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“I Rise" by Iandry Randriamandroso
July 28, 2026
In This Issue:
- Attend Tonight's CritChat Meeting
- Check Out Upcoming Events & Announcements
- Meet our Newest Team Member
- Explore Opportunities For Artists
- Visit Current Gallery Exhibitions
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Don't Miss Tonight's
Monthly CritChat Meeting
Tuesday, July 28, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Historic Fifth Street School
401 S. Fourth St., Suite 160
Free and open to the public
CritChat is a free, monthly, supportive meet-up for visual artists to share ideas, get feedback and talk art and culture in a fun, open environment. Whether you're looking for input on a work in progress, want to bounce around new concepts, or just want to meet other creatives, this is your space.
CritChat is for visual artists of all backgrounds and experience levels, from beginners to professionals. Whether you're looking to grow your skills, build your network, or just find your people, this is a casual, relaxed space to do it. You decide what you need from attending.
Bring your sketchbook, works in progress, finished pieces, ideas or questions, or just come as you are. It's a great chance to chat with fellow artists, share ideas, grow your creative practice and make some new friends. Free parking is available on site. If you can't make this meeting, another one is scheduled Aug. 25.
"Desert Peoples: Words from Ancestors"
Opening Reception
Thursday, Aug. 13, 5 to 7 p.m.
The Grand Gallery
Las Vegas City Hall 495 S. Main St., First Floor
The Nevada State Museum, in partnership with Springs Preserve, the Clark County Museum and the city of Las Vegas, is pleased to present "Desert Peoples: Words from Ancestors." This exhibition features a rare early 19th-century handwritten journal containing translations from Southern Paiute (Nuwu) into English, preserving words and meanings that had, in some cases, been forgotten over time.
Accompanying this first-time display of the journal is a selection of Paiute and Mojava material culture, including objects referenced within the document itself, offering a tangible connection between language and memory. Together, these works illuminate the enduring presence and cultural continuity of indigenous peoples across the desert Southwest.
The exhibition opens Aug. 13, 2026, and remains on view through Nov. 19, 2026.
Our City, Our Nevada:
Black Artists & Elders In Conversation
Thursday, Aug. 20, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Las Vegas Civic Center
525 S. Main St., Public Meeting Room, second floor
Free event with complimentary two‑hour parking validation
Join us as Carmen Beals moderates a panel of artists and elders, including Chase McCurdy, Iyana Esters, Harold Bradford, Jackie Brantley and Alma Faye McDonald. Through the moderated conversation, visitors will learn from the artists how history is reflected in their work and the elders will provide insight into what life was like growing up in Nevada.
This program is in conjunction with the "Rhythm and Resilience: Black Vegas" exhibition, currently on display in the Civic Center Gallery through Aug. 20. The exhibition was curated by Carmen Beals, narrated by Claytee White and features artwork from Chase McCurdy, Iyana Esters and Harold Bradford.
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Las Vegas Civic Center
525 S. Main St.
Public Meeting Room on the Second Floor
Join us for a conversation between artists Fawn Douglas and Sam Ganados, whose practices explore the currents of identity and place. Douglas, an indigenous American artist of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, shares the stories and energies woven into her work. Ganados reflects on their vibrant paintings, where shifting colors and personal narratives explore becoming and self-discovery. Together, their conversation opens a space for connection and reveals the forces that shape their creative paths.
Free and open to the public. Parking is available across the street at 500 S. Main St., and free two-hour parking validation will be provided.
Somos Maga Exhibition Artists Reception
Thursday, Sept. 24, 5 to 7 p.m.
Las Vegas City Hall Chamber Gallery
495 S. Main St., Second floor
The public is invited to view the artwork and meet the artists at this free reception. The exhibition is curated by Haide Calle.
We often use fantasy to navigate a place of comfort, whether it's through storytelling or imaginative and symbolic elements. Growing up, we find spaces to escape and find belonging in. We hold space to carry the possibilities creativity can mold into our reality. It helps us decide how to show up, what to make and what to believe in. Artists were invited to submit work that represents the theme SOMOS MAGIA (WE ARE MAGIC).
