ENTIRELY IN-PERSON, ENTIRELY ADMISSION-FREE — the 64th Annual Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival runs June 2-11 in the Downtown Pittsburgh Cultural District and features over 300 artists and craftspeople spanning a multitude of visual and crafts media along with live music, dance, theatre, gallery exhibitions, public art, creative activities and several pop-up galleries.
In addition to the Artist Market, there are over a dozen public art installations to visit in the Downtown Cultural District. The festival’s Juried Visual Art Exhibition featuring 29 artists is at SPACE (812 Liberty Ave.).
The Backyard at 8th & Penn hosts several pieces — UTTERANCE, a new sculpture by Jim West, Pittsburgh Glass Center’s mobile glass hot shop Hot Wheels, an immersive installation by Laurie Shapiro, We Are All Connected to Each Other through Nature, using water based paints and screen printed drawings on vinyl over metal truss and handmade lighting.
* The full festival schedule is here.
• SEEKING MORE of a neighborhood vibe? Fri. June 2 from 6-10 p.m. marks the return of Unblurred: First Fridays on Penn, a monthly art and entertainment stroll spotlighting an eclectic blend of galleries and art retailers along Penn Avenue in Bloomfield/Garfield — Pittsburgh Glass Center, Silver Eye Photography, BFG Café, Arts & Crafts: Bottanica & Occult Shop, Songbird Artistry, Imagebox, Vault Art Studio, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Center for PostNatural History, Irma Freeman Center for Imagination and more.
• THE LATEST Doors Open Pittsburgh tour spotlights the visual arts in Arlington Heights/Mt. Oliver — a June 3 visit to the 1705 Arlington Ave. location of Johno’s Art Studio and Maria’s Ideas featuring new work by painters Johno Prascak and Maria Desimone Prascak and jeweler Joanie DeSimone. Tours run from 10:00-11:30 a.m. with registration here.
• ON SATURDAY June 3, 1-4 p.m. Brew House Open Studios showcases 15 artists in the Distillery artists-in-residence and Cluster Studio artist programs. It’s free, with registration here, and a chance to see the current exhibit Rip, Repair, Repeat: The 2023 Distillery Group Exhibition. 711 S. 21st St. Pittsburgh. (412) 212-6650.
• MEXICAN PAINTER Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was one of the most original artists of the 20th Century whose innovative technique and singular perspective still influence the way many artists hope to see the world. From June 7-25, actor Vanessa Severo brings a powerful one-woman show Frida … A Self Portrait to the Pittsburgh Public Theater at O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 316-1600.
• THE MATTRESS FACTORY holds its annual Trash Bash Garden Party Fri. June 9 from 7-11 p.m. It’s a 21+ fundraiser and costume party featuring food, drink, art installations, art auction, costume contest, music and dancing with performers including Tony From Bowling, The Cookie Table, Everything The Light Touches, Steel City Kitty, The Beagle Brothers. 516 Sampsonia Way, Pittsburgh. (412) 231-3169.
• ON SUNDAY June 18 p.m. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Pittsburgh Glass Center celebrates Juneteenth Community Day with neon demonstrations by neon/plasma artist Percy Echols II and artist talks by Echols and PGC staff member and textile artist Olive Hughes. It’s admission-free, but any donations made during the event support Pittsburgh Glass Center’s BIPOC scholarship fund. 5472 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 365-2145.
** Galleries & Exhibits **
38a Gallery. To June 9: “I still see you, even in the dark”. New work by photographer Evangeline Mensah-Agyekum. 5929 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh.
707 Penn Gallery. To June 11: in spite of me, here you are. New work by painter, sculptor, videographer Steve Alexis. 707 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 456-6666.
820 Liberty Gallery. To Sept. 24: Traveling While Black. Roger Ross Williams offers a cinematic virtual-reality experience immersing viewers in the long history of restriction of movement for black Americans and the creation of safe spaces in our communities. 820 Liberty Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 456-6666.
