North Carolina Azalea Festival holds 2025 annual art unveiling at Bluewater Grill in Wrightsville Beach.

It's an event highlighting a local artist and their artwork to display at the 2025 Azalea Festival. This year's "official artist" is Chip Hemingway.

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY)–Welcome to the 78th annual North Carolina Azalea Festival art unveiling, an event highlighting a local artist and their artwork to display at the 2025 Azalea Festival. This year’s “official artist” is Chip Hemingway.

“I didn’t know how to become an artist,” Hemingway said. “I didn’t know how to go about it. My parents were like you should probably become something where you can get paid. I became an architect. Art is closely related to architecture, and that’s how it all started.”

The Azalea Festival unveiled his piece, inspired by Airlie Gardens- Wednesday night.

“I wanted it to be what one will experience – not necessarily from a photo, but from feeling what Airlie Gardens would be like. So, it’s a made-up scene in my mind but undoubtedly airlie gardens,” Hemingway explained.

For every stroke of detail from multi-green foliage and Azaleas he painted, Hemingway says it’s an honor to be named the official artist.

“It’s been a long and rewarding and enjoyable 30 years,” Hemingway said.

30 years the festival’s president, Beck Smith, also enjoyed with his friend.

“I think it may go down as one of the best prints because when you shrink it down, the detail- everything gets so sharp,” Smith explained.

So congratulations Chip, on having your hard work on display for many to enjoy.

Anyone interested in seeing the piece, it will be on display at the Azalea Festival ticket office on Oleander Drive and Oak Plaza until the Azalea Festival begins on April 2nd.