Announcing the 2026 Floyd Plein Air Biennial Artists

The Floyd Center for the Arts is proud to announce the 30 selected artists for the 5th Floyd Plein Air Biennial, taking place September 14 to 19, 2026 in Floyd County, Virginia.

This year’s artists represent a strong and diverse group of painters from across the region and beyond, each bringing their own perspective, style, and approach to capturing the landscape.

Meet the 2026 Artists

We are excited to welcome the following artists to Floyd this September:

Jenny Abrams

Natalia Andreeva

Olga Bankston

Pat Bonsignore

Coakley Brown

Lisa BurgerLentz

David Dorrell

Alex Eisenzopf

Sierra Fenton

Matt Gentry

Sam Guindon

Sean Hatter

William Hendricks

Stephen Hessler

Catherine Hillis

Kesra Hoffman

Rajendra KC

Paul Keysar

Karen Kuhlmann

Tami Louco

Christine Raymond

Orit Reuben

Elizabeth Rhoades

Debra Sheffer

Margaret Sheridan

Elbert Shubert

Leo Stafsnes

Rokhaya Waring

Rachel Williams

Vicky Zhou

About the Event

The Floyd Plein Air Biennial brings artists to Floyd County to paint entirely on location, capturing the landscapes, farms, waterways, and town scenes that define our community in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Throughout the week, artists work outdoors and on site, responding to light, weather, and place in real time. The result is a collection of work that reflects both the beauty of the region and the unique perspective of each artist.

Experience Plein Air in Floyd

The Biennial offers multiple opportunities for the public to engage with artists and their work, including:

• Artist demonstrations

• The Quick Draw Contest

• Wet paint sales

• The Gala Art Sale, featuring work created during the week

These events invite the community to witness the creative process and connect more deeply with both the artwork and the landscape that inspires it.

2026 Event Leadership

We are honored to welcome Deliece Blanchard as the 2026 Event Judge. An award winning plein air painter, Deliece brings extensive experience and a deep commitment to the tradition.

Virginia artist Joli Ayn Wood will return as Chairperson for the Biennial, helping guide the event and support participating artists.

Save the Date

Join us September 14 to 19, 2026 as these artists bring Floyd’s landscapes to life through plein air painting.

We look forward to welcoming the artists and sharing their work with the community this fall.

This event is proudly sponsored by Clark Gas & Oil, Floyd Eco Village, OmniBuild, Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech, and Montgomery Museum.