Lower Shore Arts
Wildlife artists abound. The lower Eastern Shore has a high concentration of wildlife artists attracted by the bio-diversity and health of the natural ecosystems here. The area's history and natural habitat inspire them to practice their craft.
With a long waterfowl hunting history, decoy carvers are the center stage of the folk arts. Introduced by Native Americans, carving decoys are truly an American art form. Following the advent of the market hunting era (post Civil War through the early 1940s), decoys were carved by the thousands in this region. Many of those historic birds are now worth a small fortune if you can locate them. Today local decoy carvers carry on that tradition in woodshops located in small waterside villages. The famous Ward Brothers of Crisfield pioneered the decorative style decoy art form popular today.
Just outside of Crisfield, go "down the neck" and find the newly renovated Ward Brothers Homeplace. Part-time barbers and full-time carvers, Lem and Steve Ward became legends in the decoy art world. Visit one of the many small town wildlife art festivals found each Fall and Spring in the area.
The Ward Foundation Inc. is dedicated to the decoy as an art form. After parting ways with Salisbury University in 2023, the Ward Foundation continues to run the prestigious World Champion Wildfowl Carving Competition each Spring in Ocean City as well as other events celebrating wildfowl art. In early 2024, Salisbury University announced a new museum, The Museum of Eastern Shore Culture at Salisbury University, in Downtown Salisbury. Located in the first floor of the Powell Building at 218 W. Main St., this new museum will display the permanent collection that was formerly at the Ward Museum. This new museum also aims at showcasing other aspects of Eastern Shore culture, with rotating exhibits featuring local artists, indigenous culture, and the local community to create an inclusive space for all.
While wildlife and the shore inspires much of the local art, the Lower Eastern Shore also has a plethora of contemporary art of different themes and genres to share with the world at our various galleries! Salisbury University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) both have galleries showcasing their students' creative works that are open to the public with Salisbury University having galleries both on campus and in Downtown Salisbury.
The Art League of Ocean City is another fantastic gallery to visit if you want to support and mingle with local artists on the shore. Another place to do so is the Corbin Studio and Gallery that offers several workshops throughout the year, allowing guests to take a shot at crafting their own masterpieces!
With a long waterfowl hunting history, decoy carvers are the center stage of the folk arts. Introduced by Native Americans, carving decoys are truly an American art form. Following the advent of the market hunting era (post Civil War through the early 1940s), decoys were carved by the thousands in this region. Many of those historic birds are now worth a small fortune if you can locate them. Today local decoy carvers carry on that tradition in woodshops located in small waterside villages. The famous Ward Brothers of Crisfield pioneered the decorative style decoy art form popular today.
Just outside of Crisfield, go "down the neck" and find the newly renovated Ward Brothers Homeplace. Part-time barbers and full-time carvers, Lem and Steve Ward became legends in the decoy art world. Visit one of the many small town wildlife art festivals found each Fall and Spring in the area.
The Ward Foundation Inc. is dedicated to the decoy as an art form. After parting ways with Salisbury University in 2023, the Ward Foundation continues to run the prestigious World Champion Wildfowl Carving Competition each Spring in Ocean City as well as other events celebrating wildfowl art. In early 2024, Salisbury University announced a new museum, The Museum of Eastern Shore Culture at Salisbury University, in Downtown Salisbury. Located in the first floor of the Powell Building at 218 W. Main St., this new museum will display the permanent collection that was formerly at the Ward Museum. This new museum also aims at showcasing other aspects of Eastern Shore culture, with rotating exhibits featuring local artists, indigenous culture, and the local community to create an inclusive space for all.
While wildlife and the shore inspires much of the local art, the Lower Eastern Shore also has a plethora of contemporary art of different themes and genres to share with the world at our various galleries! Salisbury University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) both have galleries showcasing their students' creative works that are open to the public with Salisbury University having galleries both on campus and in Downtown Salisbury.
The Art League of Ocean City is another fantastic gallery to visit if you want to support and mingle with local artists on the shore. Another place to do so is the Corbin Studio and Gallery that offers several workshops throughout the year, allowing guests to take a shot at crafting their own masterpieces!
Art Galleries & Studios
Corbin Studio & Gallery
4 E. Main St., Crisfield Somerset County Arts Council Gallery
(West Main Street Gallery) 1100 West Main St., Crisfield Phippin Crafting Corner
4020 Crisfield Hwy, Crisfield Amused Studios
100 W. Main St., Fruitland Salisbury University Electronic Gallery
Conway Hall (TETC) Room 128, 1101 Camden Ave, Salisbury Salisbury Art Space
212 West Main Street, Salisbury Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District
110 N. Division St #1, Salisbury Ceramic Zone
7700 Richardson Road, Willards Bishop's Stock
202 W. Green St., Snow Hill Worcester County Arts Council
6 Jefferson St., Berlin The Mermaid Museum
4 Jefferson St., Berlin Beach Memories Glass Studio and Jewelry Store
106 N. Main St., Berlin, MD Art League of Ocean City
502 94th St, Ocean City |
Gallery 413
413 W. Main St., Crisfield Ward Brothers Workshop
3195 Sackertown Road, Crisfield Mosely Gallery
University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Art Shell Plaza, Princess Anne Salisbury University Gallery
Fulton Hall Room 109, 1101 Camden Ave, Salisbury SU Art Galleries Downtown
212 West Main Street, Salisbury The Museum of Eastern Shore Culture at Salisbury University
218 West Main Street, Salisbury Atlantis Tattoo & Art Gallery
108 West Main Street, Salisbury Ron Artman Studio
24704 Porter Mill Rd, Hebron 101 Green Street Gallery
101 E. Green St., Snow Hill Jeffrey Auxer Designs
19 Jefferson St., Berlin Henry Fine Arts Gallery
9928 Old Ocean City Blvd STE 15, Berlin Ocean Gallery
201 N. Boardwalk, Ocean City |