LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) – Carnegie Hall’s September/October ArtWalk is in full swing, with three galleries showcasing the works of accomplished artists. In the Lobby Gallery, located in the Hamilton Auditorium, visitors are invited to experience “With Brush in Hand,” a solo exhibition by oil painter Nanette Perry.
Perry’s journey with oil painting began in junior high and blossomed into a lifelong passion. After retiring from a career in education, she embraced her artistic calling with renewed vigor, transitioning from hobbyist to professional. Originally from Alabama, Perry’s early work captured the gentle rhythms of rural Southern landscapes. Now a proud West Virginia transplant, she finds fresh inspiration in the rugged beauty of the Mountain State.
“I consider myself a plein air painter at heart,” Perry shares. “The dramatic views of West Virginia have pushed me into new realms of artistic development. There’s a sublime loveliness in the ordinary—and that is what I pursue with each painting.”
Though self-taught, Perry has studied with renowned artists including Dawn Whitlaw, Judith Jordan, Donney Finley, Roger Dale Brown, Colley Whisson, Peggi Kroll-Roberts, and Julee Hutchison. Her work is represented by Gallery 11 in Charleston and Tamarack in Beckley, and she is a charter member of the Plein Air Painters of Kanawha County.
“Nanette’s paintings are deeply emotive,” says Carnegie Hall Gallery Coordinator, Harmony Flora. “They invite viewers to pause and reconnect with the quiet beauty of everyday life.”
The exhibit is free and open to the public, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and runs through the end of October. For more information, visit carnegiehallwv.org, call (304) 645-7917, or stop by Carnegie Hall at 611 Church Street, Lewisburg, WV.
Carnegie Hall programs are presented with financial assistance from the West Virginia Department of Tourism and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.
Photo: “In Studio” by Nanette Perry
