About the Gallery
New Elements Gallery has been a cornerstone of the Wilmington art scene since it was founded in 1985. From its inception, the gallery has focused on strengthening the art community, bringing life and color to the coast, and showcasing the immense talent of North Carolina artists.
Previously owned by excellent business people and art appreciators, New Elements Gallery has always possessed a high-quality branding and reputation. To this day, the gallery still represents artists who began their careers here.
In March of 2015, Miriam Oehrlein purchased and assumed responsibility for New Elements. Her goal was to cultivate a space for quality fine art for everyone and raise the bar for client and artists relations. She has focused her attention on regional and local artists.
As a female owned and run gallery, New Elements is a central hive for North Carolina visual art. We showcase a variety of contemporary styles, artists, and mediums. Our team is interested in representing established fine artists as well as discovering new talent. We are especially drawn to color, texture, and a wide variety of subject matter.
Meet the Owner
Miriam Oehrlein is the owner and director of New Elements Gallery. She has been surrounded by visual artists and creatives for her whole life. Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, Miriam attended Clemson and received a B.S. in Biological Studies. She moved to New York in 1997 to pursue a career on Wall Street and as a pharmaceutical representative.
She, her husband Lance, and their two children, Anson and Annabel, moved to Wilmington in 2008. Here, Miriam turned her attention to visual art and jewelry making. In 2012, she won the Belk Southern Design Showcase. Miriam was represented by New Elements as a statement jeweler and worked alongside the previous owner before purchasing the gallery.
As an excellent saleswoman, a true lover of fine art, and a developer of taste, Miriam has worked directly with clients to curate their dream home, corporate offices to develop their brand, and individual clients to educate and connect them with the art community in Wilmington.
Miriam says, “I love selling art, developing talent, and working with clients in their homes. I truly believe what I do here is my dharma. I believe I have found my calling.”
Meet The Team
Daphne Cole
Daphne’s love of art brought her to New Elements Gallery as a gallery assistant and art consultant. She has over 30 years of experience as a graphic designer, communications and marketing coordinator, and event planner. She received her B.S. in Advertising and Design from the University of Maryland and is certified as a Graphic Recorder from Crowley & Company. After working for the Federal Government for 30 years, Daphne, who was born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland and her husband Leo, who is originally from Washington, DC, retired to Leland, NC.
Daphne joined the team in April of 2018. In the gallery, she handles client and artist relations, keeps track of inventory in the online database, and manages the New Elements Gallery website. She is also responsible for curating the craft, arranging the shop’s window, and creating signage for the brand.
Heather Divoky
Heather is a multi-media artist living and working in North Carolina. She received her B.A. in Art History from Appalachian State University and her Master of Arts and Culture at Leiden University in the Netherlands. During her career in the arts, she has worked as a creator, curator, historian, designer, and administrator.
Heather joined the team in July of 2019 as a gallery assistant. During her time at New Elements, she became a vital part of the gallery business, organization, and social media development. When she moved to Asheville in the fall of 2020, she transitioned to remote consultation of graphic design, brand image, and social media planning.
Georgie Anastasi
Georgie is our latest curatorial assistant! At UNC-Wilmington she studied Anthropology, with a focus in archaeology, and Gender Studies. Georgie received her graduate degree from the Institute of European Design - Florence, where she co-curated an exhibition called 'The Tilt of Time' and co-authored the exhibition catalog, published by Kunstverein Publishing Milano.
She obtains and nurtures a strong passion for continuous learning, collaboration, and human connection- which she believes can best be
conveyed through art. Georgie hopes to work with artists and ideas that can draw the community together. She is excited to work with local and regional artists represented at New Elements Gallery! We are thrilled for Georgie to be taking charge of social media, curating shows, and so much more.