Connecting art & community

Our Mission and Vision

The Association for Visual Arts’ mission is to strengthen and promote the artistic ecosystem of Chattanooga’s visual artists, art enthusiasts and arts-based institutions.

We envision and strive towards a healthy and thriving arts community, evidenced by an ever-increasing engagement of artists and appreciation of the visual arts throughout the greater Chattanooga community.

Chattanooga Art Guide

AVA ARTIST DIRECTORY

AVA is located on Frazier Ave in the heart of Chattanooga's North Shore. The Main gallery exhibitions rotate throughout the year each with different themes or ideas. AVA ensures at least six exhibitions each year showcase our diverse membership base. The Landis Education Gallery is dedicated solely for displaying art created by local students or other nonprofit art organizations.

AVA offers programs such as monthly critique groups, artists talks, member socials, various workshops, emerging artists, and exhibition receptions.

GALLERY HOURS

SUNDAY, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: 12PM-5PM
FRIDAY-SATURDAY: 12PM-6 PM
CLOSED MONDAY AND TUESDAY

Hours subject to change during exhibit rotations and our annual art festivals.

AVA Leadership & board

Laura Cleary Williams - Executive Director

Laura Cleary Williams is AVA's Executive Director. A practicing artist for nearly 20 years, Laura holds an MFA from SCAD-Atlanta and a BFA from Tufts University. She has an extensive history with AVA, having shown with the gallery in her youth, participated in the 4 Bridges Arts Festival as an artist, and later leading AVA's educational programming as Education Director. Laura continues to show nationally and internationally alongside her role at AVA.

Contact Laura

Sarah Moore - Director of Festivals

Sarah Moore is a native Chattanoogan who has spent her entire professional career in the nonprofit sector, dedicated to arts and educational causes. With a BA in art from Carleton College and an MA in museum studies from George Washington University, she enjoys helping others find ways to create a meaningful space for art in their lives. In her spare time, she’s an avid knitter and loves to cook and bake, and enjoys long walks in Chattanooga's many parks. She lives with two ridiculous cats who have their own social media following.

Marc Boyson - Director of Programs and Exhibition

Marc Boyson is a Chattanooga transplant by way of Argentina and the Midwest. He received his MFA in Studio Art: Ceramics from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, and a Master of Arts in Teaching: Art and Spanish from Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. As an artist and educator over the course of 22 years, he has championed artists and their work from first grade through BFA students, guiding critiques, organizing exhibitions, and providing opportunities for artists to hone their craft. Marc is a conceptual artist creating works on paper, ceramics, wood, performance, sound, and video that consider the invisible traces between places. Marc's secret passion is writing "bad" poetry and zines.

Mason Elmore - Director of Operations & Marketing

Mason Elmore is a Chattanooga transplant originally from Florida. They have a BA in Nutrition & Dietetics from the University of North Florida. With an extensive background in health coaching, Mason makes it a priority to empower others towards their goals and overall happiness. For the last eight years Mason has specialized in Pet portraits in acrylic paint. When they aren’t painting animals, Mason is looking for any opportunity to paint large scale murals within the community and beyond.

Dedicated Leaders Committed to AVA's Vision and Community

Our Staff and Board Members brings a diverse range of expertise in arts administration, gallery management, and nonprofit development. Coupled with the support of a passionate community of arts advocates, we work together to enrich Chattanooga’s cultural landscape and elevate the arts in our region.

view ava’s board members

The Association for Visual Arts is a charitable nonprofit 501(C)3 organization registered with the Attorney General in Tennessee with Tax ID 58-1728801.

View our 990

On going operational support provided by:

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the federal law that prohibits discrimination based on a person’s race, color, or national origin. All Tennessee Arts Commission grantees are subject to compliance with this and other applicable federal laws. For more information, or if you believe you have been subjected to discrimination, go to https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/cred.html

sign up for email updates