Lower Shore Arts
Art Galleries & Studios
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!
Click here to check out our art galleries and studios!
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!
Click here to check out our art galleries and studios!
Public Art
The Shore also has plenty of public art to see on your visit. The Dr. Charles Albert Tindley Mural on the side of the Bruder Hill building in Berlin is a great example of public art that also highlights some of our African American heritage! Other works in Berlin include the Welcome Center Mural and the Pollinator Way mural. For more information, check out their Arts & Entertainment page!
Additionally, Salisbury has amazing public art as well as a Public Art Walking Tour guide for visitors (and locals!) to follow! Here, you can see various sculptures of Shore wildlife, murals like the Church Street mural which depicts prominent figures from the historic Georgetown community, and their utility box painting project.
Not only does Crisfield's Art & Entertainment District have several galleries to offer, such as the Corbin Studio & Gallery, but it also has public art to show off. First unveiled in 2021, the Crisfield Seafood Workers mural is an excellent reflection of the town's deeply rooted seafood industry!
Click here to check out some of the public art in the area!
Additionally, Salisbury has amazing public art as well as a Public Art Walking Tour guide for visitors (and locals!) to follow! Here, you can see various sculptures of Shore wildlife, murals like the Church Street mural which depicts prominent figures from the historic Georgetown community, and their utility box painting project.
Not only does Crisfield's Art & Entertainment District have several galleries to offer, such as the Corbin Studio & Gallery, but it also has public art to show off. First unveiled in 2021, the Crisfield Seafood Workers mural is an excellent reflection of the town's deeply rooted seafood industry!
Click here to check out some of the public art in the area!
