Equine Exhibition Opens at Mirrorball Gallery Tryon

In the heart of Tryon, North Carolina, Mirrorball Gallery + Lounge unveils Equine: A Year of the Horse, a dynamic new art exhibition curated by gallery co-owner E. Vincent Martinez. Timed to align with the spirit of the Chinese New Year, the exhibition explores the expressive, emotional, and symbolic power of the horse across eight contemporary artists working in photography, painting, mixed media, and sculptural installation.

Running through March 22, 2026, this Tryon art exhibition positions Mirrorball Gallery as a rising force within the Western North Carolina arts scene.

A Contemporary Take on the Year of the Horse

Rather than offering a literal zodiac interpretation, Equine: A Year of the Horse interrogates the deeper symbolism of the animal — strength, endurance, freedom, velocity, and spiritual vitality. The horse becomes both subject and metaphor.

In a town long associated with equestrian culture, this North Carolina gallery exhibition resonates beyond aesthetics. It connects local heritage with global symbolism, bridging Tryon’s identity as an equestrian enclave with the broader cultural framework of the Lunar New Year.

Eight Artists, One Unifying Pulse

The exhibition features eight artists (Phil Garrett, Lauren Bergrud, Taylor Bareford, Anne Lemanski, Debbie Rubin, Monica Stevenson, David Underwood, and Caroline Young) whose approaches range dramatically in medium and execution:

Photography captures the horse as sentient force — muscles coiled, breath visible, gaze unguarded. The lens reveals vulnerability beneath power. Also a strong artistic approach with a sense of high fashion.
Painting leans into abstraction and gesture. Sweeping brushstrokes echo the rhythm of a gallop, dissolving anatomy into emotional memory.
Mixed media works layer texture and material — distressed surfaces, metallic accents, textile interventions — suggesting the horse’s historical ties to labor, ceremony, and mythology.
A sculptural installation anchors the gallery space with commanding physicality. The piece invites quiet circling contemplation.

The diversity of mediums elevates Equine beyond a thematic show — it becomes a study in movement translated across artistic language.

Curatorial Vision in Motion

Curator E. Vincent Martinez threads the exhibition with cohesion while allowing each artist a distinct voice. The throughline is not stylistic uniformity but emotional continuity. Each work engages the horse as mirror — reflecting human ambition, longing, resilience, and fragility.

The result is an exhibition that avoids cliché romanticism. Instead of nostalgia, it offers inquiry. Instead of spectacle, it offers presence.

Why This Exhibition Matters in Tryon, NC

For those searching for things to do in Tryon, NC, or exploring the growing North Carolina contemporary art scene, Equine: A Year of the Horse delivers both cultural depth and visual impact.

The exhibition runs through March 22, 2026, at Mirrorball Gallery + Lounge in Tryon, North Carolina, offering visitors and collectors an opportunity to experience a refined, multi-medium equine art exhibition rooted in symbolism and contemporary craft.

In a small mountain town known for horses, Equine doesn’t simply celebrate the animal — it reimagines it.

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