Naked Art Gallery to close after more than 20 years

A Birmingham art gallery that’s been a popular destination for 20 years is closing.

Naked Art Gallery will close by May 1, according to owner Vero Vanblaere, who announced the closure on her website Jan. 25.

Vanblaere said closing the gallery was “one of the hardest decisions” she’s faced. However, Vanblaere — a working artist — said running the gallery and staging special events in Forest Park Village took “countless hours” and that she wants to focus on her own work.

“I’m now more than ready to take my turn at being a full-time artist,” Vanblaere said on the site.

Vanblaere opened the store in the Loft District in 1998 and moved to Forest Park in 2004.

She told Iron City Ink the people in Forest Park “are absolutely wonderful” and they “support their local, neighborhood businesses.”

Vanblaere also helped organize the Third Friday events in Forest Park and hosted fundraisers for nonprofits. She owns the building and has put it up for sale. The gallery could close prior to May 1 depending on how quickly the house sells, she said.

For now, the gallery will keep regular hours, and art shows scheduled for March will continue as planned.