The Outer Banks is a pretty inspiring place to make art. Maybe it’s the ever-changing light over the water, the wild dunes, the maritime history or simply the creative people who call these barrier islands home.
Whatever the reason, you’ll find art around nearly every bend — from colorful murals and coastal photography to pottery, sculpture, jewelry and handmade treasures. There’s even a whole stretch of Nags Head known as Gallery Row, where several galleries sit along South Virginia Dare Trail.
So grab your shopping bag (and your camera) and follow the Outer Banks Art Trail.
Choose Your Art Adventure
Not sure where to start? Pick your creative mood and follow the trail.
🎨 Hunt for Murals. Grab your camera and look for colorful public art tucked along the Outer Banks, from Kitty Hawk to Nags Head.
🖼️ Gallery Hop. Browse paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more at galleries showcasing local and regional artists.
🏺 Shop for Something Handmade. Take home a little piece of the Outer Banks, from handcrafted pottery and coastal art to jewelry, fiber arts and other creative finds.
🌊 Explore Hatteras Island Art. Slow things down and discover galleries, pottery and local artwork inspired by the sea and the island's laid-back way of life.
✨ Make Something Yourself. Try a class, workshop or hands-on creative experience and leave with a souvenir you made yourself.
📍 Follow an Art & Culture Itinerary. Want to turn your art hunt into a full getaway? Follow our three-day Outer Banks Art & Cultural itinerary for even more creative and cultural stops
Start with a Mural Hunt
You don’t need a gallery ticket to experience the Outer Banks art scene. Some of the area’s most colorful works are hiding in plain sight along the beach roads.
More than a dozen murals can be found along Croatan Highway, with additional works scattered throughout the Outer Banks. A few worth seeking out include:
Ben Franklin Sea Life
Arguably the Outer Banks’ most famous mural, painter Rob Snyder’s piece showcases the area’s underwater creatures on the Ben Franklin building in Nags Head.
Butterfly Wings
This whimsical, multi-panel mural on the Kitty Hawk Super Wings store, painted by Buxton artist Kennedy Fletcher, makes for an especially popular spot for selfies.
Reclaimed Wave
Part mural, part sculpture, creator Will Morgan’s reclaimed wave piece on the Seagreen Gallery in Nags Head features recycled license plates and vintage street reflectors.
Great America XVIII: Achieving the Impossible
Local artist Sam Welty’s massive mural along the Super Wings on N. Croatan Hwy. in Kitty Hawk pays homage to the pioneering Wright Brothers’ historic aviation achievements. You can park in the adjoining Wings parking lot to get a closer look.
Tip: Turn your mural hunt into its own little adventure. Keep an eye out as you travel between towns — public art pops up in some unexpected places.
Explore Gallery Row in Nags Head
If you want to take your art hunt indoors, head toward Nags Head’s Gallery Row, where galleries and creative shops showcase everything from paintings and photography to sculpture, jewelry and found objects.
Seaside Art Gallery
Open since 1969, Seaside Art Gallery is the Outer Banks’ OG gallery. The expansive 12-room gallery features 2000+ original works of art from both local and globally known artists. You can also explore a vast selection of antiques, estate jewelry, and animation art.
Seagreen Gallery
Whether you want repurposed pieces, local or global art, antiques, trinkets, or souvenirs, you’ll find all that and more at Seagreen Art Gallery. Don’t miss the lovely gardens out back filled with art and driftwood pieces for sale. Note: there’s a second, smaller — though equally eclectic — gallery in Duck.
Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery
Located in a building that resembles a Quonset-style hut, Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery has been in business since 1983. It offers a plethora of original artworks in mediums including mixed media, sculptural oil canvases, water color, paintings, collagraphs, drawings, and woodblock prints. Keep an eye out for exhibits by local artists.
Find Local Art in Duck, Nags Head, and Manteo
The Outer Banks art scene stretches well beyond Gallery Row. Across the Outer Banks there are even more places to browse work by local artists and makers.
The Real McCoy Honey & Pottery
The Real McCoy Honey & Pottery in Nags Head is a combined honey shop and pottery showroom. This one of a kind shop focuses on high quality goods offered in an approachable environment including; honey, hand-made beeswax candles, locally inspired art in addition to showcasing handcrafted pottery. All showcased artists as well as the honey for sale comes from a 100 mile radius of the shop.
Swell Ceramics
For functional art with a distinctly coastal feel, check out Swell Ceramics. Handcrafted pottery brings the colors, textures and rhythms of Outer Banks living to everyday pieces you can take home and enjoy long after your vacation.
SeaDragon & Yellowhouse Gallery
A shopper’s paradise, SeaDragon & Yellowhouse Gallery is located along the scenic Duck Soundside Boardwalk. It specializes in local and American art and photography. Here, you can peruse glass and pottery pieces, soaps, clocks, and jewelry.
It’s an easy stop to combine with a stroll along the waterfront.
Dare County Arts Council
Located in a historic courthouse in downtown Manteo, Dare Arts is a hub for the local creative community. Two rotating exhibition spaces showcase a changing lineup of paintings, photography, sculpture, pottery, glass and other work by area artists.
Silver Bonsai Gallery
A true gem in Manteo, Silver Bonsai Gallery beautifully blends fine art, custom jewelry, and the serene art of bonsai, making it a must-visit haven for creativity on the Outer Banks.
Follow the Art to Hatteras Island
The creative spirit continues south, where Hatteras Island artists draw inspiration from the sea, maritime life and the slower pace of island living.
Pea Island Art Gallery
Nestled in a charming historic home, Pea Island Art Gallery showcases an inspiring collection of local and regional artwork, making it a beloved stop for creative treasures on Hatteras Island.
Red Drum Pottery
Pottery, music and local art come together at Red Drum Pottery in Buxton. Browse handcrafted ceramics and artwork while soaking up the relaxed, creative energy of Hatteras Island.
Blue Pelican Gallery
Looking for one of a kind treasure? Hit up Blue Pelican, which has offered guests unique finds, ranging from ceramics, jewelry, photography, candles, cards, and much more since opening in 2006. It also features a yarn shop with a dazzling array of yarns, needles, and hooks for fiber arts. With a diverse and constantly changing inventory, you never know what you’ll find there.
Make Something of Your Own
Of course, you don’t have to be an art collector to enjoy the Outer Banks creative scene. Pick up a handmade souvenir, take a class, watch an artist at work or try creating something yourself.
From pottery and painting to handmade jewelry and other crafts, there are plenty of ways to get hands-on with the local arts community.
For an art-focused getaway, check out our Outer Banks Art & Cultural Itinerary, which brings together galleries, creative shops, cultural attractions and other experiences for a three-day arts-and-culture adventure.
Your Outer Banks Art Trail Awaits
The best part about exploring art on the Outer Banks? There’s no single route to follow. You might discover a mural while driving to the beach, wander into a gallery after lunch or stumble across a handmade piece you absolutely have to take home.
Follow the color. Follow the creativity. Follow whatever catches your eye.
That’s the Outer Banks Art Trail.
