Visual

Painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, screenprinting, photography, architecture, textiles, crafts, and so much more. If you love the visual arts, don’t miss First Fridays, presented by the Downtown Spokane Partnership. Find your new favorite gallery via our interactive art map. 

Visual
Artist
Rachel E Strauch

Rachel Strauch is an artist based in the Inland Northwest. Her work uses nature, the human body, and intense complimentary colors to depict themes of mental health, growth, and vulnerability. Strauch enjoys observing the world around her, taking experiences from her own life and others and turning them into art. Like observing, she enjoys teaching art, and worked as a teacher’s assistant in a drawing class at Whitworth University in January 2022. Strauch has recently exhibited her work at the Bryan Oliver Gallery and Cowles Auditorium at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, and at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan. Find Strauch’s work on Instagram and TikTok @re.strauch.art and at rachelestrauch.com
Visual
Artist
Heather iDE

I wanted to share with you some recent photography work that I had done. These photos have been enhanced, painted, and texturized to create a unique and beautiful effect that can be appreciated by those who have their sight as well as those who are visually impaired. The digital enhancements have brought out the colors and details in the photos, making them even more stunning than they were before. The painted elements and texturizing add a touch of artistic flair, giving the photos a truly one-of-a-kind look and feel. For those who are visually impaired, the textures in the photos can be felt and explored with their hands, allowing them to experience the art in a different way. The use of color and contrast in the photos also makes them accessible to those with low vision. Overall, I am thrilled with how these photos turned out, and I am excited to share them with a wider audience. I believe that the digital enhancements, painting, and texturizing have really elevated the photos to a new level, making them even more special and memorable for everyone who experiences them.

Visual
Artist
Mo Stach

Hi, I’m Mo! I’m a self-taught artist who recently started painting again (after a 15 year hiatus) to help de-stress from my technical day job. Drippy florals and colorful abstracts are what I have been gravitating towards most with my artwork. A goal is to display my work locally, and I would love to one day design a book cover, beer can label, and get into some large-format painting. I would also love to assist/volunteer with mural and other large art installations, if anyone needs a hand! After growing up in the South and previously living in NYC and Denver, I currently reside in Spokane, Washington, with my partner and two furry helpers. Besides painting, in my spare time I enjoy traveling, reading, volunteering, and mountain sports.

Feel free to contact me via email, or check out my portfolio via my website or Instagram (@MoStachStudios)!

Visual
Artist
Brandon Michael Parker

Hello! My name is Brandon aka BpzSculpts and I am a polymer clay artist that was born and raised in Spokane. I have been sculpting for about 7 years with different mediums, but mainly Polymer Clay. My work takes the cute and conventional and makes it ugly and weird. The intention isnt just to make the viewer uncomfortable but also to make them pause and think about what they are looking at/where this thing might have came from or what it can do, bringing it to life in their mind. My work can be viewed on Instagram found above, and can be purchased on my Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShopBpzSculpts

Cultural
Event: September 30
Sweet 16 for the Little Spokane River Artist Studio Tour

Spokane, WA) The Little Spokane River Artist Studio Tour turns Sweet 16 in 2023, and the milestone event will showcase the art of 50 artists, on Saturday, September 30, at five studios, located in the stunning Little Spokane River Valley. “When we started the Little Spokane River Artist Studio Tour 16 years ago, we had no idea that we would receive such tremendous support year-in and year-out from art lovers throughout the Spokane area,” co-founder Gina Freuen said. “Artists share their vision, but art collectors sustain the vision through their encouragement and support.”The 2023 outdoor show will be held on Saturday, September 30th from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., at the studios of Gina Freuen, Jill Smith, Victoria Brace, Maggie Andersen, and Colista Krebs. The studios are close enough to one another, making it convenient to visit the artists at all five studios, while doing it against the backdrop of a beautiful, Fall day, in one of the most idyllic settings in Eastern Washington. The Little Spokane River studio artists share their creative visions through a variety of mediums: painting including oil, acrylic, watercolor, encaustic, and resin; sculpture; clay and pottery; jewelry; glass, wood; fiber arts; clothing, costumes and garmenting; photography; printmaking; ceramics; leather; gauche; stone; paper arts such as collage and Origami; and tapestry bags.This year’s show will include fan favorites, artists who are beloved and collected across the Spokane area and around the country, as well as emerging artists making their mark through memorable, creative expressions.
Cultural
Event: Opens October 14
Blacksmithing Fall Hammer-In with Columbia Fire & Iron

CFI’s Fall Hammer-In is open to all levels of blacksmiths, whether it’s your first time at the forge or you’re a seasoned pro. We’ll have beginner projects like nails, hooks, and other small useful things that are make and take, or you can bring your own steel and forge what you want in good company. Learn from your fellow smiths and our volunteer instructors and join the regional blacksmithing revival!
Visual
Event: Opens September 3
Opening Art Exhibit Reception & Lecture: Excavating Books: James Allen

The Whitworth University Art Department and the university’s Bryan Oliver Gallery invite you to an opening reception and lecture for “Excavating Books” with recent work from James Allen. The reception will be from 5-6pm in the Bryan Oliver Gallery, followed by a lecture by the artist at 6pm in Lied 102. “I make book excavations by carving into old books to reveal their content in a new way. The possibilities for these altered books are as endless as the various books out there. The first and most important step is finding the right book. I prefer using books that have beautiful graphic imagery but I often incorporate bits of text as well. Once a book is chosen and I begin carving into it the process dictates itself. The books tell me what to reveal and cut away as I work. There’s already a sculpture inside the book that is revealed one page at a time.”