ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Months after Helene devastated Asheville’s thriving arts community, local artists are finding a way forward. A new creative space, Resurrection Collective Studio, is giving artists a place to create and showcase their work, helping revive the city’s art scene.

What You Need To Know

  • The historic Moog Music building in Asheville is reopening as a creative hub for artists

  • More than 250 galleries, studios and venues were lost in Helene, according to the Asheville Area Arts Council

  • An artist’s Helene collection has inspired conversations and raised thousands of dollars for the recovery

Multidisciplinary artist Kira Bursky lived in the Asheville area for 15 years before moving to South Carolina. She saw the devastation for herself when she drove back days after the storm to pick up her parents.

"Some of my favorite coffee shops were in the River Arts District area, they were just gone," Bursky said. "Passing through those areas is really emotional because if you've lived here, then you have your memories, your associations, your friends, your connections."

Turning art into action

To process the devastation, Bursky created 31 drawings in October, turning her emotions into artwork. Her collection, which captured the stories of displacement and loss went viral on Reddit, and has since been showcased in multiple galleries and exhibits in the region.

"I use art as a way to process my mental health, my feelings," Bursky said. "A way to just let my subconscious speak and express itself."

One of her most striking pieces featured a passport pierced by a tree — a symbol of uprooted lives. She later learned that a storm victim was found dead with his passport still in his pocket, a haunting parallel between her art and reality.

"When I put this art out, there were people who asked, ‘Was this inspired by him?’" Bursky said. "At the time, I didn’t yet know his story. But now, the piece has become like a dedication to him and his memory."

That man was 44-year-old Omar Khan, a pharmacist and father of two. In one of the last texts he sent his wife, Khan said his apartment unit was submerged. His widow, Zubila Shafiq, said Bursky sent her a framed print of the piece, a gesture she described as “incredibly generous” and “meaningful.”

A space for artists to rebuild

The former Moog Music building is now home to the 27,000-square-foot Resurrection Collective Studio, featuring private studios, shared workspaces and an exhibition level.

"This building has a rich history. It means so much to the community. It’s a sacred space," said owner and director Heidi Adams. "It’s like bringing a new heartbeat back to this space, so resurrecting this building as well."

The owners were looking for a new purpose after Moog Music relocated at the end of 2024. Artists, some displaced by Helene, have already started moving in ahead of a grand opening set for March 7.

For many, this space isn’t just about recovery, it’s about rediscovering a sense of belonging, collaboration and creativity.

"I feel like we're just all on this journey. All of us coming together and figuring out the next steps and rebuilding and finding new homes for our art," Bursky said. "It's just like a very cozy family-like situation of artists, I would say."