Sperryville Gallery: Art Shows & Free Workshops May 2026

A Solo Show and a New Workshop Series Come to Sperryville's River District

If you're planning a weekend in Rappahannock County this spring or early summer, the Confluence Gallery inside The Marketplace in Sperryville's River District is offering two distinct reasons to stop in — and both are free.

The first is a current solo exhibition from local artist Sam Grantham, titled The Spirit Moved Me. The show is described as featuring Grantham's characteristically vibrant, personality-driven artwork, and it appears to be on view through June 2026. If you've been watching Sperryville's creative scene, Grantham is a name worth knowing — and this show offers a chance to see a full body of his work in one place.

The second reason to visit is a brand-new series launching this summer: The Collective Canvas, a free monthly program of interactive community workshops and artist demonstrations hosted by rotating local and regional artists. Sessions run on Second Saturdays from 2–4pm, June through November 2026, at the Confluence Gallery. Each month brings a different artist and a different medium or focus — so there's genuine reason to come back across the season.

About the Confluence Gallery and The Marketplace

The Marketplace is one of Sperryville's most distinctive venues — an indoor gathering space in the River District that brings together local restaurants, vendors, artists, and food purveyors under one roof. The Confluence Gallery operates within that space as a dedicated exhibition area, giving both residents and visitors a consistent spot to engage with Rappahannock County's active visual arts community.

For DC-area day-trippers who make the drive out on Route 211, The Marketplace sits conveniently in Sperryville's River District, just off the main commercial strip and within easy walking distance of other shops, studios, and dining spots.

What to Expect: The Collective Canvas Workshops

The Collective Canvas is designed as a community-forward series — interactive by intent, with each session shaped by the visiting artist. Whether the format leans toward demonstration, guided making, or open studio conversation appears to vary by month, which is part of the appeal. Admission is free, and sessions run a tight two hours (2–4pm), making them easy to fold into a broader afternoon in Sperryville.

Format: Interactive workshops and artist demonstrations
Schedule: Second Saturdays, June through November 2026
Time: 2–4pm each session
Cost: Free
Artists: Rotating local and regional artists each month
Location: The Confluence Gallery inside The Marketplace, Sperryville River District

The June session would fall on Saturday, June 14 — worth penciling in if you're planning a Sperryville visit in the next few weeks.

Sam Grantham: 'The Spirit Moved Me' — Still on View

Grantham's solo show The Spirit Moved Me is the current anchor exhibition at the Confluence Gallery. The work is described as reflecting vibrant personalities — whether that refers to specific subjects, an expressive visual style, or both isn't fully detailed in available materials, but the show has been drawing attention in Sperryville's art community. It appears to be on view through June 2026, so spring and early summer visitors still have time to catch it during regular gallery hours. Admission is free.

Planning Your Visit

The Marketplace (Confluence Gallery)
Address: Sperryville River District, Sperryville, VA 22740
Website: themarketplacesperryville.com
Sam Grantham 'The Spirit Moved Me': On view through June 2026 during gallery hours — free admission
The Collective Canvas Workshops: Second Saturdays, June–November 2026, 2–4pm — free

Hours and specific gallery open times were not available at press time — we recommend checking The Marketplace's website or social media before your visit to confirm current hours, as details for some River District venues are best verified directly.

While You're in Sperryville

The River District is walkable and worth exploring beyond the gallery. Sperryville sits at the eastern gateway to Shenandoah National Park, making it a natural anchor for a Blue Ridge weekend — pair a gallery visit with a hike, a tasting at one of the nearby wineries along Route 211, or a meal in the River District before or after the workshop.