A Community of Artists

Home to over four hundred artists, this area is one of the most highly concentrated areas of skilled craftspeople in the country. We are so lucky to have such a range of incredibly talented makers who specialize in glassblowing, pottery, metalworking, painting, textiles, printmaking, woodworking, and so much more.

  • The Toe River Arts Gallery at 269 Oak Avenue in Spruce Pine features exhibitions and a gift shop where visitors can buy work by local artists year-round.

  • Located fifteen minutes’ drive from Spruce Pine, the Penland School of Craft is an internationally recognized center for the teaching and practice of craft, offering workshops in books, paper, clay, drawing, glass, iron, metals, photography, printmaking, letterpress, textiles, and wood.

  • Treats Studios is a three story building located in the downtown Spruce Pine, NC. It is home to 18 different artists working in mediums ranging from woodworking to weaving to photography and so much more!

  • Each year, on the second weekend in October, a collective of renowned ceramic artists gather in downtown Spruce Pine to present a vibrant celebration of contemporary and traditional clay work, offering a unique opportunity to see fresh new work while meeting the artists who create it.

Toe River Arts

The Toe River Arts Gallery at 269 Oak Avenue in Spruce Pine features exhibitions and a gift shop where visitors can buy work by local artists year-round. Its semiannual tours of members’ studios offer a chance to explore breathtaking mountain landscapes, learn about an incredible variety of crafts, and make purchases you’ll treasure for a lifetime. 

The Toe River Studio Tour takes place every June and November and is one of the largest and longest-running studio tours in the country. It’s a free and self-guided event: pick up your printed guide and get a taste of selected participants’ work at the Oak Avenue gallery, then plan your visits to as many or as few studios as you like.

Treats Studios

Treats Studios began in 2019 as a group of artists seeking to share space and create community. Treats Studios is now home to 18 artists.

“In 2021, we had the incredible fortune to buy the historic building where we had already established our studio in the heart of Spruce Pine. Since then, we’ve renovated the third floor to accommodate 8-10 additional artists. We are committed to offering affordable studio spaces, and we are excited to offer a subsidized space for emerging artists as well as a visiting artist program.” - Treats Founders

Penland School of Craft

Located fifteen minutes’ drive from Spruce Pine, the Penland School of Craft is an internationally recognized center for the teaching and practice of craft, offering workshops in books, paper, clay, drawing, glass, iron, metals, photography, printmaking, letterpress, textiles, and wood. Explore the campus; join a guided tour; visit the gallery, supply store, and coffee shop; or enjoy a range of events that are open to the public.

The Penland Gallery & Visitors Center is among the foremost venues for contemporary craft in the Southeast. The gallery shows and sells work by artists associated with the school, stages temporary exhibitions, and offers in-depth information about the history and activities of the school and the wider Penland community.

The Penland Supply Store is a well-stocked and welcoming source of artists’ supplies, books, and souvenirs.

Visitors are welcome and free to explore Penland’s campus, which includes woods and walking trails, but are asked not to enter the studios while classes are in session. Self-guided tour maps are available at the Penland Gallery. 

Penland holds its Community Open House every March, welcoming hundreds of visitors from Mitchell County and beyond for hands-on experiences in the studios.

Spruce Pine Potter’s Market

The Spruce Pine Potters Market, a celebrated two-day showcase of exceptional ceramic art in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, returns annually during the second weekend of October. This juried event features work by 30+ potters from Mitchell and Yancey counties, offering everything from functional wares to sculptural pieces. Visitors can meet the artists, discover one-of-a-kind pottery, and experience the creativity of Western North Carolina's vibrant clay community.

Second weekend in October 10 am–5 pm Saturday and Sunday at the Cross Street Building (31 Cross Street, Spruce Pine, NC). Free and open to the public.

For more information, visit sprucepinepottersmarket.com.