls and, of course, the mountains. He fell in love with the area and bought his first home in Linville in the early 1980’s. 

David Birmingham’s mastery of detail is evident in his attention to the delicate shifts of shadow and light as well as the countless leaves and flower petals he takes time to paint individually. He describes painting as a form of meditation as he works to make everything as realistic as possible. Pathways, country roads and shaded lanes draw viewers into his paintings and leave the imagination to move around the next curve or hidden entrance. Familiar scenes in and around the high country is a subject he often visits as well as flowering gardens and the occasional still life or figurative piece. 

An open house for David Birmingham’s exhibition will be held at the Art Cellar on July 9th from 3-5pm. Join us for refreshments and a chance to visit with David.

Written by Lauren Olds