The Year of the Horse: A Timeless Muse in Art From Ancient Symbol to Contemporary Inspiration
Few images in art carry as much enduring power as the horse. From prehistoric cave drawings to contemporary works, artists have returned to equine form to express motion, freedom, strength, and myth. Now that we have arrived at the “Year of the Horse,” it’s the perfect moment to explore how the horse has influenced artwork through the decades—and why this subject continues to inspire artists today.
Join Mirrorball Gallery in downtown Tryon for our Year of the Horse Exhibition Opening on February 18, 2026, featuring Chef Sharone’s Chinese delights and an evening celebrating the spirit, energy, and imagination of the Horse.
Discover the quiet alchemy between material and meaning in our latest exhibition feature. This preview explores how three emerging artists—working in glass, fiber, and mixed media—transform everyday materials into resonant statements about memory, place, and identity. Join us as we trace their processes, highlight standout works, and consider what it means for craft to inhabit the same conversation as fine art. Read on for a glimpse of the pieces that are shaping Mirrorball Gallery’s winter program.
Fine Art and Craft: The 2026 Trajectory
As we move into 2026, the line between fine art and craft is no longer a boundary. It is a point of departure. What was once framed as a hierarchy of disciplines has given way to a more fluid, intellectually rich landscape where material mastery, conceptual rigor, and cultural relevance coexist on equal footing.
At Mirrorball Gallery, we see this shift not as a trend, but as an evolution long in motion.
Mirrorball Gallery Hosts Special Exhibition & Fundraiser Honoring Blacksmith and Sculptor Elizabeth Brim
Mirrorball Gallery is proud to present a special exhibition and fundraiser, in partnership with the Tryon International Film Festival (TRIFF), spotlighting the extraordinary work and legacy of acclaimed blacksmith and sculptor Elizabeth Brim. The gallery will feature a curated selection of Brim’s iconic iron works, including her signature life-sized steel creations, during a limited-time exhibition in Tryon, NC.
Luta Licata Sabo: Retrospective Solo Exhibition at Mirrorball Gallery
Tryon, North Carolina — January 23, 2024 — Mirrorball Gallery is excited to announce the opening of a solo exhibition featuring the prolific artist, Luta Licata Sabo. Set to open on January 23, 2024, at 5:30 PM, this exhibition will celebrate the dynamic and innovative artistic journey of Sabo and will run until January 17th.