First Thursday also includes the Saturday following in the afternoon. This First Thursday is May Day so there may be demonstrations out and about, and the Urban Art Network occupies 13th with all their booths of stuff.
Fine Art Fruit, Froelick, The Black Gallery, and Adams and Ollman continue.
For your +1 you can experience Flamenco music with guitarist Brenna McDonald and guitarist/vocalist Yeshe Wingerd. A project of Espacio Flamenco, it repeats on first Thursdays. At Bar Botellón 606 NE Davis 7PM-9 Free
For your +2 the Portland Art Museum, through a private grant, is open free first Thursdays. They are free the whole day 10AM-8PM.
Backstage is a show of photographs by Christopher Rauschenberg exposed in artist studios. This show includes the studios of Katherine Ace, Ebenezer Galluzzo, Malia Jensen, Joanne Radmilovich Kollman, Henk Pander, Laura Ross Paul, Marie Watt, and Susan Weil.
Vo Vo brings a mixed media show, topical, and explained at https://www.elizabethleach.com/exhibition-blog/2025/vovo
At Elizabeth Leach Gallery www.elizabethleach.com 417 NW 9th Map 5:30PM-7:30 Free
Fans Only shows its residents along with guests. It's an artist residency in an office building with First Thursday readouts. At Fans Only https://www.fansonly.studio/ 1010 SW 11th 5PM-7 Free
Sara J Winston has photographs Our Body is a Clock themed on her own medical journies. It has a very nice artist statement to explain it all. https://www.blueskygallery.org/exhibitions/archives/2025/sara-j-winston
Leah DeVun has Resemblance, portraits of her trans queer family and its normal family values.
Jerry Mayer is a long time minimalist mixed media sculptor and maker of 2d wall work. At the Nine Gallery https://www.blueskygallery.org/nine-gallery inside Blue Sky.
At Blue Sky Gallery www.blueskygallery.org Map 122 NW 8th 5PM-9 Free
Erin Bodfish is a member of the small After / Time collective. This month she brings At the Altar of My Own Love. At After | Time Collective Gallery 730 SW 10th (enter on 9th) 6PM-9 Free
Whitney Nye brings Trip, an evolution of her repeating units painting style. You will find units, new dense units, and some different than her previous work. Laura Domela brings Defense Mechanisms paintings in a graphic style with a strong drawn line motif.
At Laura Russo Lee Gallery www.russoleegallery.com 805 NW 21st 5PM-7 Early Close Free
The late Thomas Wood has Pleiadies, detailed prints with a surreal quality. Alongside Ripert Jasen Smith with Warhol-style screen prints on commercial themes.
The Opening reception is Saturday, 1:30. At Augen Gallery www.augengallery.com 716 NW Davis 5PM-7:45 Free
PNCA Willamette has their graduating student thesis show. It is spread across Building 5, Stello, and their main building.
At PNCA | Willamette University www.pnca.wilamette.edu 511 NW Broadway Map 5PM-8 Free
At Stelo Arts https://www.steloarts.org/ 412 NW 8th Avenue 5PM-8 Free
At NW Marine Art Works https://www.nwmarineartworks.com/ Building5 https://www.buildingfive.org/ 2516 NW 29th Friday 5PM-8 Free
Cuentos, Casas y Vestidos is a show by Monica Mitchell and Angenette Escobar on Mexican folk art themes from their upbringing. Malgré Tout (Despite Everything) is a show of paintings themed on politics and justice incorporating photographic images by Eddie Reed. Barbara Black has mixed media paintings.
All at Blackfish Gallery https://www.blackfish.com/ 938 NW Everett Map 5PM-8 Early Close Free
Writers Block brings Shobha Jetmalani, Todd Elliot, David Brandt, Julie Rail, Bear Madina, Deanna Schuerbeke, Michelle Suchland, Francesca Lauen Carrera, Marry Lee, Lindsey Fox, Clement Lee, and Susan Harrington, all from the Unkles studios, and on fiew at their big twice yearly open studios at the Marine Art Works. At Writers Block. 818 NW Flanders 5PM-8 Early Close Free
Kayla Marie Carlson is the latest recipient of the Stumptown Artist Fellowship. She opens paintings I Want to Remember Everything.
At Stumptown www.stumptowncoffee.com 128 SW 3rd 5PM-7 Free
Lisa Onstad brings Familiar Patterns inspired by quotidian fabric patterns such as tablecloths. At Waterstone Gallery www.waterstonegallery.com 124 NW 9th 5PM-8 Free
Chess Club is doing a pop up at Frances May. Drop in at Frances May 521 SW 10th 6PM-9 Free