For more information, contact Holly Lay at 702-229-3278.
"Song Of The Oasis"
Exhibition Artists Reception
Oct. 15, 5 to 7 p.m.
Historic Fifth Street School Mayor's Gallery
401 S. Fourth St.
Free and open to the public
The "Song of the Oasis" exhibition features a collection of oil paintings and sculptures that celebrate the vitality, light, shadow and rich diversity of the natural and human landscapes of the American West.
Through their work, the artists express a deep appreciation for life and the world around them. This exhibition features seven professional painters and sculptors based in Las Vegas. Each artist brings years of experience living and creating in the American West, contributing their unique artistic perspectives to the cultural fabric of the city. The exhibition features artists Stephen Chang, Emil Fu, Zijian He (Liangyi), Dadong Song, Zhou Xu (Joe Xu), Lingling Zhao and Mei Zhu.
Meet Our Newest Team Member
We are excited to welcome Jenny Cerrone to the Public Art and Gallery Program Team!
A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Jenny Cerrone is new to the city of Las Vegas team as a Public Art and Gallery Program assistant. She has worked closely with local artists over the last three years, exhibiting in group shows and practicing as a studio assistant. With a focus on fostering space for emotion and vulnerability, Jenny is excited to extend this sentiment to the public by engaging through the Gallery Program.
She currently attends the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she is earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in sculpture; she will graduate next spring.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS |
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Closing in 9 Days
Call For Artists: "Art In Public Places" Exhibition
Closing Date: Aug. 5, 2026, 5 p.m.
Artists and galleries are invited to submit work to a juried exhibition at the Las Vegas Civic Center Gallery, with selected works considered for acquisition into the city of Las Vegas permanent public art collection. All media are welcome, including two- and three- dimensional work across disciplines, materials and approaches.
Closing in 11 Days
Call for Artists: Request For Proposals From Graphic Designers, Digital Illustrators & Visual Artists
Closing Date: Aug. 7, 2026, 5 p.m.
The city of Las Vegas is seeking graphic designers, digital illustrators and visual artists to submit design proposals for new fitness courts located throughout the city of Las Vegas park system.
Call for Sculptors and Fabricators:
Pre-qualified Sculpture List
Closing Date Oct: 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
The city of Las Vegas Public Art Program is soliciting statements of qualifications in order to allow new additions to our existing list of pre-qualified sculptors and fabricators. The city may select artists from this list for upcoming sculpture projects. Artists selected for this pre-qualified list will be eligible for consideration for upcoming city of Las Vegas sculpture projects across the city. The list will be valid for an approximately three-year period. Individual project budgets will be all-inclusive, depending on project size and design, and may range from under $10,000 to up to $300,000 per project.
Call For Artists: Public Employee Art Exhibition
Closing Date: Oct. 22, 2026, 6 p.m.
The city of Las Vegas invites current and former Nevada public employee artists to participate in its annual exhibition.
Call For Gallery Exhibit Proposals
Closing Date: Jan. 8, 2027, 6 p.m.
The city of Las Vegas invites artists, curators and collectives to submit proposals for upcoming exhibitions in city-operated gallery spaces. This opportunity is open to both solo and group exhibitions, with an emphasis on presenting high-quality, thought-provoking artwork that engages our diverse community.
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The "Celebrating Life! 2026" Exhibition
On display through Sept. 10, 2026
First Place Drawing: “Ocean Dweller” by Nathalie Beck
Charleston Heights Arts Center
800 Brush St.
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (closed Sunday, Monday, holidays)
Free and open to the public
Congratulations to all the artists featured in Celebrating Life!, the annual juried fine arts exhibition showcasing the creativity of artists ages 50 and better. Sponsored by the Las Vegas Arts Commission, this year’s exhibition is on display at the Charleston Heights Arts Center ballroom and gallery through Sept. 10, 2026.
