Art lovers visiting the Gulf Coast will find hidden depth in Orange Beach’s creative scene: passionate makers, galleries, and working studios. This guide highlights places where you can view, purchase, and sometimes even help create art, ideal when you’re looking for Orange Beach art galleries that offer more than typical souvenir fare.
Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach
Coastal Arts Center is the most prominent art destination in the area. The facility includes a 10,000-square-foot, two-story fine art gallery overlooking Wolf Bay, and it regularly exhibits the work of Gulf Coast artists in painting, sculpture, mixed media, and photography. The campus also hosts The Hot Shop (a glass blowing studio) and a Clay Studio where visitors can watch demonstrations or sign up for make-your-own classes in glass or ceramics.
The Center supports local artists through jury processes, features gift shop selections, and offers youth and adult classes. It is open to the public daily during set hours, and its location on Canal Road (east of Highway 161) makes it easy to access from much of Orange Beach’s core.
Crawford McWilliams Art
Crawford McWilliams Art is a local gallery and studio that highlights the work of its namesake artist and guest regional artists. The gallery features oil paintings, coastal landscapes, and gallery commissions. It often features original works, limited edition prints, and seasonal exhibitions.
Because the space integrates gallery display and studio practice, visitors sometimes glimpse the ongoing work process: brushwork, frame preparation, and figure sketches. The studio setting also allows for conversations with the artist or staff about inspiration and technique, a feature of many Orange Beach art galleries that appeals to deeper engagement.
Gulf Coast Arts Alliance
Gulf Coast Arts Alliance (GCAA) is a regional arts membership organization with a public gallery component. The Alliance supports more than 50 member artists from coastal Alabama, and its gallery space rotates exhibitions regularly, offering a broad survey of mediums: painting, photography, mixed media, mosaics, and sculpture.
GCAA hosts artist receptions, small workshops, and spotlight shows for emerging talent. Its mission includes promoting arts visibility across the Gulf Coast and encouraging local collector relationships. Because it draws from across the region, its gallery offers breadth and serves as a central point in the Orange Beach art galleries network.
Pink Pelican Art Gallery
Pink Pelican Art Gallery presents coastal-themed art, beach scenes, shell compositions, and local lifestyle imagery. In this gallery, you might find acrylics, watercolors, and photographic works that emphasize the Gulf’s color palette and mood. The space is clean, bright, and welcoming, with framed and mounted pieces ready for purchase.
In addition to wall art, Pink Pelican offers smaller gift items (cards, coastal prints, and artisan crafts), making it a steady stop for those wanting affordable art or meaningful mementos. The gallery’s proximity to retail corridors means it’s often paired with shopping or dining plans on art routes.
The Susan N. McCollough Gallery & Art Studio
Susan N. McCollough’s gallery/studio combines exhibition space and the artist’s working area. In her space, you’ll see her paintings, often large-scale abstracts or coastal-inspired compositions, in situ alongside works in progress. Viewers may occasionally find McCollough at work, offering insight into her process and preview glimpses into upcoming series.
Her gallery also hosts small group showings and themed exhibitions, inviting guest artists. Because of the studio-gallery hybrid setup, visitors get more intimate access to artistic workflow, distinguishing this among Orange Beach art galleries for those interested in the creative process, not just final products.
Swiger Studio
Swiger Studio is an artist’s workshop and gallery focused on custom commissions, mixed media, and experimentation. The studio environment emphasizes handcrafted work, including assemblages, sculptural pieces, and layered surfaces. Clients often come here to commission coastal-themed pieces — shell-embellished canvases, layered palettes, or abstract interpretations of water and sky.
Visitors may arrange appointments to view works at various stages or meet with the artist for collaborative planning. Swiger Studio represents the intersection of gallery and artisan service, offering depth beyond typical retail spaces.
Perdido Artist Gallery & Gifts
Perdido Artist Gallery & Gifts features works by artists associated with the Perdido area (including Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and the surrounding Gulf Coast). You’ll find paintings, prints, crafts, and mixed-media pieces reflecting local imagery, such as sunsets, dunes, marine life, and coastal flora.
The gallery structure includes display walls, pedestal stands, and gift areas for smaller art objects and crafts. The gallery accepts new submissions from regional creators and often rotates inventory, making return visits rewarding for collectors wanting newer pieces. Its presence helps extend the reach of Orange Beach art galleries into the neighborhood retail sphere.
Artworks Local Art and Gifts
Artworks Local Art and Gifts blends gallery offerings with an artisan marketplace. In its space, you’ll see fine art alongside handmade goods: jewelry, small sculptures, pottery, and locally sourced crafts. The retail gallery is designed to allow browsing across styles and to expose emerging Gulf Coast artists.
Artworks also operates occasional pop-up events, guest artist days, or collaborative shows tied to festivals. The gallery's mixture of art and gifts appeals to visitors who want both fine art and decorative or collectible items in one visit.
David’s Gallery
David’s Gallery is a boutique art space focusing on framed art, prints, and local original works. The gallery often curates themes (marine life, local wildlife, coastal scenes) and rotates stock to keep the offer fresh. Clients who appreciate traditional gallery settings will find this space appealing.
While smaller than large art centers, David’s Gallery is often a stop on local gallery walks or art-crawl maps. Its manageable scale invites thoughtful browsing, and staff are generally prepared to discuss framing options, artist background, and delivery logistics.
Find Your Perfect Spot in Orange Beach
Exploring the creative side of Orange Beach reveals just how much character this coastal community has to offer beyond its shoreline. If you’ve dreamed of owning a home close to the galleries, studios, and waterfront spaces that define the Orange Beach lifestyle,
Leigh McPherson can help make it happen.
With a deep understanding of the area’s neighborhoods and luxury properties, Leigh connects clients to homes that match their vision and lifestyle. Whether you’re searching for a condo near the marina, a retreat close to the art district, or a coastal residence that blends elegance with Gulf views, Leigh offers the experience and dedication to help you find your place.
Interested in Orange Beach real estate?
Contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you find your dream Orange Beach home!
