The Attic Gallery is celebrating its 53rd anniversary with a themed show dubbed “Portals.”

The gallery has long been a cultural fixture in downtown Vicksburg. It is owned and operated by Lesley Silver.

“I’ve gotten to a very mature age, and people say, ‘When do you quit?’ And I can’t imagine life without art and bringing people together with art and encouraging it,” Silver said. “So I feel like I’ve been embedded.”

More than 50 years ago, The Attic Gallery got its start in the 1400 block of Washington Street. At that time it featured artwork from all over the country. In the 1980s, the gallery began to focus more exclusively on regional folk art from the surrounding area.

The show will feature a variety of artists, many of whom have been collaborating with Silver for decades. Artist Sam Beavers, who has been showing his work at the Attic Gallery for about 30 years, said there are many reason to love the gallery.

“Look around and you’re going to find some treasure. Sometimes it’s buried treasure, sometimes it’s out in the open,” he said. “The big thing is Lesley herself. She’s a real nurturing and loving person.”

Silver said her main goal isn’t so much selling art as it is exposing people to it.

“What I would love people to know about the gallery is we just want you to come and look at art. You don’t have to buy art. Just look at it and ask yourself questions about your life and how it pertains to you,” Silver said. “We want people to be comfortable and feel like they could come and share it with anyone they want to.”

The event, which is open to the public, will take place on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the gallery, which is located at 1101 Washington Street.