Welcome to the Watson Gallery, an elegant, art-infused venue within Distillery of Modern Art.
This thoughtfully curated 800+ square foot private event rental room, named after founder Seth Watson, is incredibly versatile. In fact, the Watson Gallery is ideal for private board meetings, microweddings, pop-up showcases, intimate birthday parties, and more. You can access the bar conveniently in the next room over. Alternatively, you may choose to provide your own refreshments.
The Watson Gallery features a dedicated entry and rotating installations by local artists. Therefore, every visit feels dynamic and new. And as a result, the Watson Gallery at Distillery of Modern Art blends creativity and professionalism in the heart of Chamblee.
Current Installation
"The Spirit of Chamblee" by Diana Toma and her art students
September 11 - November 1, 2026
Over the past five months, Diana Toma and her students met regularly with one shared goal: to create a new body of work specifically for The Spirit of Chamblee.
Their process began out in the community, exploring Chamblee together and taking reference photographs of places, people, architecture, and everyday moments that caught our attention. Back in the studio, they looked closely at those images, editing and reimagining them while discussing composition, focal point, color, and, most importantly, what each artist wanted their painting to communicate.
Rather than simply reproducing what they photographed, the emphasis was on interpretation. Each artist was encouraged to make choices, leave things out, change things, exaggerate what mattered, and develop the image through their own individual style and point of view.
The result is not just a collection of paintings of Chamblee, but 16 different ways of seeing it. The exhibition reflects both the character of the city and the distinct artistic voices of the people who spent these five months observing, discussing, experimenting, and creating together.
About the Lead Artist
The Watson Gallery showcases the work of talented local artists. Learn more about our lead artist for the current showcase below.
DIANA TOMA
Diana Toma is an award-winning artist known for expressive watercolor, acrylic, and mural paintings that blend traditional techniques with a contemporary approach. She holds a Master’s degree in Fine Arts and has participated in more than 100 international group exhibitions and 12 solo shows. Her work has appeared in Artist’s Magazine, American Artist, and The Art of Watercolor, and was featured on the September 2024 cover of The Best of Acrylic. Follow her on IG at @ArtByDianaToma.
Murals around the Distillery
Lela Brunet
Bold Figures & Dynamic Patterns
Lela Brunet is an Atlanta-based visual artist celebrated for her bold depictions of the female form. She graduated from Kennesaw State University with a BA in Art Education (2014). Since then, Lela has created work where the grace of the human figure collides with energetic patterns and vibrant color. Her art transforms this dynamic tension into a striking “visual battlefield” of pattern, color, and form. She works across murals, paintings, drawings, and design. Moreover, her art has been exhibited widely throughout the United States and internationally. Lela’s clients include global brands such as Adidas, Microsoft, MailChimp, Facebook, Starbucks, Pepsi, and NCR Corporation.
Lela's Mural
Armando Chacon
Heritage & Transformation
Armando Chacon is a Guatemalan-born, Atlanta-based visual artist whose work reflects both cultural heritage and personal resilience. At age twelve, he won his country’s national art contest, competing against more than 40,000 students. As a result, he earned the grand prize of an all-expenses-paid trip to Spain. This recognition revealed his lifelong passion for art. From that moment, it set him on a creative journey shaped by migration and transformation. Today, Chacón works across painting and mixed media, weaving vibrant color and symbolism into pieces that honor memory, identity, and lived experience. His exhibitions have appeared in both the United States and Guatemala, bringing his perspective to audiences in multiple cultural contexts.
Armando's Mural
Chris Alvarez & Courtney Hicks
Playful Energy Meets Technical Precision
Chris Alvarez & Courtney Hicks are an Atlanta-based artistic duo blending backgrounds in animation, illustration, and fine arts. Chris, originally from Spain, studied animation, while Courtney, from Philadelphia, pursued illustration and fine arts. The pair, known on the street as Foxy Swine, have collaborated for more than a decade. During this time, they have produced creative content for leading names in the entertainment industry. Their personal work expands beyond commercial projects. For instance, they create murals, illustrations, and public art throughout Georgia and across the Southeast. Their art merges playful energy with technical precision, reflecting a shared passion for storytelling, design, and community-centered creativity.
Courtney Hicks & Chris Alvarez's Mural
ART SUBMISSIONS TO GALLERY
If you are interested in exhibiting in the Watson Gallery, please reach out to russell (at) distilleryofmodernart (dot) com. Please include links to your website and IG as well as any other information you may find helpful.