Eight years after opening his first gallery in Bristol, Va., Southern Appalachian native Benjamin Walls is opening the doors to his second gallery at 38 Broadway Street in downtown Asheville.
The grand opening reception will be held Saturday, August 24, 2019, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Benjamin, who has lived in downtown Asheville for nearly two years while searching for the perfect space, shares his enthusiasm for the expansion: “I worked summers in Asheville while attending App State, so moving back to Asheville felt like moving home. Since college, I’ve dreamed of having a gallery in downtown Asheville, so this is truly a surreal moment.”
Today, Benjamin’s work has garnered national and international recognition along with a cadre of collectors, yet his story has humble Appalachian roots. At 17 years old he convinced his father to drop him off on the southern end of the Great Smoky Mountains and pick him up 11 days later on the north end of the park. Accompanied only by his best friend, Benjamin crossed sixteen 6000 ft peaks while hiking along the spine of the Appalachian Trail. Despite encountering countless beautiful vistas and dozens of black bears, Benjamin’s photos failed miserably at conveying the magnificence of the Smokies to his friends and family. This failure ultimately served as the catalyst to Benjamin’s journey as an artist. He has since dedicated his career to connecting people to the natural world—a career that now spans the globe inspiring collectors and museum goers alike.
Now, in a move that brings his career full circle, Benjamin is opening the doors to his signature gallery in the heart of Appalachia.
For more information about Benjamin Walls and the Benjamin Walls Fine Art Gallery of Asheville, visit www.BenjaminWalls.com.