The idea of a group for artists of African descent in the Dayton area, came to life in 1992 under the hopeful eyes of Dayton artists Curtis Barnes Sr., and Willis "Bing" Davis. Their vision was to bring together artists and art patrons to share their passion for the visual arts and work to uplift artists of African descent throughout the Miami Valley. So began the African American Visual Artists Guild of Dayton Arts club. The club slowly grew into the African American Visual Artists Guild (AAVAG) which officially became a 501 (C)3) non-profit corporation in August of 1995. Its membership is made up of professional artists, patrons of the arts, hobbyist and interested members of the community, all with a shared commitment to realize the organization's goals.