Crystal City gallery showcasing local art is closing after 12 years

The Gallery Underground in Crystal City is closing next week after one last art auction and gala.

The 3,000-square-foot gallery at 2100 Crystal Drive — in the Crystal City Underground — has been a mainstay of the Arlington Artists Alliance since 2012, showcasing the work of numerous artists. Now, the nonprofit’s outpost has confirmed its last day is Friday, Oct. 4, as JBG Smith is requiring all tenants to vacate the underground commercial area.

The gallery’s last day coincides with the nonprofit’s annual ARTrageous silent art auction.

Executive Director Christina Papanicolaou said the Artists Alliance — which opened a new Alliance Gallery at The Crossing Clarendon in July — is entering a transitional period.

“With the closing of Gallery Underground and our artist studios, we will be losing the revenue we generated from these spaces,” she said. “Therefore, over the next several months we will be updating our strategic plan so that we can continue all our impactful programs for artists and the community around the county.”

She added that the group, which has grown its membership by 50% in the past year, is seeking to find affordable studio spaces inside the county, “as many of our studio tenants have left Arlington to find affordable space elsewhere.”

The organization does not have plans of stopping regularly planned events and partnerships with Arlington County, local businesses and the Arlington Career Center.

In coming months, the nonprofit will continue engagement with a regional juried art show, an “ARTSgiving” Thanksgiving raffle and winter art market.

Papanicolaou hopes patrons will consider attending ARTrageous or making a donation, as proceeds “support our programs dedicated to championing local artists.”