Andy Warhol Museum. To Sept. 25: The Velvet Underground & Nico: Scepter Studio Sessions. New music and film of the 1960s trendsetting rock band with Steve Schapiro photographs from the Exploding Plastic Inevitable multisensory, multimedia events organized by Andy Warhol in 1966-67. To June 19: The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: A Selection of Works from 2022. 117 Sandusky St. Pittsburgh. (412) 237-8300.
Assemble. June 2 (6-10 p.m.): Hack the Future. New work by Assemble students. 4824 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 661-6111.
Associated Artists of Pittsburgh. To June 24: The Grandeur of Power. New work by 44 AAP artists exlporing notions of power from myriad viewpoints and through numerous media. 100 43rd St. Pittsburgh (412) 361-1370.
Atithi Studios. To June 4: Sensational. 18 artists examine the neurodivergent experience in collaboration with Evolve Coaching. 1020 N. Canal Street, Sharpsburg. (412) 301-5374.
August Wilson African American Cultural Center. June 16-Sept. 1: Memories & Inspiration: The Kerry and C. Betty Davis Collection of African American Art. Featuring 67 drawings, paintings, prints, and sculpture by artists including Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Ernest T. Crichlow, Sam Gilliam, Loïs Mailou Jones, Jacob Lawrence, Gordon Parks, Alma Thomas. To Aug. 31: Frame of Reference: Jo-Anne Bates. New work by painter/printmaker Jo-Anne Bates. On permanent exhibit: August Wilson, The Writer’s Landscape. 980 Liberty Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 339-1011.
BoxHeart Gallery. June 7-July 7: Putting Down Roots. New work by painter Erika Stearly; opening reception June 10, 5-7 p.m. 4523 Liberty Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 687-8858.
Brew House Association. To June 17: Rip, Repair, Repeat: The 2023 Distillery Group Exhibition. New work by Sandra Bacchi, Tara Hayes, Jameelah Platt, Nick Sardo, Rachel Morgan Simmons, Zim Syed, and Paige Tibbe. 711 S. 21st St. Pittsburgh. (412) 212-6650.
Carlow University Art Gallery. June 2-Oct. 31: Flight Plans. New work by Njaimeh Njie; opening reception June 2, 6-8 p.m. University Commons, 2nd floor, 3333 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 578-6000.
Carnegie Museum of Art. To Aug. 27: Lyndon Barrois Jr.: Rosette. New work by multimedia artist Lyndon Barrois, Jr. To Sept. 24: Joan Brown. Retrospective of San Francisco painter Joan Brown (1938-1990). 4400 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 622-3131.
Concept Art Gallery. June 1-30: Kim Beck: Hereabouts. New work by painter/photographer Kim Beck; opening reception June 17, 1-4 p.m. June 17-July 22: Natalie Moffitt: Out of Place. New work by painter Natalie Moffitt; opening reception June 17, 1-4 p.m. 1031 S. Braddock Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 242-9200.
Contemporary Craft. To Oct. 6: James Simon: A Life of Making. An exhibit exploring the artistic diversity of Uptown sculptor, luthier and painter James Simon, including a simulated violin-making studio, early ceramic works, mosaics and new creations. BNY Mellon Satellite Gallery, 500 Grant St. Pittsburgh. To June 24: Inflorescence. New work by Santa Fe-based jewelry artist Brian Fleetwood. To Aug. 19: Self. New work by fiber artists Erika Diamond and Matt Lambert. 5645 Butler St. Pittsburgh. (412) 261-7003.
CURIO. To June 10: Time Between. New pottery and sculpture by Kyle Houser; opening reception May 20, 5-8 p.m. 113 North Main Street, Zelienople. (724) 473-0223.
The Frick Art Museum. To Feb. 4, 2024: Pittsburgh and the Great Migration: Black Mobility and the Automobile. An exhibit exploring the role of automobile ownership and the early 20th-century migration of Black Americans fleeing racism in the U.S. South. To June 30: Reckoning: Grief and Light. Multisensory sculpture by Vanessa German exploring grief, love, and social healing. To Oct. 1: From Stage to Page: 400 Years of Shakespeare in Print. An exhibit tracing the history of the famed First Folio collection of William Shakespeare plays. 7227 Reynolds St. Pittsburgh (412) 371-0600.
