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Art of Bing: Real Time Journeys
Peninsula Magazine is honored to welcome local creator Demetrius Bing as our new monthly contributor. Within this dedicated platform, we shall track his artistic evolution and daily perspectives in real time, providing an evocative look at where creative expression, local culture, and the Lowcountry spirit meet one another.
Monthly Writer: Demetrius Bing
This column exists to help us observe.
I intend to show you creators you might not have found yet. I want to discuss galleries, public works, education, and the actual economics of being a creative person.
I also plan to hold the difficult dialogues: What is the true cost of survival for an artist? Are we providing genuine support or just applause? How do we build better paths? And how do we convince the youth that a life in the arts is viable?
His path as a painter has always transcended pigment and fabric; it is defined by resilience, clarity, and the sincere life moments that guide every single movement of the brush.
EDITORIAL COLUMN
STILL BECOMING: The Underdog, the Artist, and the Journey to Full Time
By Demetrius Bing | Art of Bing
There comes a moment in every artist’s journey when you begin to realize that everything you’ve experienced the sacrifices, the setbacks, the relationships, and the unexpected opportunities has been preparing you for something greater.
For me, this season has been about more than creating artwork. It’s been about growth, gratitude, perseverance, and understanding what it truly means to dedicate your life to something you love.
As an abstract expressionist painter here in Charleston, I’ve spent years allowing my emotions, experiences, and instincts to guide my creative process. What started as a personal outlet has evolved into a journey that continues to take me places I once only imagined.
This October has been particularly meaningful, with multiple exhibitions reflecting different chapters of my life and career. Each one tells a different story, yet together they represent something much bigger.
I’m still becoming.
Exhibitions & Upcoming Events
BECOMING — Solo Exhibition
Forma Contemporary | Downtown Charleston
October 1–31, 2026
UNDERDOG — One-Year Anniversary
Drummond Studios | Charleston
October 9-30, 2026
Note: Featuring Demetrius Bing, the gallery’s inaugural artist
FULL TIME — Solo Exhibition
Public Works | Charleston
November 19, 2026 – January 16, 2027
Reception: Nov 19 | 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Lowcountry Abstract Collective
Regional Talent Showcase | Charleston City Gallery | Spring 2026
Creative Futures Symposium
Edu & Art Economics Panel | Local Arts Council | June 2026
Becoming: Learning to Grow and Receive
Throughout October, I have the privilege of presenting my solo exhibition, Becoming, at Forma Contemporary in downtown Charleston. Running from October 1 through October 31, 2026, this exhibition represents an intimate exploration of personal growth, vulnerability, and transformation.
A significant part of Becoming centers around my evolving floral collection.
Flowers have become more than a subject in my paintings. They’ve become a symbol of the different seasons we experience as people. They represent beauty, resilience, change, and the ability to grow even when life places us in uncomfortable situations.
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the importance of learning how to both give and receive flowers.
As artists, we spend so much of our lives giving pieces of ourselves to others. We pour our emotions, our time, and our energy into creating something that might connect with someone we’ve never met.
But I’ve also been learning how to receive appreciation, support, and love without feeling the need to immediately give something in return.
Sometimes we become so focused on reaching the next milestone that we forget to appreciate the beauty of the moment we’re standing in.
Becoming is a reminder that growth doesn’t always happen in a straight line. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable, sometimes it’s unexpected, but there’s beauty in every stage.
Underdog: A Full-Circle Moment at Drummond Studios
Another defining moment this October was participating in Underdog, an exhibition at Drummond Studios on October 9, celebrating the gallery’s one-year anniversary.
This particular exhibition holds a special place in my heart because I had the honor of being the very first inaugural artist at Drummond Studios when the gallery opened.
To return one year later and celebrate the gallery’s growth was a full-circle experience.
The word underdog has always resonated with me.
I’ve experienced what it means to believe in something before others could see the vision. I’ve worked long days, painted late into the night, and continued creating during moments when the future felt uncertain.
But I’ve never believed that being an underdog means being less capable.
Sometimes it simply means having the courage to believe in yourself before the rest of the world catches up.
