Main Gallery: Grit & Grace: Stories from the Southern Soul

Craven Arts Council & Gallery is proud to present their Main Gallery exhibition Grit & Grace: Stories from the Southern Soul by mixed media artist Eric McRay at Bank of the Arts. This exhibition utilizes collage on board, paper, and canvas to explore visual storytelling inspired by African American and Biblical themes, additionally showcasing influences from art history and pop culture. Craven Arts will host an opening reception at the Bank of the Arts during Artwalk on July 11th from 5 – 8 pm.

Grit & Grace: Stories from the Southern Soul features a collection of collages depicting African American life with pop culture, art history, and contemporary influences. Eric McRay exhibits portraits of survival, memory and home. These works honor the strength of overlooked communities while challenging simplified images of Southern Black identity. With grit and grace, this exhibition tells a story of endurance, beauty, and cultural pride—one fragment at a time.

Eric McRay is a Raleigh based artist utilizing collage to address the human figures affected by time in everyday narratives, while at their core inspired by McRay’s familial relationships. His artwork will often feature reused materials from his previous works to be reassembled into new images on paper, board, or canvas. McRay received a BFA degree at the Maryland Institute College of Art, and since moving to North Carolina has been exhibiting since 1987. The Raleigh News & Observer named him one of the “Artists to Watch” and has been featured in Our State Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, and more.

The Craven Arts Council & Gallery is free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.