Few galleries are elevating the caliber of contemporary art in the Upstate quite like newcomer Gallery View (formerly known as Bakova Gallery). Transplants from North Carolina, owner Anna Shcherbakova and artist Nicholas Baldridge recently moved their operation to the Lofts at Woodside Mill, where they are curating stunning group shows and adding color to local events.
If you are seeking art that challenges, inspires, and fuels the imagination, you’ll find it across several distinct spaces in the loft’s west wing. With a roster of artists hailing from Greenville to Canada and Cuba, Gallery View aims to introduce visitors to both rising stars and established icons in the art world.
“Everything [you’ll see] here is art that my wife and I like—artists we love, are representing, and want to share with our community,” says Baldridge. Including his own dreamy, ethereal painting style, it’s clear what types of artwork Baldridge and Shcherbakova are drawn to: vibrant, surreal, textural, and transportive. Some, like the work of North Carolinian Brian Anderson, beg to be touched with layers of paint.
The new home of Gallery View—previously located near Railside Studios—couldn’t be a more perfect backdrop for their roster of artists and big ambitions. “A lot of people think they’ll only see artists like this in Los Angeles or New York,” says Baldridge. “We want to bring work that is unique, that is different here, to Greenville.” In addition to shows, the pair curates the art on the walls in the Bistro, where guests can host receptions and enjoy a full bar and food menu.
“The move was very positive for our future as artists and as a gallery,” adds Baldridge. “We moved to better focus on our studio work and careers, but this is also a great place to network and meet other professionals in the community.” What’s next for Gallery View? “We’ve expanded to working with other galleries around the region, too, and will be introducing an NFT (Non-Fungible Token) gallery to serve the growing crypto community here in Greenville.”
While the duo was still in their first Upstate location, they worked with acclaimed Texan artist Douglas Cason to bring a radical and remarkable mural to the Village, which can still be spotted on the side of their first building on Lois Avenue. “[Douglas] finished the mural in less than a week,” Baldridge says, “and it’s amazing.”
Don’t miss the ever-changing lineup of artists and themed shows at First Fridays or schedule an appointment for a chance to take it all in at your own pace. And there’s good news for collectors of all income levels: in addition to originals, the gallery also offers prints for purchase thanks to their in-house giclee printing.
Gallery View at The Lofts at Woodside Mill, 1 E Main St, Unit 1373, Greenville. bakova.co
Photography by Jack Connolly
