New Art Gallery Coming to Norcross

A new art gallery is coming to town, and it's right in the middle of Historic Downtown Norcross.

Located in the upstairs space of 29 South Peachtree Street right next to , Bella Vita Gallery is officially unveiling itself during Norcross' first art walk Thursday, Sept. 20.

The gallery will have featured artwork and opening receptions, but it also will act as the umbrella for Bella Vita, a photography company that specializes in environmental portraiture and mixed media.

Founded in 2001, Bella Vita was started by award-winning photographer Ingrid S. Krampe. Her portfolio covers a wide range of subjects including high school senior portraits, landscapes, animals, babies, pets, and weddings.

While Krampe has been in the photography business almost all her life, she's also been an editor and writer for photography magazines. Even after she dived into photography full-time, her work was still getting featured in a number of magazines, calendars and other publications, and she's shot on various locations including the Bahamas, Maine and all over the metro Atlanta.

Bell Vita does more than just snap amazing shots, though. With the photographs, the company also can digitally augment them with paint to make the photos look like oil on canvas. Mostly done by gallery artist Renee Radovich, this mixed media art has become Bella Vita's signature piece and adds a contemporary feel to their work.

"I think we add a bit of elegant, artistic flair to what we do," said Krampe.

Radovich and Krampe plans to do in-house workshops on mixed media and photography, something Bella Vita has offered at its previous locations in the metro area.

One specialty of Krampe is her ability to use studio lighting outside without any reflectors of lamps. Connecting this expertise with the scenery around Norcross, Krampe explained exactly why she moved downtown.

"You walk around the block, and that's it," she said. "You've got the fountains, you've got the brick walls, you've got the railroad tracks. This town is like a movie set."

She added that Norcross is more convenient to her than traveling around Piedmont Park and other parts of Atlanta for the landscape, and it's also closer to her home in Jefferson.

Outdoor senior portraits is a specific reason why she chose Norcross for her storefront. The scenery for the photos is set, but the downtown eateries play a  role in one of its photo packages.

Students who bring their moms to the photo sessions will have a shoot in the morning and get lunch afterward at one of downtown's restaurants, complimentary of Bella Vita. This way, Krampe can work on the photos in the gallery's print and paint shop while they eat, and a slideshow of the pictures will be ready after lunch.

Krampe said she's done a handful of senior portraits in Norcross already in the short time she's been prepping the gallery for the art walk.

Bella Vita Gallery will officially unveil its first art gallery opening in Norcross on Sept. 20 during the September Art Walk. Check back with Patch for more details.

For more information on Bella Vita Gallery and Bella Vita photography, check out www.bellavitafotografie.com. For information on senior portraits and other photographing opportunities, contact Ingrid S. Krampe at 706-654-8712 or ingridskrampe@me.com.

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