Blossoming in Flat Rock
Julie and Phil Wilmot’s Journey into the Arts

Julie and Phil Wilmot, Owners of The Gallery at Flat Rock

When Julie and Phil Wilmot packed up their lives in Dallas, Texas, and headed for the mountains of Western North Carolina in 2018, they thought they were stepping into retirement. They imagined quiet mornings on the porch, time for family visits, maybe a little painting, and certainly less noise and heat than the sprawling metropolis they were leaving behind.

What they did not imagine was that within seven years they would become the stewards of two of Henderson County’s most significant art galleries. Yet that is exactly what happened. Today, Julie and Phil are not only business owners but cultural leaders, shaping the way Henderson County experiences the arts.

Dallas Years: Work, Family, and Service

For more than four decades, Dallas was home. Phil built a career in construction and development, first in corporate management and later as a general contractor overseeing residential and commercial projects across the city. “I was a builder my whole life,” he recalled. “I enjoyed the work, but the pace and the stress of Dallas just wore me out.”

Julie, meanwhile, devoted her career to marketing, fundraising, school administration, and nonprofit work. Her professional life was shaped in part by her family - especially her oldest son, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a young child. She poured herself into learning everything she could about her son’s condition and eventually became a consultant to other families navigating the same challenges. That led her to positions at schools for children with autism and, later, a Christian academy where she became a school administrator. She also helped launch the Faith Inclusion Network of Dallas, a grant-funded initiative that worked with congregations to make faith communities more inclusive.

Both Phil and Julie had full, demanding lives. But in the back of their minds, they carried a different vision of the future. Julie had spent a transformative summer during college working at a camp in Weaverville. She never forgot the mountains, the simplicity, and the sense of peace. “I told Phil when the time came to retire, I wanted to move to North Carolina,” she said.

Finding Their Mountain Home

The move became real after Julie’s father passed away in 2017. Not long after, she found Phil at the computer searching for Western North Carolina properties. “It was time,” Phil said simply.

Their search took them all over the region — mountain-top homes, winding roads, gated communities. They considered building a house but soon realized that mountain construction brought its own headaches. Finally, they found their place in Horse Shoe: four acres with space for family to visit, a pool, and a sense of both privacy and connection.

Phil, who grew up in the northern Blue Ridge of Pennsylvania, felt instantly at home. “Even though it was February, I could see what it would look like when the hills turned green,” he recalls. “It reminded me of where I grew up, only bigger.”

For Julie, it was the fulfillment of a decades-old dream. “I felt like I could exhale,” she said. “The stress just lifted.”

A Gallery Wasn’t the Plan

Art on 7th Gallery in Hendersonville. the Wilmot’s first gallery.

For a while, Julie and Phil did what retirees typically dream about. They sat on the back porch, enjoyed the mountain air, and settled in.

But neither of them was wired to stay still for long.

Julie had taken up painting as a hobby, which led her into the orbit of the local Art League. The idea of a studio space began to circulate among her fellow artists. One day, while touring a building on 7th Avenue, Phil climbed into the attic and saw the beautiful old trusses. “This can’t just be studio space,” he told Julie. “This should be a gallery.”

Julie laughed at the idea. “I couldn’t even spell ‘gallery’ at that point. ” But the seed was planted. In 2021, Julie and Phil Wilmot opened Art on 7th, a contemporary gallery in downtown Hendersonville.

Although they had no prior gallery experience, Phil brought his decades of business and construction expertise, and Julie brought 35 years in marketing and event planning. Together, they set out to fill a gap in the local arts scene, offering a space that emphasized contemporary work and provided a fresh complement to some of the area’s more traditional galleries.

Building Community through Art

The gallery quickly became more than a business. It became a doorway into the community for Julie and Phil. Through Art on 7th, the Wilmots connected with nonprofits, served on boards, and joined revitalization efforts on 7th Avenue.

For Phil, the challenge of learning a completely new field was invigorating. “I’ve run businesses my whole life, but I didn’t know anything about the art world,” he said. “It kept me learning, and that’s been rewarding.”

Julie leaned into her talent for hospitality. “We decided from the beginning we would welcome anyone who might enjoy seeing art,” she said. “We don’t care what you’re wearing or where you’ve been. If you walk in, we want to welcome you. That’s who we are.”

Preserving a Flat Rock Institution

In 2024, opportunity knocked again. Suzanne Camarata, founder of The Gallery at Flat Rock, decided to sell the gallery she had lovingly built since 2015. She didn’t want to see it close or be transformed into something unrecognizable. She wanted it in good hands.

When she asked the Wilmots if they were interested, they didn’t hesitate. “At first, I thought she was joking,” Julie said. “But we knew right away it mattered. The Gallery at Flat Rock was beloved. It had become an institution in the community.”

Phil added, “If it had closed, Henderson County would have lost something important. We wanted to preserve it and help it grow.”

They purchased the gallery in June 2024 and immediately set about ensuring continuity. Retaining longtime staff was key, along with honoring the welcoming spirit that Suzanne had created. Today, the Wilmots describe Art on 7th as cool, modern, and more museum-like, while The Gallery at Flat Rock is warm, intimate, and deeply connected to the village community.

Art in Bloom: The Heart of the Season

One of the most cherished traditions of the Gallery at Flat Rock is its annual Art in Bloom event, which celebrates its 10th year next week. (August 29 – 31, 2025) The show pairs twenty visual artists with twenty floral designers, resulting in stunning side-by-side interpretations.

Julie admits she was nervous taking it on last year. “I looked at the selection of art before the flowers arrived and thought, ‘Oh no, how will this work,’” she said with a laugh. “But then the floral designers came in, and it was miraculous. They saw possibilities I could never have imagined.”

Among those designers are Kay Campbell and Brenda Rosbrook - known affectionately as The Shady Ladies from Raymond’s Garden Center. They describe the process of matching their floral design with the art pieces as both challenging and inspiring. “As the event grows closer, we get together after work in our secret lair and create mock-ups,” Kay explains. “It helps us test for floral endurance and refine our vision.” Brenda adds, “Working with flowers can be fleeting, but that’s the beauty of it. This event pushes us to our creative limits. It makes you see both the artwork and the floral piece as two halves of a whole.”

Last year, more than 800 visitors came through during the weekend, some traveling from as far away as Chicago and Boston. This year promises to be just as vibrant.

Preview Party: Friday, August 29, 5:00–7:00 p.m. Tickets: $35 (includes live music, hors d’oeuvres, and a first look at the displays).
General Admission: Saturday, August 30th, 9 am – 5 pm. Sunday, August 31, 12 -5 pm. Tickets: $10 daily.

An Unexpected Calling

Looking back, Julie and Phil marvel at how their lives have unfolded. What began as a retirement move has blossomed into a calling neither expected. “We never thought we’d own a gallery,” Phil said. “Now we own two. And honestly, we can’t imagine not being part of this community in this way.”

Julie agrees. “It’s been a gift. For us, for the artists, and for the people who come through the doors. Henderson County has given us so much. We’re just grateful we can give something back.”

And in giving back, Julie and Phil Wilmot have helped shape a flourishing arts community - one that is stronger, more welcoming, and more vibrant because of their vision and commitment to their new North Carolina home.

Art in Bloom Entries from 2024