Lexington art patrons came together for LexArts bimonthly Gallery Hop to enjoy local artists, wine and food.

The artists’ work debuted at different venues all over the city. “Hoppers” could start at any location, hang around, eat food, and then migrate to the next gallery.

Some places were busier than others, but each contained an artist with a story to tell. Take Charters Osborne: He runs the Three O Studio on Old Vine St., and said he started the Lexington School of Photography to share his passion with others who wanted to learn.

“I was a mathematician in college and then I went to work for money. And I wasn’t seeing the beauty,” he said. “I found that if I carried a camera, I saw it.”

From painters to photographers and digital artists to sculptors, each site displayed something new. The Ann Tower Gallery had two floors of art from 30 creators, all for sale to the general public. Prices ranged from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

“This is great because anyone can come. It’s not just for people from Lexington. Also, artists can see each other’s art and support each other.” gallery assistant Holly Friley said.

The first floor of Ann Towers was full of people enjoying the art that lined every wall. A few UK students even came out to help one of their friends who visited the Gallery Hop for a class.

Michael Main, classics sophomore, said he liked the Central Library’s exhibit that featured an artist who used transfer ink and acrylics to express the theme of growing older.

His friend Drew Bell, a classics sophomore, felt differently. 

“I prefer things that look realistic. There were some oil paintings in the back, maybe even a fresco, that were really cool,” he said.

No matter one’s taste, there seemed to be a gallery for all. A few blocks down from Ann Towers Gallery was The Artists’ Attic. Four flights of stairs lead to a gallery with several studios, each with a different artist inside. Participants could walk into any studio, look at the art and talk to the artists. 

No two aesthetics were the same. Some artists were partial to scenery, some leaned more towards the abstract. Some, like Lee Sturtevant, painted pictures of a particularly famous Lexington animal, the horse. Sturtevant said she grew up always wanting a horse, but her father would never buy one. So she painted them instead.

”It made for a much cheaper hobby.” she said.

Lexington natives have most likely seen some of Sturtevant’s work throughout the city around the time of the Equestrian Games. She was one of many painters who designed the ceramic horses around downtown for a VisitLex project. Now, she is designing another horse for the Holiday Inn in Somerset, and was proud to show it off. She said Gallery Hop was a great time for artists to get their names out.

Those who missed out on Friday night’s event can attend the next Gallery Hop in March.