NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Morgan Laurens, Editor-in-Chief
editor@artsvilleusa.com
www.artsvilleusa.com
 ASHEVILLE, N.C. – August 31, 2026: ArtsvilleUSA, a nonprofit that celebrates the art and artists of Western North Carolina (WNC), will launch its virtual fall exhibition, Body of Work, on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at ArtsvilleUSA.com. Curated by Executive Director Elise Wilson, the exhibition explores the age-old concept of memento mori, a Latin phrase meaning “remember your mortality.”
Body of Work features figurative crafts laden with symbols traditionally associated with memento mori artworks, which were especially popular during the 17th century. Visitors will recognize iconic imagery, such as skulls, candles, and flowers, that evoke the fleeting, fragile nature of human life. The exhibition expands on these motifs, incorporating disembodied body parts such as eyes, a spinal column, a set of lungs, and an oozing heart, offering a contemporary interpretation of this enduring trope.
“Body of Work is a compelling exploration of figure work by craft artists across Western North Carolina, a hauntingly beautiful exhibition perfectly timed for spooky season,” says the curator, ArtsvilleUSA Executive Director Elise Wilson.
Body of Work bears witness to the joys and burdens of the corporeal body, reflecting on what slips away and exalting what endures. The exhibition is an ode to the exquisite and the macabre, to bodies broken down and reimagined, to the tender play between presence and absence, beauty and dissolution.
Featured artists include Deborah Anderson, Jeffrey Burroughs, Alison Chism, Bridget Fox, Michael Gates, Lisa Gluckin, Sandy Love, Susan McDonough, Melanie Merenda, Kat Naz, Kit Paulson, Alice Scott, Tia Sculpt, Paul Watson, and Emelie Weber Wade. The show features a range of mediums, including jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, metalwork, and assemblage, all crafted by artists working in the WNC region.
The exhibition will remain open indefinitely at ArtsvilleUSA.com, with all works digitally archived for continued access.
Click here to download exhibition photos and this press release.
About ArtsvilleUSA
ArtsvilleUSA is an Asheville-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting the arts community of Western North Carolina. Through exhibitions, podcasts, and storytelling, ArtsvilleUSA amplifies the voices of local artists and arts organizations, celebrating both traditional crafts and contemporary makers from Asheville galleries to rural studios and mountain communities. ArtsvilleUSA is a subsidiary of Arterial, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit media platform committed to amplifying art worldwide. Learn more at ArtsvilleUSA.com or sign up for our newsletter.
About Curator/Executive Director Elise Wilson
Elise Wilson received classical training in fine art from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, where she also earned a degree in Spanish language and literature. Elise joined ArtsvilleUSA in 2024 after 10 years working in corporate communications, graphic design, and marketing. She is firmly rooted in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her spouse and two young boys, one born during COVID and one after Hurricane Helene.
About the ArtsvilleUSA PAVE Program
ArtsvilleUSA’s PAVE (Partner Archival Virtual Exhibition) Program enables galleries and curators to create enduring digital versions of their live exhibitions. This initiative ensures art shows remain accessible and impactful long after their physical run ends, offering artists greater exposure and new sales opportunities. Contact us if your organization is interested in learning more about the PAVE program.
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