Perched on Tryon Street, Niki de Saint Phalle’s Firebird sculpture creates waves of color and light with 7,500 mirrors, turning heads outside the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. Onlookers from nearby towns and distant cities stop in their tracks — some snapping photos, others in awe — before slipping inside to discover the museum’s rotating collection, home to nearly 2,000 pieces. According to Todd Smith, executive director of this four-story architectural marvel in Uptown Charlotte, it’s the only museum in the South dedicated exclusively to European and American modern art.
“There’s something here for everyone,” Smith says. “We want you to explore and experience how Charlotte has become a major cultural center, home not just to the museums that are here but also to performing arts and theater groups.”
Whether you’re wandering through world-class galleries or settling into a plush theater seat for an evening of drama, September in Uptown is a celebration of art and culture in full swing. With the summer heat fading and the city buzzing with creative energy, Charlotte’s central neighborhood comes alive with exhibitions and shows waiting to be discovered. Step through the doors and let the stories unfold — the stage is set.
See Germaine Richier’s La Sauterelle (The Grasshopper) at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. photograph by Brian Gomsak; Germaine Richier, La Sauterelle (The Grasshopper), 1946, sculpture © 2025 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris. Collection of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 2003.0023.
In 2010, Charlotte’s Uptown district gained a new creative destination with the opening of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. The museum showcases the personal collection of the Bechtler family, Swiss art lovers who began gathering mid-20th-century European and American modern art in the 1950s. Their dedication, combined with support from local philanthropists, turned their private collection into a public museum that continues to contribute to the city’s growing arts community.
The Bechtler’s exhibits include rotating pieces from modern artists. photograph by Brian Gomsak
Head to the fourth-floor gallery to see Collection, Reframed: We Are Here, Beyond Vision, on view until September 22. The immersive exhibition features video and sound installations by New York-based artist Janet Biggs and North Carolina-based, visually impaired dancer and choreographer Davian Robinson. Biggs teamed up with collaborators from Virginia Tech to sonify three works from the Bechtler’s collection, allowing visitors to experience the artworks through sound rather than sight. One piece features Robinson dancing within the Bechtler’s galleries, transforming the space and offering a powerful reminder of how the body can interact with and illuminate art.
“We want people to be curious and not feel there is one definitive answer to what a work means,” Smith says. “Instead, we want them to ask questions of each other and themselves about what the work says, what it makes them feel, and what it moves them to think about.”
Located at the Levine Center for the Arts, the Harvey B. Gantt Center amplifies the voices of underrepresented artists and creatives. photograph by J. Michael Jones/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus
Founded out of a community-led effort to preserve and celebrate African American culture through art and education, this cultural institution is named after Charlotte’s first African American mayor, Harvey Gantt. Visitors in September can witness the powerful work of A’Driane Nieves, an interdisciplinary abstract artist and U.S. Air Force veteran.
“She is one of the few Black abstract contemporary painters who are really homing in on not only the theory but also the dynamism behind abstraction,” says Dr. Anita Bateman, vice president of creative direction. “We’re really grateful that she decided to partner with us yet again.”
The Gantt Center will also feature Alvin Jacobs’s Black Behind Bars, a powerful photography project that explores the world of Black motorcyclists and the deep sense of community they share. Among several events planned for September, the exhibition will be celebrated with a Community Day scheduled for September 19, offering a chance to experience both the photography and the people behind the art.
Stay in the know: “There’s always something to do at the Gantt; and we’ll have such a great roster of programs in September,” Dr. Bateman says. “We’ll be engaging in some of our flagship programs, like Art after Dark, and gearing up to think about the next year.”
Visit the Mint Museum’s Uptown location on South Tryon Street. photograph by GummyBone/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus
What began as an effort to expand the Mint Museum’s reach and impact beyond its original location in Randolph has grown into a central cultural hub in Uptown Charlotte. With an expansive collection ranging from European to contemporary works, its exhibitions offer a dynamic exploration of both global art movements and local creative talent. “Our mantra is that art is for everyone, and I think that’s absolutely felt in the gallery,” says Dr. Jennifer Sudul Edwards, chief curator and curator of contemporary art.
Check out Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective, available through September 21. Celebrating their 30-year creative journey, Einar and Jamex de la Torre — internationally renowned for their vibrant glass sculptures, mixed-media art, and lenticulars — infuse their pieces with a perspective shaped by their lives in both California and Mexico. As the exhibition nears its close, the Collidoscope Closing Celebration on September 21 offers a final opportunity to immerse yourself in the dynamic works of these talented artists.
Alongside its rotating exhibitions, the Mint Museum Uptown highlights the creative energy of the Charlotte community through Constellation CLT, a series of installations that spotlight Charlotte’s own artists. This rotating series, updated three times a year, features installations displayed in key locations throughout the museum, including the atrium, Mezzanine. and third-level landings, and the Museum Store.