"Peaks And Valleys: Capturing The Highs And Lows
Of The Las Vegas Valley"
On display through Aug. 21, 2026
"Vintage Hydrant" by Pam Lopez
Historic Fifth Street School Mayor's Gallery
401 S. Fourth St.
Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday, closed holidays
Free and open to the public
Explore "Peaks And Valleys: Capturing The Highs And Lows Of The Las Vegas Valley," a curated exhibition by Donna Fox showcasing local urban sketchers who document the city’s landscapes, neighborhoods and everyday moments through on-location drawing. Visit the exhibition and experience a vivid portrait of Las Vegas as seen through the personal perspectives of its artists.
Take A Stroll On First Street To
Check Out "Thermoflora" By Cerissa Lopez
On display through October 2026
Windows On First
Las Vegas City Hall Windows On First Street
495 S. Main St.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Cerissa Lopez’s "Thermoflora" is a vivid floral installation that transforms nature through the lens of heat and light. Composed of custom die-cut wood panels shaped as diverse flower species, each piece is hand painted with aerosol and airbrush techniques to mimic the surreal glow of infrared and thermal imaging. Set against black painted backdrops, the neon-infused blooms radiate with electric color, drawing inspiration from the luminous energy of downtown Las Vegas. The result is a striking fusion of organic form and urban nightlife, where flowers appear to pulse with heat, movement and atmosphere.
Great News: The Civic Center Gallery Is Now
Open On Saturdays!
"Rhythm And Resilience: Black Vegas"
On display through Aug. 20, 2026
Las Vegas Civic Center Gallery
525 S. Main St., Building A
Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday - Saturday (closed holidays)
Parking: 500 S. Main St., with free two-hour validation
Curated by Carmen Beals and narrated by Claytee White
"Rhythm and Resilience: Black Vegas" explores African American life in Las Vegas from the arrival of its first Black resident through the 1980s, tracing the impacts of segregation and racial barriers while celebrating the creativity, resilience and achievements that shaped the city’s character. Beginning with John Howell, the first African American settler, it follows the growth of a downtown black community and its forced relocation in the early twentieth century to what became the Historic Westside. Despite systemic exclusion, this neighborhood emerged as a vibrant cultural and social hub where residents built businesses, churches, and civic organizations, cultivated music and nightlife that drew world-class performers, and organized for civil rights and equity. By honoring these histories, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the enduring legacy of the African American community and its lasting influence on the identity, spirit and future of Las Vegas.
The exhibition opened March 12 and closes Aug. 20, 2026. A curator tour is offered Saturday, Aug. 1, at 1 p.m.
Only Two Days Left to View
It's O'Clay!
by Animal House Pottery members
On display through July 30, 2026
"Desert Scapes Coffeee / Tea Service for 4 " by Leslie Annette Hagan
Las Vegas City Hall Grand Gallery
495 S. Main St., First Floor
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m., closed holidays.
Free and open to the public
From the artists:
“It’s O’Clay” is what we say while learning to throw on the wheel or hand build. In the process of understanding how clay moves and how a touch too soft or pressure too strong can cause it to collapse, we learn to adapt, repair or start again with a fresh ball of clay. The pieces displayed here represent the successes born from those trials, the exploration of ideas and form. Every collapsed wall or unintended mark becomes part of our growing archive of experience, a rolodex of memories that shapes who we are as makers."
Animal House Pottery is a ceramic studio located in North Las Vegas. The owner and artist, Anthony Urango, has nearly 26 years of experience as a ceramicist. He has devoted himself to this medium everywhere he has lived. His work is rooted in imagination and guided by an ongoing exploration of texture, closed forms and negative space. Urango's welcoming persona and expertise has attracted a diverse community of pottery members to his studio. This exhibition reflects the immense creativity within Animal House Pottery. Along with Anthony Urango, this exhibition includes artwork by Marianna Romero Martinez, Ashley Hughes, Adrianna Delgadillo, Robert Hoier, Asia Amato, Leslie Annette Hagen, Julia Estelle, Cathy Calabio, Waka Laity, Joel Kevin Watson, Luis Varela-Rico, Nicholas Denson and James J. White.
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