207 Starling Ave., Martinsville, VA

Funded in part through an Our Town Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

Piedmont Arts established the Gravely-Lester Art Garden in 2016 through a partnership with the City of Martinsville, with major support from an Our Town Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and numerous generous sponsors.

This thoughtfully designed outdoor space features a winding walking path accented by sculptures created by artists from across the country. Visitors can enjoy a serene, natural setting that invites reflection, discovery, and a deeper appreciation of the power of art in everyday life.

The Art Garden is also home to a stately 100-year-old post oak, recognized as a Remarkable Tree of Virginia, and the Historic Little Post Office — an authentic former stop along the United States Postal Service’s Star Route. While the interior of the Little Post Office is not open to visitors, guests are welcome to explore its charming architecture and the surrounding grounds.

Click the images below to learn more about the sculptures located in the Art Garden:

Visiting the Art Garden

• Free and open to the public from dawn to dusk each day.
• Parking is located at Piedmont Arts, with handicap parking available adjacent to the Art Garden.
• Pets are welcome. Please clean up after your pet. 

• Public Art Walking Tour Guide

Gravely-Lester Art Garden, 207 Starling Ave., Martinsville, VA

Sponsored by Press Glass and Chip Wyatt of State Farm.

Each December, the Gravely-Lester Art Garden comes alive with a dazzling 30-foot Christmas tree that transforms the grounds into a festive landmark.

Created annually by artist Ian Hogg, this stunning installation incorporates more than 3,000 lights, making the tree into a luminous work of art.

The display is unveiled during a special lighting event in early December and continues to brighten the Art Garden through New Year’s Day.

Gravely-Lester Art Garden, 207 Starling Ave., Martinsville, VA

Funded through a Project Hope grant from the Harvest Foundation and in partnership with Beegins With You Foundation.

The Pollinator Path is an accessible community space designed to celebrate both art and the natural world.

The ADA-compliant walking path was created in 2023 and connects Piedmont Arts and the Gravely-Lester Art Garden, while winding through native plantings that support essential pollinators. Raised flower beds support an Adopt-a-Bed program, and the abundance of native flora and fauna offers a living classroom for school groups and visiting families.

Future phases will extend the path farther along Starling Avenue, linking Piedmont Arts with fellow community partners, including First Baptist Church, the YMCA, the Virginia Museum of Natural History, One Starling, and the Silverbell Trail.

This project was made possible through the generous support of the Harvest Foundation, Beegins With You Foundation, Prillaman Landscape Dimensions, the YMCA, the Virginia Museum of Natural History, Bee City, the Martinsville Garden Club, the Garden Study Club, and many other community partners.

• Pollinator Path Brochure

Barry Tinsley
Brushed steel, 1982
Piedmont Arts, 215 Starling Ave., Martinsville, VA

Donated by the children of Paul T. Mattox in memory of their father

"Kabuki Dancer" was donated to Piedmont Arts in 2006 by the children of Paul T. Mattox. Paul was an avid supporter of the arts in Martinsville-Henry County and this eye-catching work, which graces the museum's front patio, is a true tribute to his memory.

Jessie Ward
Mural, 2009
NCI King Building, 30 Franklin St., Martinsville, VA

Funded through a grant from the Harvest Foundation with support from Dr. and Mrs. Mervyn King, New College Institute and City of Martinsville

"Elephants on Parade" was inspired by a historic photograph from the collection of retired doctor and local property owner, Dr. Mervyn King. Taken around 1920, the photograph features a parade of elephants, clowns and performers advertising the arrival of a circus in Martinsville. The photograph was adapted into a vibrant and detailed mural that invites viewers to seek out more information about the area's history. The mural was designed by John Stiles and painted by Jessie Ward.

In December of 2020, The Harvest Foundation awarded Piedmont Arts with a PUP grant for the restoration of this mural. Of the project, The Harvest Foundation said, "Preserving our local art is important to community vitality, cultural identity and tourism attraction. We are excited to see this masterpiece remastered."

Betty LaDuke
Mural, 2009
Uptown Farmers Market, 60 West Church St., Martinsville, VA

Funded through a grant from the Harvest Foundation, a grant from the Puffin Foundation, financial support from MHC After 3, and the support of City of Martinsville, Martinsville Uptown Revitalization Association, Studio 107 and R. Reid Young III, P.C.