What makes Drummond Studios meaningful to me is the relationship between the artist and the gallery. We were both building something. We were both taking chances. And a year later, we were able to celebrate how far that journey had taken us.
Charleston’s art community thrives when artists, galleries, collectors, and supporters recognize that we’re all part of something larger than ourselves.
The opportunity to be part of a gallery’s beginning and return for its first anniversary reminded me that success is even more meaningful when you can celebrate the people who have grown alongside you.
I was there for the gallery’s beginning, and one year later, we were both still growing.
Full Time: A Life Dedicated to Creating
As October comes to a close, I’m preparing for one of the most personal exhibitions of my career.
On November 19, 2026, I will open my solo exhibition, Full Time, at Public Works in Charleston. The exhibition will run through January 16, 2027, with an opening reception on November 19 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Full Time is more than an exhibition title. It’s a reflection of the life I’ve been building and the commitment I’ve made to my creative purpose.
For years, I’ve balanced the responsibilities of working a regular job while pursuing my artistic career. Early mornings, long workdays, late nights painting, and countless sacrifices have become part of my routine.
There were moments when I was physically exhausted but creatively energized. Moments when I questioned how everything would come together, yet still felt compelled to pick up a paintbrush.
And somewhere along the way, I realized something.
I had already been living the life of a full-time artist long before I was able to give it that title.
Full Time will bring together more than 50 works representing different stages of my creative evolution.
The exhibition will include my floral collection, earlier paintings, and seven original artworks featured in the television series Outer Banks.
It will also explore one of the most difficult periods of my life: recovering from a car accident that challenged me physically and emotionally.
During that time, painting became more than a creative outlet. It became a form of healing and a way to process experiences I couldn’t always put into words.
I also plan to incorporate childhood photographs, personal memories, and press features that document different chapters of my journey.
I want visitors to experience more than paintings hanging on walls.
I want them to understand the life, the perseverance, and the experiences behind the artwork.
Because every finished piece represents countless moments that the public never gets to see.
Charleston: A City of Creative Possibilities
Throughout this journey, Charleston has played an important role in shaping my artistic identity.
From gallery exhibitions and collaborations to working with students throughout Charleston County, I’ve had the opportunity to experience the creative energy of this city from many different perspectives.
One of the most rewarding parts of being an artist is witnessing the emotional connections people form with my work.
I’ve watched people stand in front of paintings and become emotional. I’ve listened to strangers share personal stories inspired by something they saw on a canvas.
Those moments remind me that art has the ability to communicate beyond language, background, and personal experience.
I’ve also learned a great deal from working with young artists in our schools.
Children approach creativity with a freedom that many adults spend years trying to rediscover. They aren’t always concerned with perfection or whether someone will understand their work.
They simply create.
That curiosity is something I want to preserve throughout my own career.
As Charleston’s creative community continues to evolve, I believe it’s important that we continue supporting our local artists, visiting galleries, investing in original artwork, and creating opportunities for the next generation.
Art isn’t simply decoration.
It’s history. It’s storytelling. It’s identity. And it’s one of the ways we preserve the voices of our community.
The Beauty of Still Becoming
Looking at these three exhibitions together, I see a story unfolding.
Becoming represents personal growth, vulnerability, and learning to appreciate the journey.
Underdog represents perseverance, loyalty, and remembering the people and places that helped you grow.
And Full Time represents commitment, sacrifice, and the courage to dedicate your life to your purpose.
Each exhibition is different, but they’re all connected by one truth.
I’m still evolving.
Even with the opportunities, collectors, collaborations, and accomplishments, I still approach the canvas with the same curiosity that first made me fall in love with painting.
I still want to experiment. I still want to take risks. I still want to create something that surprises me.
And I hope that never changes.
Because becoming isn’t about reaching a point where there’s nothing left to learn.
It’s about continuing to grow, even when you’ve already come further than you once imagined.
As I reflect on this season, I’m grateful for every person who has supported my work, every gallery that has opened its doors, and every collector who has chosen to make my artwork part of their life.
The journey is far from finished.
I’m still the underdog. I’m still becoming. And I’m creating full time in every sense of the word.
— Demetrius Bing
Abstract Expressionist Artist
Founder, Art of Bing