The four-venue complex at Blumenthal Performing Arts welcomes theatrical performances, musical acts, and stand-up throughout the year. photograph by J. Michael Jones/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus
Blumenthal Performing Arts lights up Uptown with four theaters, home to everything from showstopping blockbusters to cozy, cabaret-style nights.
At Belk Theater, catch Broadway shows like Wicked and Beetlejuice, where a European-style horseshoe layout ensures great views from every seat. Over at Knight Theater, part of the Levine Center for the Arts, you’ll find symphonies, modern dance, and productions like Austen’s Pride, a stage adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice, and Step Afrika!, an interactive performance that combines African dance, stepping, and storytelling.
Prefer something more intimate? Booth Playhouse, tucked inside Founders Hall, offers a flexible space for dance, choral, and other musical ensembles. Nearby, Stage Door Theater delivers cozy, cabaret-style concerts and stand-up nights, with Songs for a New World available from September 5 through September 7. For jazz lovers, pianist Arturo O’Farrill makes his JAZZ ROOM debut on September 19 and 20, showcasing the energy of Afro-Latin jazz. In partnership with the Charlotte International Arts Festival, the performance celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with an evening of exceptional music.
“There’s such a variety to see,” says Brittany Hoffman, programming general manager. “I encourage visitors to explore what speaks to them personally — whether it’s a Broadway show or a smaller production.”
For something outside the theater, check out MONOPOLY LIFE SIZED: Travel Edition — a new interactive adventure where the classic game comes to life. Navigate life-sized versions of iconic properties like Boardwalk and Park Place, solve puzzles, and race against the clock to outsmart your opponents.
Little secret: The collection of art and performance spaces that make up Levine Center of the Arts don’t just shine separately — they come together through programs like Wednesday Night Live, taking turns offering free entry every Wednesday from 5-9 p.m. Each week brings something new — and the cost stays the same: free!
September is a great time to refresh your sense of wonder, and there’s no better place to do that than the Museum of Illusions Charlotte. Begin with the Tilted Room, where the floor appears to tilt at impossible angles. Next, take a spin through the Vortex Tunnel, creating the sensation of being caught in a whirlpool. In the Reverse Room, perspective is everything, as familiar objects seem distorted. And be sure to make time for the Cloning Table, where you can see yourself in multiple versions.
Interactive exhibits beckon children, teens, and adults alike to explore the wonders of science at this 144,000-square-foot museum Uptown. Since it first opened its doors in 1981, Discovery Place Science has remained dedicated to inspiring exploration and learning for all ages.
Explore the ocean’s mysteries at the OceanXperience traveling exhibition, included in admission through September 7. Take on the role of an ocean scientist as you investigate humpback whale communication, orca group dynamics, and the behaviors of great hammerhead sharks. Navigate the OceanXplorer vessel, tackle STEM-based research tasks, and finish your journey with a 360-degree immersive cinematic experience.
After exploring the deep sea, step into the museum’s indoor rain forest, a lush habitat filled with exotic plants, birds, and animals. Among the highlights is the rare Great Blue Turaco, one of fewer than 40 of its kind in the U.S. “Another fan favorite is a gold and blue macaw, named BJ, who lives in the rain forest,” says Jennifer Joyce, chief marketing officer. “BJ has been with us many years and she is super beloved by the staff and our visitors — plus, she’ll talk to you!”
Have little ones? Plan a visit to Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, a beloved cultural institution that’s been sparking imaginations since 1948. What started as a small community theater has grown into one of the country’s premier theater for young audiences, now producing full-scale professional shows, classes, and camps inside the dynamic ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center in Uptown Charlotte.
On September 20, the theater opens its highly anticipated production of Journey to Oz, an interactive retelling of the classic Wizard of Oz story that puts the audience at the center of the action. “All of the Dorothys come from the audience,” says Artistic Director Adam Burke. “And when the Tin Man is frozen on stage, he won’t move until an audience member actually comes up and uses the oil can on him — it’s a really cool story that engages the audience directly in the storytelling.”
To extend the fun beyond the stage, arrive early or stay late to explore ImaginOn. With cozy reading nooks, puppet theaters, and hands-on Park Family Story Lab activities, it’s a place where young imaginations run wild long after the curtain falls.
Whether you’re drawn to bold canvases, live performances, or skyline views, Uptown Charlotte delivers — and then some. In September, the arts come alive with fresh exhibits and vibrant performances, with something new waiting just beyond the next block.
print it
In busy workshops and bright stores, our state’s toymakers and purveyors keep wonder alive. Dolls, trains, and games remind us: The joy of play never grows old.
Whether it’s secret Santa or the company cookie swap, sweet gatherings get everyone into the Christmas spirit.
Among dazzling lanterns, silk creatures, and twinkling lights at the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, one little boy leads his parents straight to the heart of the holidays.
Sparkling streets, local traditions, and the cozy charm of a city wrapped in holiday wonder — Asheville offers merriment for every age of visitor.