Artist Betty LaDuke toured Martinsville-Henry County to create sketches of local people and places. These sketches were the inspiration for "Farmers Market," the large-scale mural LaDuke created especially for the Uptown Farmers' Market.

In conjunction with LaDuke's mural project, area high school students enrolled in MHC After 3/Upward Bound worked with local artist Celia Tucker to design and paint mini-murals inspired by LaDuke's design. These murals hang on the stalls at the Farmers Market.

Scott LoBaido
Mural, 2012
TheatreWorks, 44 Franklin St., Martinsville, VA

Funded with support from the Wounded Warrior Project, City of Martinsville and VisitMartinsville

Renowned artist Scott LoBaido, whose stunning depictions of the American flag can be seen all across America, used his patriotic artistry to create "Old Glory," a stunning American flag mural on the outer wall of TheatreWorks in Uptown Martinsville. LoBaido created this 38-foot mural in honor of Cpl. JB Kerns, a local veteran who lost three limbs in an IED explosion during his third tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Community Project
Mural, 2014
Fayette Square, 53 Fayette St., Martinsville, VA

Planned and funded by New College Institute with support from City of Martinsville

"June German Ball" celebrates the vibrant culture and heritage of Martinsville's historic Fayette Street. The mural depicts a fictional scene from one of Martinsville's famed June German Balls, which were popular within the African American community in the early part of the 20th century. These balls were held yearly, in the heat of June, and featured celebrated entertainers from the Jazz age, like Jimmie Lunceford & His Dance Orchestra, who performed at the event in 1938.

The mural was designed and painted by Abigail Kieselbach and Briana Amos, interns participating in the New College Institute's summer internship program; local artists Charles Hill, Iris Gillispie and Lex Hairston; former New College Institute Coordinator of Experimental Learning, Katie Croft; former Piedmont Arts intern, Ally Sneed; and Piedmont Arts Director of Exhibitions and Marketing Bernadette Moore.

Kevin Reese
Mobiles, 2014
28 Locations in Martinsville-Henry County

Support provided by Virginia Commission for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, United Way of Henry County and Martinsville, Dominion, RTI International Metals, Hooker Furniture, Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, Chick-fil-A, W.W. Sale Foundation, Lucy P. Sale Foundation, Charity League of Martinsville and Henry County, The Lester Group, Kathryn Ascough Smith Art Education Fund of Piedmont Arts

Students from all 19 schools in Martinsville-Henry County participated in Mobilizing Our Community, a mobile-making project presented by Piedmont Arts. Artist Kevin Reese worked with students to create dynamic mobiles that are now a permanent part of the community.

Mobiles on view to the public can be found at the following locations:

• Piedmont Arts
• All 19 schools in Martinsville and Henry County
• Martinsville YMCA (Donated by Charity League of Martinsville-Henry County)
• United Way of Henry County and Martinsville
• Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County
• Patrick Henry Community College's J. Burness Frith Economic Development Center
• Martinsville Library
• New College Institute
• Taco Bell
• Virginia Commission for the Arts, Richmond

Mobiles installed in non-public facilities are located at The Lester Group offices, Hooker Furniture's Customer Service Center, Chick-fil-A, RTI International Metals, and private residences.

Amanda Honore Donley, Aleen Wilson
Mural, 2015
Uptown Pocket Park, 41 Fayette St., Martinsville, VA

Planned and funded by City of Martinsville

Like a postcard of yesteryear, "Uptown Connection Trail" sends well wishes to visitors taking a break in Uptown’s newest pocket park. Designed and painted by local artists Amanda Honore Donley and Aleen Wilson, this mural is a picture-perfect addition to historic Uptown.

Beryl Solla
Ceramic tiles, 2017
Gravely-Lester Art Garden, 207 Starling Ave., Martinsville, VA

Butterfly sponsored by For Alison Foundation in Memory of Alison B. Parker / Cardinal sponsored by Lizz Stanley in Loving Memory of Helen C. Stanley

As the first art project in the Gravely-Lester Art Garden, artist Beryl Solla created six mosaic murals for the Art Garden sign. Solla incorporated ceramic designs created by community members at a Piedmont Arts Family Day. Solla's mosaics celebrate plants and animals native to Virginia including ferns, dogwoods, cardinals and eastern tiger swallowtails.

