Plein Air, a community development in Taylor, Miss., hosted a pop-up art gallery for a day of art, music and community on Oct. 16. The pop-up was curated by the New Orleans-based 812 Royal Gallery.
Kyla Bernberg founded 812 Royal on Feb. 1, 2025. As a New Orleans native, Bernberg grew up surrounded by a vibrant arts scene, which inspired her passion for showcasing art.
“(New Orleans is) a very creative city, and there’s a lot of different creative outlets and people,” Bernberg said. “It also was an inspiration to create the business, because I feel like as much creativity is there, there’s not a huge economy for it.”
Although Bernberg creates many forms of art herself, when it comes to exhibitions, she prefers to showcase other artists’ works.
“I had worked in an art gallery before, and I feel like when I was there talking about art, (it) was just as amazing to me as making art, and I realized it was a place where I (did) not have to sell my own works,” Bernberg said.
William Dunlap, a Mississippi artist featured at the gallery, said he appreciated Bernberg for handling the business work so that he could focus on the art itself rather than selling it. Dunlap’s art is displayed throughout Oxford and on the University of Mississippi campus.
“(Bernberg) took some of my work up to a big art fair in (The Hamptons Fine Art Fair) and did well with it up there. She’s doing things for me I don’t want to do for myself,” Dunlap said. “I want to make the paintings, send them off to somebody (and) let them sell (the paintings). … That works out just fine.”
Mississippi is home to many creatives, Dunlap included, and Bernberg expressed her enthusiasm in bringing art to Taylor.
“We’re really excited to be here, and one thing about Mississippi is I feel like a lot of creatives are also from here — writers, musicians, artists,” Bernberg said.
Kate Bolio, a junior integrated marketing communications major from Colorado Springs, Colo., attended the art gallery alone. Bolio said she enjoys taking herself on dates and finds Taylor a perfect place to do so.
“I’ve come to Taylor (events) before, and I absolutely love art. It’s the best thing to do. I just watch, walk around and look at art; it’s my favorite,” Bolio said.
Beyond showcasing artwork, galleries can foster an environment of connection. Carmen Alcocer, Bernberg’s gallery operations manager, said her favorite aspect of the gallery is the connection it fosters.
“(My favorite part of the gallery is) how much creative thought and creative problem-solving it requires and how it provides such a strong opportunity to connect people with the art of others,” Alcocer said. “I really get to see people’s wide variety of tastes and needs and attractions. It’s really special in its breadth.”
Bernberg also touched on the importance that galleries play in communities.
“I think being exposed to art is so important, and I think that it’s kind of one thing that AI can’t really touch,” Bernberg said. “(AI) can take other art and modify it, but there’s something about the texture and the emotion that is coming through these paintings.”
Although art is undoubtedly important, there are still concerns about lack of interest in the arts. Dunlap also lent his work to the Southside Gallery in Oxford and said he wants to support the exhibitions in Mississippi however he can.
“I really want to support the gallery system if they want to keep doing it,” Dunlap said.