Heinz History Center. To Aug. 13: The Negro Motorist Green Book. Multimedia exhibit of artifacts, posters, photos, film from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service highlighting the innovative travel book published by Victor Green from 1936-1967 to help Black Americans navigate safely across the U.S. Features stunning photography of Black Pittsburghers during the 1930s-1960s, courtesy of the History Center’s Detre Library & Archives and the Charles “Teenie” Harris Archive at the Carnegie Museum of Art. 1212 Smallman St. Pittsburgh. (412) 454-6000.
Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh. June 5, 12, 19, 26: Revolving Doors. Artwork and artifacts from the collection of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh in a new narrative display, inspired by a series of collages created in 1916-17 by artist Man Ray. Reserve tickets here. Chatham University, Jennie King Mellon Library, Woodland Road, Pittsburgh. (412) 421-1500.
Irma Freeman Center for Imagination. June 2-July 7: Cut and Paste. Collage art/group exhibition by 49 local, regional, national artists; opening reception June 2, 7-9 p.m. with Dance Party by DJ C. Scott. 5006 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh. (412) 924-0634.
James Gallery. To July 7: Within and Without: The Paintings of Micheal Madigan, solo show by painter Micheal Madigan; Cluster, paintings by Petra Fallaux, Catharine Fichtner, Ben Johnson, Virginia Kistler, Janice Lessman-Moss, Susan Morosky, Kenny Nguyen, Chuck Olson, Susan Palmisano, Ken Schiano, Carrie Seid, Scott Turri, David Wallace. 413 S. Main St. Pittsburgh. (412) 922-9800.
Johno’s Art Studio. June 3, 10 -11:30 a.m: Doors Open Pittsburgh features new works by painters Johno Prascak, Maria Desimone Prascak, jeweler Joanie DeSimone. 1705 Arlington Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 481-4208.
KST Alloy Studios. June 14 (6-9 p.m.): Meet-and-greet with Pedantic Arts Residency artists Akea Brionne (media/textiles), Chenoa Baker (curation), Chad Bilyeu (photography). 5530 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 363-3000.
Ketchup City Creative. June 9-18: SHIELDS: Anthony Angelilli Solo Show. New work by painter Anthony Angelilli. June 23-July 2: Fearless. New work by painter Jacki Temple; opening reception June 23, 6-9 p.m. 612 Main St. Sharpsburg. (412) 593-4386.
Lohr Gallery. To June 24: Megan Adgate. New work by Wilkinsburg fiber artist Megan Adgate. 725 Wood St. Wilkinsburg. (412) 727-7855.
Manos Gallery. To June 24, 2-7 p.m.: I Am who I Am. New work by 25 artists; opening reception June 8 (4-8 p.m.). 320 E. 5th Ave. Tarentum. (484) 529-1597.
Mattress Factory. To Dec. 30: The Museum Collects Itself by Lenka Clayton & Phillip Andrew Lewis; Do this while I wait by Lydia Rosenberg; As Seen From the Surface by Katie Bullock – at Monterey Annex, 1414 Monterey St. Pittsburgh. To Fall 2023: HalfDream: Another Room. New solo exhibit by Hong Kong and US-based artist Doreen Chan in which users around the world can describe their dreams, add them to a database which matches common dreams of participants and connect to “dreammates”. To May 19, 2024: As Below, So Above. Artist-in-residence Shohei Katayama explores the space between light and dark, life and death, beauty and danger, nature and man. 516 Sampsonia Way, Pittsburgh. (412) 231-3169.
Nafasi on Centre. By appointment. Still Standing. Photography by Hannah Price. 2145 Centre Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 765-1820.
Oakmont Carnegie Library. To June 30: Vertical Bridges. A new photography exhibit by poet Paola Corso features 28 black-and-white photographs of city steps in Pittsburgh and around the world; opening reception June 8 (6-8 p.m.). 700 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont. (412) 828-9532.
