WAC Installs New Gallery at Seby Jones Cancer Center
One of the works on display at Seby Jones Cancer Center by artist Holly Allen
The Watauga Arts Council is delighted to feature the work of local artist Holly Allen at the Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center in Boone, NC. This exhibition is part of WAC’s Arts Placement Program, a community partnership designed to bring rotating gallery exhibits into public spaces throughout the High Country.
About the Arts Placement Program
Through its Arts Placement Program, the Watauga Arts Council collaborates with local businesses and organizations to make art more visible and accessible in everyday spaces. By curating rotating exhibits in places like healthcare centers and offices, the Council provides both meaningful exposure for local artists and enriching experiences for the public.
Current placements include the Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center, The Explore Boone Building, and the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.
“This program is about connection: connecting artists to the community and the community to the arts,” said Amber Bateman, WAC Executive Director. “When art is placed in these partner spaces, it brings moments of inspiration, comfort, and beauty to people’s everyday lives.”
At the Seby Jones Cancer Center in particular, WAC has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from patients and staff who share how the artwork offers comfort, peace, and a moment of admiration during treatment or workdays. These responses affirm the program's very goal: to make art an accessible source of hope and healing where it’s needed most.
Some more works on display at the Cancer Center, brought to you by WAC’s Arts Placement Program
About the Current Exhibiting Artist: Holly Allen
Raised in the mountains of Appalachia, artist Holly Allen (@holly_allen_studio on IG) has long drawn inspiration from the natural world. Exploring the outdoors with her father as a child — collecting pinecones, feathers, and wildflowers — sparked a lifelong love of nature that continues to shape her creative journey.
Though she pursued a degree in science, Holly’s passion for painting remained constant. Now living in Tennessee with her husband, two grown children, and three cats, she works from her home studio surrounded by the woods and mountains that inspire her. Whether she’s hiking, kayaking, or quietly observing the changing light through the trees, Holly captures the beauty and serenity of nature through her art.
Her work will be on display at the Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center through January 2026. We are delighted to hear that her work has already begun offering patients, families, and staff a chance to pause, reflect, and find beauty in the midst of everyday life.
