Westobou Gallery
Art in Downtown Augusta
Designed as a contemporary venue for a wide variety of exhibitions throughout the year, Westobou Gallery offers curated exhibitions by national, regional and local artists with a focus on emerging and mid-career contemporary and experimental artists. Come see us on Broad Street!
Current Exhibition
Exhibitions are typically open for 6-8 weeks and include special events like artist talks, gallery tours and wine and cheese receptions.
Upcoming Exhibitions
Annually, Westobou presents 5-6 exhibitions including curated shows, a local artist feature, student show, and a juried small works show.
Past Exhibitions
Westobou Gallery opened in May 2015. Since then the Gallery has presented various exhibitions that included work by a multitude of artists.
History of 1129
Originally built in 1916, the basic architecture - long and narrow with high ceilings - of 1129 Broad Street mirrors many of the retail spaces found on the street, many of which were built just after the Great Fire that destroyed 25 square blocks of downtown that same year.
With high ceilings, fancy millwork and large front windows that open onto iron balconies, the upper floors were used as residential units until the mid-1940s. Unlike the adjacent spaces, the upper floors of Westobou Gallery remain vacant today.
Originally a grocery store, the ground floor, over the years was occupied by a shoemaker’s shop, a furniture store and a dry goods store.
The longest, and most well-known, tenant was Simkins Seed Co. For more than 50 years, the Seed Co. was a recognized and beloved Broad Street anchor. Leroy Simkins Sr. operated the country store long after Augusta transitioned from an agricultural to an urban economy.
Westobou Gallery, which opened in May 2015, has once again brought new life into a 100 year-old building. Westobou is proud to carry on the building’s tradition and share a piece of its rich history.
Rent the Gallery
The Gallery is perfect for hosting a variety of events in a trendy downtown setting. The space offers a unique, intimate aesthetic for indoor events accommodating up to 50 for a seated dinner, theater-style, or cocktail reception. Be creative, expanding your event to include the outdoor storefront allows for greater capacity.
Field Trips
Field trips to Westobou Gallery include a guided tour of the exhibition on display and an overview of the background information on exhibiting artist(s). With advance notice, we can help you align your trip to curriculum or class lessons by adding additional programming or hands-on activities.
We are eager to help you design a field trip that meets your needs. Please contact us at least 4 weeks in advance to book your trip.