On 14 November, 1956, Susan Moore, organizer of Associated Artists in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Zelma Jean Clary, president of Winston-Salem's Art Council, and Mrs. Smith Whitesides, director of Allied Arts of Durham, North Carolina, called a meeting at the Central YWCA in Greensboro. The three women felt Greensboro need an association to bring together local artists and promote art education in the local community. Artist Anthony Borrowes presided over the first meeting, and was named acting president of the new Greensboro Artists' League (GAL).

The league included amateur and professional sculptors and painters, and would serve members and the public through the provision of gallery space, classes in art and art history, and guest speakers. GAL did not have an official home, so subsequent meetings were held at the Old Greensboro School of Art Building, the YWCA, the Greensboro Public Library, meeting spaces at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), the United Arts Council building, and members' homes. In the late 1970s, the league acquired permanent office space at the Greensboro Art Center, but continued to struggle with the issue of exhibition space. In 1988, the City of Greensboro began renovation of the Art Center, and unveiled the new Cultural Center at Festival Park in 1990.

The league was run by a Board of Directors, with an executive committee consisting of a president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary, and committees for budget, planning, membership, and specific events. Over the years, GAL also employed an executive director, exhibits curator, secretary and gallery guard, and utilized the skills and energy of countless volunteers as well as student interns.

Early lecturers sponsored by the league included prominent artists Joe King and Maud Gatewood. In 1957, the league sponsored the Million Dollar Show, an exhibition of the Hammer Collection, including works by Vermeer, Reubens, and Rembrandt, at the Woman's College (now UNCG). Also in 1957, the league held its first sidewalk show at the Friendly Shopping Center. In 1959, GAL purchased the first painting in its permanent collection: "Red Sun" by Jose Guarrero. In 1961, the IRS granted the league non-profit status. In 1969, the league held its first national juried competition.

GAL was one of the first organizations sponsored by the United Arts Council of Greensboro, and supplemented that income with membership dues, donations, grants, fundraisers, and small commissions on works sold through the league's gallery.

The league arranged several annual exhibitions, including an all-members juried exhibition (the winner received a solo exhibition at the GAL gallery the following year) and a national fine arts competition, whose finalists were displayed first in Greensboro and then at the Ward-Nasse Gallery in New York City. Other major events included numerous mall shows, annual winetasting/auctions celebrating the birthdays of famous artists, participation in the African American Arts Festival, "Emerging Artist" shows for up-and-comers, summer salons, the North Carolina Outdoor Sculpture exhibition, holiday events such as "Art Wrap" and an Ornamental Exhibition, and lectures, including a very popular series on the "Business of Art" in 2003.

GAL reached out to local school children through programs such as Cultural Kaleidoscope, which served seventh graders in Guilford County schools. The league received a certificate of appreciation for volunteer services to children and youth from the Greensboro City Board of Education in 1980, and was again recognized by the Guilford County Board of Education and North Carolina Art Education Association in 1998.

The Greesnboro Artists' League also reached out to local businesses through programs such as "On My Own Time," an exhibit of work by employees at the VF Jeanswear Corporation, and to local minority populations through exhibits by individuals like Charles White, an influential African American artist.

GAL also published a newsletter, first called Art News and then Member 2 Member, which sometimes was issued monthly and other times seasonally. By 2004, membership had expanded to include amateur and professional jewelry makers, photographers, glassblowers, potters, weavers and other craftspeople in addition to the original categories of painters and sculptors.

In 2004, the Greensboro Artists' League merged with the Center for Creative Arts in order to form the Center for Visual Artists (CVA). The CVA endeavors to provide professional exhibit galleries, a full-service education center, a juried sales gallery and community outreach programming, including workshops for both adults and children.