First Friday Art Crawl — April 2026
18 venues. Collage, ceramics, graffiti, fiber art, MFA thesis shows & more.
- Date
- Friday, April 3, 2026
- Time
- Venues open noon–11 PM (varies)
- Location
- 18 venues — Downtown & beyond
- Admission
- Free (most venues)
- Format
- Self-guided — visit any venue
- Category
- Arts & Culture
April's First Friday is one of the strongest lineups of the year. Eighteen galleries, studios, breweries, and pop-up spaces across Wichita are opening their doors tonight with new exhibitions, opening receptions, and artist meet-and-greets. The range is wide: found-object collage at Art House 310, graffiti rail car photography at the Great Plains Transportation Museum, interactive sensory art by Heartspring School students at Envision Arts, and three MFA thesis exhibitions at Harvester Arts.
Most venues are clustered along Douglas Avenue and in downtown, but several — Mark Arts, Newman University, Mulberry Gallery — are worth the short drive. Nearly everything is free and self-guided. Times vary by venue (the earliest opens at noon, the latest runs until 11 PM), so check the listings below to plan your route.
Sorted roughly by start time. All events are April 3, 2026.
Gallery 12 — Alexandra Palmer
12–4 PM412 East Douglas Avenue
Ceramic collections that tell unique stories. Each piece demonstrates meticulous craftsmanship and expressive design, highlighting the intersection of form and narrative in contemporary ceramic art.
Hopping Gnome Brewing — Art and Craftivism
3–11 PM1719 Victor Street · (316) 771-2110
Rebecca Sellers explores fiber-based art across embroidery, quilting, crocheting, knitting, and weaving. Her work is informed by a commitment to equality and inclusion, responding to social and political issues. She sources textiles from small/local businesses and upcycled materials. Artist present 5–8 PM with items for sale.
PURE Workplace Solutions — Danksy & DEBER
4–9 PM200 East Douglas Avenue · (316) 267-5763
Two local artists — Robin Danks aka Danksy and DEBER — display work throughout the space. Attendees can also explore outdoor furniture options from PURE, blending design inspiration with functional pieces.
Reverie Coffee Roasters — Deber614
4–6 PM2202 East Douglas Avenue · (316) 201-1144
Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Deber614 merges realism, abstraction, and atmospheric color in paintings that negotiate between surface and depth, intention and accident. Every sale supports "The Gaze of History" — a project to complete 15 large-scale public murals in Wichita by the end of 2026.
Maven Gallery — Final Showing
4–7 PM3238 East Douglas Avenue
Last chance to see the current installation before the next exhibition. Featuring photographic works by Esther Havens Mann, Reuben Wu, Steve Wrubel, Xan Padrón, and Austin Mann — diverse visual storytelling across multiple viewpoints.
Envision Arts Center — Sensationally Sensory
5–8 PM535 West Douglas Avenue · (316) 440-1699
Interactive artwork created by Heartspring School students — a Wichita nonprofit supporting children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Features ocean drums on turntables, kinetic gear sculptures, tactile wood and acrylic creations, squish-art textures, and resin-encased fidget pieces. On display through April 26.
Great Plains Transportation Museum — The Art of Benching
5–8 PM700 East Douglas Avenue · (316) 263-0944
Benching is the art of photographing graffiti-tagged rail cars. Local artist Darnel Marley exhibits his work alongside HO scale tagged models and a 20-foot container tagged by local graffiti artists. Food trucks, adult beverage trucks, and a DJ round out the evening.
Mark Arts — School of Creativity Salon
5–7 PM1307 North Rock Road · (316) 634-2787
128 participants, ~150 works across painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, enameling, and metalsmithing. Live music, cash bar, remarks at 5:45 PM with recognition of Volunteers of the Year. On view through May 16. Free, RSVPs appreciated.
Mulberry Art Gallery — Wichita Fine Art Atelier
5–8 PM2721 East Central Avenue · (316) 365-9461
Student and instructor work from Wichita's classical arts school. Featuring Ernest Vincent Wood II, Don Praseuthe, and Hayley Williams — traditional techniques and academic training in the atelier model.
Newman University (Steckline Gallery) — Natural Frequencies
5–7 PM3100 McCormick Street · (316) 942-4291
Nine women artists engage with the natural world through diverse media — wildlife, landscapes, environmental systems, and space. Artists: Hannah Crickman, Tyra Grace, Alexis Gruenwald, Lindsey Kernodle, Kate King, Lindsay Lord, Kinta Mcghee, Emily E. Ritter, and Yulla Vega.
Reuben Saunders Gallery — Mark Flickinger
5–8 PM3215 East Douglas Avenue · (316) 682-1481
Solo exhibition: New Landscapes: Studies, Meditations and Reveries. New paintings reflecting moments of observation, reflection, and imagination.
Vertigo 232 — Heights High School Art Show
5–9 PM232 North Market Street · (316) 264-2450
Students and alumni from Heights High School (Class of 2025 and beyond) showcase a wide range of creative expression. Last night of the exhibition that opened on Final Friday March 27.
fernaCHer — Local Artist Pop-Ups
5–9 PM2220 East Douglas Avenue · (316) 259-8889
Featuring Cort Anderson, Pam Bjork, Diana Carbajal, Frank Kieth, and Malissa Long. Artist pop-ups in a curated retail space — meet the artists, explore new work, and enjoy a relaxed evening of art and design.
Art House 310 — Chloe Cloud & Alexandria Olthoff
6–10 PM310 South Laura Street
Chloe Cloud transforms found debris and vintage clippings into collage and assemblage that reframes waste as fashion, architecture, and landscape. Alexandria Olthoff's portfolio — developed over two years toward a tattoo apprenticeship — incorporates animals, justice, feminism, queerness, and representation. On view through April 19.
Mid-America All-Indian Museum — Native Youth Visions
6–8 PM650 North Seneca
Then. Now. Next. — a student art show and contest showcasing creative work from Native youth. Also features the traveling exhibit Ripples in Tradition. Light snacks and tea provided. First 25 attendees get free admission; standard pricing ($9 adults, $5 children) after.
Harvester Arts at The LUX — MFA Thesis Exhibition
6–8 PM120 East 1st Street North · (316) 530-2203
Three MFA graduates from Wichita State University exhibit thesis work: Madison Mullen, Branden Lawless, Sloane Dyer, Ink and Honey Studios, and Zayden Tomson. On display through April 24.
Gallery 12 — Jill Stromberg
6–9 PM412 East Douglas Avenue · (316) 267-5915
Opening reception for painter Jill Stromberg, a Gallery 12 member presenting her latest work. On display through April 25, with a closing reception on Final Friday, April 24.
The Enchanted Mermaid — Ruthanne Scudder
6–9 PM222 North Washington Street · (316) 796-5383
Nature- and gypsy-inspired creations: handcrafted gourd lamps, birdhouses, jewelry, and whimsical pieces blending natural elements with imaginative design.
Venue listings sourced from Downtown Wichita's official First Friday guide. Individual venue details verified against gallery websites and social media where available.