Featured Artist: Nancy Wright
Nancy Wright is an impressionist painter that currently resides in Hancock County, West
Virginia. She is a graduate of West Liberty University and is a retired art teacher, having taught
in Weirton for 33 years. She is one of the founding members of the Top of West Virginia Arts
Council (TWVAC), as well as one of the organizers who laid the groundwork for the opening of
the Summit Art Gallery in Weirton.
Nancy has dabbled with several medias for her artwork, but prefers acrylics. “Art is a personal
experience for me. It is the meaning and feeling you get from it,” Nancy said. “It’s very diverse,
inspirational, touches us emotionally and comes from the heart. Art promotes culture appreciation and can be a form of therapy for many.” She has displayed her work in the Mary H. Weir and Swaney Memorial libraries, Weirton Medical Center, Lincoln Park Midland, and the Music and Art festival in Chester. Nancy was a featured artist at Martha’s Gallery in Wellsburg and was a part of the Steubenville Art Association Spring show, where she recently won a merit award.
As a long-standing member of the TWVAC, Nancy has seen the deep connection between the arts and the community. “Summit Art Gallery exhibits all the talented artists we have in the community and surrounding areas, benefits children through our middle and high school exhibits, offers painting classes to young and old, and keeps us connected to the community and its needs for the arts,” Nancy said.
When asked about her time with the TWVAC, Nancy responded, “We’ve accomplished many events since our inception in 2008 and just to continue our openings, our students shows, and possibly bring in more of the performing artists would be great. Our first event was 6 months in, with only 12 members. We brought the WVU band to perform at the Harv where there were over 3,500 people in attendance. 8 area school bands were our special guests and having Jay Drury, the WVU band director, back in his hometown was an unforgettable experience.”
Nancy presently displays at Summit Art Gallery, Lynn Murray library in Chester, and a gallery in Morganton, North Carolina. She volunteers her time and talent by working with different organizations for their fundraising events, volunteers in local schools for art projects and teaches art classes at Summit Gallery. Nancy takes pride in being able to help encourage, sponsor and continue to promote the appreciation of visual and performing art in our area, and continues to solicit and encourage new artists’ shows for the gallery.
