Ring in summer via books, swag and spa treatments at these latest retail picks.
A cut above the rest (get it?), the new Boardroom Styling Loungein Fenton offers a relaxing experience—think leather chairs, oversize flat-screen TV and cold beer, natch—for guys getting groomed. Hey, fortune favors the shave!@boardroomstylinglounge
In need of some Z’s? Cut down your morning makeup routine with an appointment at Arch & Edge, DTR’s new permanent makeup and esthetics studio offering lash lifts, microblading, tooth charms (literally jewelry for your teeth!) and more. @archandedge
Feather your nest with stylish home goods from NEST Decor’s newly opened location in Crabtree Valley Mall, which offers specialty brands, custom options and ever-changing galleries. Make yourself at home! @nest_decor
You’ll be in haven at the new The Shoppe at Haven Farm touting local gifts, garden accessories and a seed bar (!)—NTM local foods, snacks and beverages to enjoy while perusing the grounds. You grow, girl! @haven_farm
Take it easel-y and go check out 12 emerging and nationally acclaimed artists all creating under the same roof at Glenwood Fine Art workspace and gallery. @glenwoodfineartgallery
Need a lift? Synergy Face + Body’s newest location in Wake Forest offers surgical cosmetic procedures as well as spa treatments, laser hair removal and nonsurgical sculpting. @feelsynergy
Following her March release of Good Luck Cafe, NC-based author Annie Rains is back with a new novel on self-discovery, Through the Snow Globe. Happy reading! @annierainsbooks
Having a rough time? Green and bear it at the new 29,000-square-foot PGA Tour Superstore on East Six Forks Road, featuring a custom fitting studio, golf simulators and a 1,000-square-foot putting green. Fore! @pgatoursuperstore
Board Room Styling Lounge photo by Raleigh Midtown East, courtesy of Board Room Styling; Glenwood Fine Art photo by artist Nicole White Kennedy, courtesy of Glenwood Fine Art; remaining photos courtesy of brands
For nearly a decade, contemporary painter Advait Kolarkar has enjoyed a level of global success that many artists spend their whole lives aspiring to. … And he’s only 9 years old.
From Feb. 24 to March 4, the young prodigy will appear live in Raleigh to show off his newest abstract paintings via Advait: Through the Lens exhibition at LaMantia Gallery—and you’ll have three chances to meet him through artist receptions March 3 and 4 (!).
“I love meeting people,” says Kolarkar. “I feel happy and proud they’re supporting and encouraging me to do more.”
Kolarkar, who began painting at the tender age of 8 months and had his first solo exhibition at age 2, has a vivid imagination that drives his love of being in his studio playing with colors. “I feel like there’s some beautiful force around me that takes me into a different world. In that magical world, everything is possible,” he adds.
Kolarkar’s compelling contemporary style is reminiscent of one of his favorite artists, Jackson Pollock. He also draws inspiration from Leonardo di Vinci. “Leonardo has done so many jobs—a painter, architect, inventor, lots more,” says Kolarkar.
In addition to showcasing his art in major cities around the globe, Kolarkar has won numerous awards, including the 2020 Global Child Prodigy Award; was the youngest TEDx speaker of India in November of 2022; and scored a feature in Disney’s diversity initiative, Reimagine Tomorrow.
Nonetheless, the artist doesn’t feel boxed in by these early days of success. He maintains he wants to do other things too, like be an inventor and a paleontologist. For now, though, you can find Kolarkar splitting much of his time between his studio and international art galleries—and you’ll be able to add some of his remarkable one-of-a-kind pieces to your art collection through his Raleigh exhibition. Clearly, this is just the beginning for this young artist taking the art world by storm.
Down for a good trip? Look no further than Chris Evans’ Good Trip Gallery in DTR, an art gallery-meets-tattoo studio that’s shaking up the local arts scene.
“There are no rules in art”… so says local tattoo artist, painter and Good Trip Gallery owner Chris Evans—an MO that quickly becomes apparent when you walk into his colorful gallery awash wall-to-wall with his paintings spanning all styles and subjects, from people to animals to the abstract. “I just paint whatever I feel,” he says.
The same goes for his tattoos. If he had to choose a go-to style, it would be photorealism, but, says the artist, “I don’t like saying I have a style—I like to try whatever feels right.”
A born creative, Evans picked up tattooing in high school as another way to make money. “It was probably a little illegal,” he jokes. He’d always wanted an art gallery and thought that eventually he would transition out of tattooing into a full-time painter. But why choose one when you can have the best of both worlds?! And, so, Good Trip Gallery was born January 2021, peddling both his dope tattoo skills and his paintings.
“I just hadn’t seen an [all-in-one] art gallery and tattoo studio before, so I knew I wanted to try it and bring it to Downtown Raleigh,” adds Evans, who was born in Apex, but migrated to the City of Oaks two years ago to open the avant-garde art house.
In addition to offering his artworks and tattoo services at Good Trip Gallery, Evans also participates monthly in Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s First Friday—during which you’ll find him posted up outside on the sidewalk to live-paint, with another local artist live-painting in the gallery’s back room, a DJ or live musician on-site, and late hours to boot.
This month, you also can catch Good Trip Gallery repping at IBMA Bluegrass Live! (Sept. 30–Oct. 1), where, in addition to having his artwork on display, Evans will be performing a live painting. (Unfortunately, though, you can’t get a tatt out in the middle of Fayetteville Street. Womp womp.)
And as far as the virtuoso’s “goal” for the gallery… well, he doesn’t really have one. Now in his 17th year as a full-time tattoo artist, Evans emphasizes that he doesn’t want his creative outlets to turn into work. “I know that sounds crazy being in business, but I don’t have a goal or an expectation with my art,” he adds. “Whatever happens, happens.” Sounds like a good trip, indeed. goodtripgallery.com
