Gallery

Our Story, Past and Present:

Founder, John Cram (1948 - 2020), opened Blue Spiral 1 on New Year’s Eve of 1990 with a vision of creating a home for the many artists who had settled in the region in the mid-to-late 20th century. Additionally, he needed a suitable space to exhibit the recently acquired estate of Southern Modernist, Will Henry Stevens (1881 - 1949).

At the time Cram opened Blue Spiral 1, Asheville was a shell of itself. Having suffered through the post-industry recession, downtown buildings were boarded up and artists were moving to the area because the rent was cheap and the scenery was inspiring. Cram recognized a need, took a chance, and made an investment that altered the trajectory of visual culture in Asheville. What was once a defunct radio supply shop flanked by an adult theater and plumbing supply store, is now one of the largest and busiest galleries in the South. Over three decades later, Blue Spiral 1 is the heart of a booming art scene in downtown Asheville.

For over 30 years, Blue Spiral 1 has exhibited work by artists and makers in a three-story, multi-gallery setting. Maintaining a diverse and extensive exhibition schedule, the gallery presents over 25 shows annually. Thematic group exhibitions and individual artist showcases rotate in the Main and Lower Level galleries every other month, while the gallery's Upper Level features a wide array of works by over 100 represented artists.