Ohringer Arts Building. June 24-July 22: Open Studio Exhibition Featuring the Works of Cue Perry. New work by painter Cue Perry; opening reception June 24 (2-6 p.m.). 640 Braddock Ave. Braddock. (412) 271-2787.
Phipps Conservatory. To June 25: Flowers Meet Fashion: Inspired by Billy Porter. Six professional fashion designers, costumers and students from Carnegie Mellon University and Pittsburgh CAPA High School blend fashion and horticultural displays inspired by Pittsburgh actor Billy Porter. One Schenley Park, Pittsburgh. (412) 622-6914.
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. To June 25: Watercolor Works from the Garden. The 2-year collaborative project between the PBG and the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society features the works of 22 artists using various styles and techniques in water-based media. 799 Pinkerton Run Road, Pittsburgh. (412) 444-4464.
Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media. To July 22: I’m Fine. Masks by 1,500 artists curated by Carrie Breschi and Maureen Joyce spotlighting the statewide I’m Fine Sculpting Mental Health Awareness through Art project. 1047 Shady Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 361-0873.
Pittsburgh Glass Center. To July 30: Undefined. New work by top 3 finalists (MiNHi England, John Moran, John Sharvin) from Season 3 of the Netflix series Blown Away. 5472 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 365-2145.
Rivers of Steel. To June 17: People in Industry: The Art of Jeannie McGuire. New work by painter Jeannie McGuire; artist open studio June 7, June 14, noon-4 p.m. 880 E. Waterfront Drive, Munhall. (412) 464-4020.
Silver Eye Center For Photography. To July 28: Fellowship 23. New work by photographers Samantha Box, Trent Bozeman, André Ramos-Woodard, Dominick McDuffie, Terrell Halsey, Karen Lue; artist talks June 15, 6-7 p.m. (Dominick McDuffie, Terrell Halsey) and July 13, 6-7 p.m. (Trent Bozeman, André Ramos-Woodard). 4808 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 431-1810.
SPACE. June 2-July 30: Taking Up Space. Juried Visual Art Exhibition featuring 29 artists. 812 Liberty Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 325-7723.
Spinning Plate Gallery. June 3-30: When Universes Collide. New digital art by Ricardo Chiaravalle; opening reception June 3, 6-8 p.m.; classical guitar and dance performance (Alex Malaschenko and Joanna Abel) June 17, 6-8 p.m. 5821 Baum Blvd. Pittsburgh. (412) 592-6418.
Sweetwater Center for the Arts. June 16-July 21: WaterWorks. New work by members of Pittsburgh Watercolor Society; opening reception June 23, 5:30-8 p.m. 200 Broad St. Sewickley. (412) 741-4405.
UnSmoke Systems Artspace. June 1-30: Refugium. New work by photographer Brian Cohen; opening reception June 15, 5-8 p.m. 1137 Braddock Ave. Braddock.
VaultArt Studio. June 2-30: Rainbow Club We Have Parties. New work by Kim Bond, Edith Sullivan, Sean Regis Trayor, Lee Kennedy, others. 5100 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh. (412) 404-2895.
Westmoreland Museum of American Art. To June 18: Forest of Symbols. Artists from the 19th-century European Symbolism movement. June 25-Sept. 17: Block Party: Community and Celebration in American Art. Exhibit features the World War I innovation of the urban “block party” as a lens to view ideas on belonging, activism and mutual solidarity in historical and contemporary American art. 221 N. Main St. Greensburg. (724) 837-1500.
Wood Street Galleries. To Aug. 27: Vantage Points: Present Shock and Vanishing Point 3:1 #3. Multimedia exhibit by UVA (United Visual Artists), a London based collective integrating new technologies with traditional media such as sculpture, performance and site-specific installation. 601 Wood St. Pittsburgh. (412) 456-6666.
ZYNKA Gallery. To July 9: Return to Eden. New work by painter Cara Livorio; artist talk June 15, 6-7:30 p.m. 904 Main St. Sharpsburg. (412) 952-7370.