Founded in 1962 in the parlor of Annie Winkler's home, the Wilkes Art Gallery has experienced many transformations over the years. The most dramatic of these was the 2004 move into the renovated 1925 North Wilkesboro Post Office building. 

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The original facade remains, but the interior has transformed into a 10,000 square foot facility featuring over 3,500 square feet of exhibition space, an education center with a complete ceramics studio, painting and drawing studios, two multi-purpose classrooms, and a gift shop with works from regional artisans.

“WAG” is a non-profit arts organization that believes art enriches our community and the lives of Wilkes' residents. WAG offers a variety of classes, workshops, meet-the-artist events, and special outreach projects. WAG hosts exhibitions that offer community members a chance to show their work and admission is always free.

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The mission of the Wilkes Art Gallery has always been to make the diversity, creativity, and critical thinking found in the visual arts more accessible to the greater Wilkes County community by providing opportunities to experience the visual arts in a dynamic, meaningful and personal way and helping to enrich the lives of the participants through experiences that are both educational and therapeutic.