Ed Dolinger
Mild Steel, 2017
Gravely-Lester Art Garden, 207 Starling Ave., Martinsville, VA

Sponsored by Julie Ascough Work in memory of Purnell Schottland Ascough, Kay Ascough Smith and Harrison Smith

This 12-foot-tall tree sculpture has four uniquely designed sides, each representing one of the four seasons in vibrant, vivid colors, handpainted by the artist. It also incorporates a built-in chair, where visitors can sit and enjoy the Art Garden.

Mark Wright
Wood, found objects, 2017
Gravely-Lester Art Garden, 207 Starling Ave., Martinsville, VA

"Day In A Life" is a collection of icons that represent the contributions to our world from the people of Martinsville-Henry County. It is a monument to recollections of the city’s heyday and to a community that peacefully shares diversity and brotherhood and thrives upon intelligent minds and sweat. Many of the pieces can be touched, moved and rotated, connecting the viewer to the work.

Jessie Ward 
Welded Horseshoes, 2017
Gravely-Lester Art Garden, 207 Starling Ave, Martinsville, VA

Sponsored by George W. Lester II in honor of his wife Lee Allen Lester

"Lovework" is made of horseshoes that have been hand-forged into the shape of hearts. It will eventually become the second letter in the museum’s own LOVEwork, a free-standing sculpture that spells out the word love. LOVEworks can be seen in many towns and cities in Virginia, and are an initiative of the Virginia Tourism Corporation to encourage tourism and celebrate the Commonwealth’s motto, "Virginia is for Lovers."

Jeff Fetty
Forged Steel, 2019
Gravely-Lester Art Garden, 207 Starling Ave, Martinsville, VA

Commissioned by Will Pannill in memory of his father Bill Pannill

"Cliffhanger" is a horticulturally accurate rendering of a cliffhanger daffodil, commissioned by local businessman Will Pannill in memory of his father, Bill “DaffyBill” Pannill. A Martinsville native, Bill was a businessman, textile industry executive, amateur botanist and noted daffodil hybridizer. During his life, he hybridized, named and registered 210 new varieties of daffodils. He was a former president of both the American Daffodil Society and the American Horticultural Society. He also founded the Horticulture Society of South Florida. Bill’s love and knowledge of daffodils led him to be known as the “World’s Greatest Authority on Daffodils.” Although he was an amateur botanist, his bulbs are grown by the acre in Holland and sold all over the world. Made of forged steel, "Cliffhanger" stands 10 feet tall and weighs in at 500 pounds.

The base of the sculpture is surrounded by 100 daffodils, which were planted by Bill’s niece Lucy Wilson, using daffodils that were given to her by her uncle.

Jeremy Stollings
Steel, 2019
Gravely-Lester Art Garden, 207 Starling Ave., Martinsville, VA

Donated by Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia, Women in Philanthropy

Designed to fit seamlessly into the natural landscape of the Art Garden, "Giving Tree" recognizes the donors whose generous support helped make the Art Garden a reality.

Artist unknown
Steel, Date unknown
Gravely-Lester Art Garden, 207 Starling Ave., Martinsville, VA

A gift from the Judy and John Matthews Estate

"Rooster" was donated by the family of Judy and John Matthews. The sculpture is a tribute to Judy and John’s legacy of love and support for the arts in Martinsville-Henry County.

• Book Bench by Ed Dolinger, Blue Ridge Regional Library
• Bee Bench by Meritha Alderman, Piedmont Arts
• Birdhouse Bench by Ed Dolinger and Jacob Smith, Henry County Administration Building
• Fossil Bench by Page Turner, Virginia Museum of Natural History

A team of artists and community members worked together to create four eye-catching benches for bus stops and other locations in Martinsville-Henry County. The Benches for MHC project was born out of an AIR Institute workshop hosted by Piedmont Arts in January 2020. Workshop participants with a variety of creative and business skills worked together to design and plan the Benches for MHC project, which received $10,000 in grant funding from the Harvest Foundation. In the spring of 2022, the completed benches were installed at their permanent locations around Martinsville-Henry County.

A partnership between Martinsville Uptown and Piedmont Arts, funded by a Project Hope Grant from the Harvest Foundation

Jonathan Murrill
Mural, 2023
Bridge Street Parking Lot, Uptown Martinsville, VA

Jonathan Murrill designed and painted this eye-catching mural that spans 300 feet in Uptown Martinsville. The design represents growth and inclusive for all that call Martinsville-Henry County home.