2025 The NC Museum of Art Announces Annual Art in Bloom

        As the snow starts to melt here in North Carolina, I’m "defying gravity" with excitement—tickets for NCMA’s Art in Bloom Festival are going live now for members, and on Friday, January 24, 2025, for non-members. If you haven’t been to this "popular" fundraiser, let me tell you: it’s an floral dreamland you won’t want to miss!

The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) is casting a floral spell March 19–23, 2025, with Art in Bloom, presented by PNC Bank. Picture this: over 30 wizardly talented floral designers from all over North Carolina (and beyond!) transforming the museum’s People’s Collection into something magicall. This year’s theme, Art in the Park, takes the enchantment of the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park and brings it indoors with six larger-than-life gallery installations inspired by the park’s 164 acres of art and nature.

But this gravity defying floral fest is just down the yellow brick road , aka Blue Ridge Road, transforms West building at NC Art Museum into a floral dreamland! It’s the NCMA’s biggest annual fundraiser, supporting public programs, exhibitions, and more. As Museum Director Valerie Hillings puts it, "Art in Bloom is a fresh and unique way to experience the People’s Collection"—and she’s not kidding.

And that’s not all, my pretties! There’s a ton of" Oz-mazing "activities to explore, including floral workshops, inspiring lectures, extended hours (because you will want to stay longer than planned), and expanded food options to keep you fueled for all the flower-filled magic. This year’s featured florist is Sue McLeary from Ann Arbor, Michigan. She’s hosting two unforgettable workshops on March 20—Flowers for All and a Fashion-Forward Floral Jewelry session. Ever wanted to craft blooms you can wear? Now’s your chance to learn from the "Glinda" of floral design herself! 

Thanks to PNC Bank for investing in this annual event back year after year. As Jim Hansen, PNC’s regional president, says, Art in Bloom is a cultural treasure for the Triangle—and I couldn’t agree more.

For details, visit ncartmuseum.org/artinbloom. See you there, citizens of the Emerald City! Yes, I am obsessed with Wicked!  I hope to see you there, flower friends!

Art in Bloom Ticket Details and Hours:

Admission
During the five days of Art in Bloom presented by PNC Bank, tickets are required for admission to the Museum’s West Building, where the floral installations are featured. East Building and the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park will remain open to visitors.

Related events are ticketed separately. Additional fees are charged for workshops, presentations and other events.

Art in Bloom tickets (SOLD OUT)also include free entry to special exhibition “The Time Is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure” from March 19-23, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

● $40 Members 

● $50 Nonmembers 

● Free for children 6 and under 

Food and Drink
Art of Tea in Bloom
When: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. daily during Art in Bloom
This afternoon tea experience features a fixed price menu that includes savory canapés, finger sandwiches and floral-inspired pâtisserie. Premium teas or coffee included; floral-inspired cocktails available for purchase. By prepaid reservation only. Reservations close Monday, March 10.
 

Garden Grill and Lounge
When: Coffee and pastries daily; grill service 11 a.m. to one hour prior to close
Spring-inspired hot bites, sandwiches, salads, snacks and desserts. Trendy cocktails and mocktails, barista-crafted beverages, and soft drinks. Counter-style service, no reservations required; first come, first served seating.
 

Exhibition Café
When: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily
Grab-and-go items, coffee beverages and drinks. No reservations required; limited seating.
 

Related Events

Sensory Journey with Flowers: An Art in Bloom-Inspired Workshop for Children
When: Friday, March 21, 2 - 4 p.m.
Free with registration
Join Blossom Betty’s Floral Design Co. and Peacehaven Community Farm for a sensory journey exploring floral arrangement through the engagement of the senses. This event is designed to provide a learning opportunity for individuals ages 13 and older with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD).
 

Paint a Bunch with Mónica Linares
When: Saturday, March 22, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Tickets $135, Members $120
Mónica Linares demonstrates her process of painting flowers in a vase, teaching students how to not get hooked on details (or a thousand petals). Students create one small floral painting with acrylic paint.
 

The Value of Vitamin N (Nature): Guided Walk in the Museum Park
When: Sunday, March 23, 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Tickets $15, Members $10
The Museum Park offers an opportunity to gather outside together for a walk and talk about the value of vitamin N (nature). Learn some of the fascinating research about the advantages of being in nature while stopping along the path to practice guided experiential reflections.
 

David LaChapelle: Dear Sonja, (NCMA Winston-Salem)

February 27–July 27, 2025 ​NCMA Winston-Salem, Potter Gallery

David LaChapelle: Picture Show (NCMA- Raleigh)

March 1–July 20, 2025 NCMA Raleigh, NC 

"Acclaimed photographer and director David LaChapelle, a graduate of the High School Visual Arts Program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), is returning to Winston-Salem to connect with students as part of his upcoming exhibition, “David LaChapelle: Dear Sonja.”

Opening on Feb. 27 at the N.C. Museum of Art(opens in new tab) (NCMA) Winston-Salem (formerly SECCA), the exhibition features over 80 works spanning 40 years of his career, which has influenced contemporary photography and visual culture. LaChapelle, who was hired by Andy Warhol to work at Interview magazine early in his career and has worked with internationally recognized figures such as Elton John, Britney Spears, Tupac and Madonna, will also meet with current High School Visual Arts students to learn about their projects, offer insights into his creative process and discuss the exhibition.​

 Dear Sonja: A Larger-Than-Life Experience at NCMA Winston-Salem

I am absolutely overwhelmed by the sheer beauty and magnitude of Dear Sonja! With over 80 prints, drawings, and videos spanning the NCMA’s two locations, this exhibit is a breathtaking tribute to David LaChapelle’s four decades of work—each piece more mesmerizing than the last.

Stepping into the space, I was instantly transported into a world of fantasy, extravagance, drama, and spirituality. LaChapelle’s larger-than-life imagery, featuring celebrities, politicians, and deeply spiritual themes, is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The Jesus Is My Homeboy series left me speechless, Rape of Africa was hauntingly powerful, and Vox Populi was a thought-provoking masterpiece. Seeing these iconic works in person was an experience beyond words—truly a dream come true.

For anyone even remotely interested in art, photography, or storytelling, this exhibit is a must-see. It’s worth every mile of the road trip to Winston-Salem, and I cannot recommend it enough. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable journey into LaChapelle’s visionary world!

Located at: Photography Gallery 1 (Julian T. Baker Jr. Gallery) and 2 (Allen G. Thomas Jr. Gallery), NCMA Winston-Salem, Potter Gallery 

 David LaChapelle: Picture Show (NCMA-Raleigh) This includes his iconic spiritual works, Stations of the Cross."

March 1–July 20 2025 (NCMA Winston-Salem); March 1–July 20, 2025 

Located at:

 East Building, Level B, Video Gallery

More information at:

Visit the North Carolina Museum of Art Website