Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Grant.
Hi Amy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am the owner of Art in Bloom Gallery at 970 Inspiration Drive, Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington, NC (aibgallery.com). Established in 2015, the gallery presents an eclectic mix of original paintings, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, blown glass, stained glass, fiber art, photography, limited-edition prints, and mixed media art by established and emerging artists. Representing over 30 artists, the gallery now offers a variety of art classes and is an Authorized Gallery for The Art of Dr. Seuss Collection in collaboration with The Gallery of Fine Art. Art in Bloom Gallery has worked with outstanding student interns and faculty from Cape Fear Community College, UNC-Wilmington, and UNC-Chapel Hill since 2015 and values the educational and historical aspects of art.
I grew up in Fayetteville and worked as a scientist in the Philadelphia area in the biopharmaceutical industry prior to moving to Wilmington, NC. Currently, I am an art activist and member of the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County, the Cameron Art Museum, DREAMS Center for Arts Education, and Historic Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts.
Our gallery team supports the convergence of the arts: visual, film, theatre, literary, music, dance, culinary, and more. Art in Bloom Gallery produced a series of short documentaries about Karen Paden Crouch (sculpture), Elizabeth Darrow (painting, collage, and mixed media), Gayle Tustin (ceramic vessels and mixed media), Virginia Wright-Frierson (painting), and Rebecca Yeomans (eco-botanical, fiber, and mixed media). Art in Bloom Gallery co-produced the World Premiere of “Dorothy Gillespie: Courage, Independence, and Color,” a 90-minute documentary, April 19, 2024, on the Tony Rivenbark Main Stage at Historic Thalian Hall in collaboration with the Dorothy M. Gillespie Foundation.
I appreciate the originality of the art and artists in Wilmington, NC and enjoy visiting museums, artists’ studios, and galleries locally and when traveling. I believe that art has the power to change lives and to create a more inclusive community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There is never a dull moment when working with original art, artists, and customers.
Art in Bloom Gallery opened in a small space of 850 square feet in downtown Wilmington, NC on October 2, 2015 in the middle of Hurricane Joaquin. The gallery closed our doors temporarily after the devastation of Hurricane Florence in 2018 and pivoted to more online sales and applying successfully for grants (for small businesses) during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. In 2022, the gallery moved to a larger space of 1700 square feet in Mayfaire Town Center near Wrightsville Beach. In 2025, the gallery team took the opportunity to move to 2700 square feet at 970 Inspiration Drive in Mayfaire Town Center a few blocks away from our previous location.
The unpredictability of retail business and the economy continues to challenge our team members’ creativity and problem solving skills. On the other hand, the obstacles and challenges have pushed us to adapt and learn. Despite the struggles, it is a joy to contribute to our community and to work with people of all ages and backgrounds. Art does transform lives! And, we find joy in our partnerships with local, regional, state, national, and international individuals and organizations. For example, we have a partnership with the Durham Art Guild (about 2.5 hours drive from Wilmington) where artists from the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area show their art at Art in Bloom Gallery.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My mother was a wonderful artist and gave me every opportunity during my childhood to create art and to study with various artists in their studios in Fayetteville, NC. I was able to study art in college and eventually changed my major to science including an MS degree in information science and technology. My training and education in art paved the way for a great career in science in the biopharmaceutical industry (28 years in the Philadelphia / Princeton area). In turn, my science career gave me an opportunity to work on a business plan for a commercial art gallery for 10 years prior to early retirement from my science career. Opening the gallery in 2015 has been an adventure and constant learning experience. It has been a way to connect with our community and to have an impact on people of all ages.
I am most proud of our gallery team and how we celebrated Art in Bloom Gallery’s 10th anniversary in Oct 2025. It has been very difficult and rewarding at the same time.
How do you think about happiness?
Original art makes me happy! The art travels through times and is in the eye of the beholder. I feel as if our gallery team members are good stewards of something greater than ourselves. Art transforms lives and helps create critical thinkers who are less susceptible to propaganda.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aibgallery.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artinbloomgallery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtinBloomGallery
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-grant-33965b22/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW8LiYMHCCzbVb5LoNki-pw
