February 2026
We have compiled a list of First Friday participants to allow you to experience the art of downtown! Please remember to follow each individual gallery's in-person policies & be sure to use #LNKFF when you post pictures to share your night!
101 N 14TH ST. |
More details to come
118 N 14TH ST. | 12 PM - 7:30 PM
Shop for your Bookish Valentine!
Reilly Woodward specializes in drawing using graphite pencils on reclaimed book pages. The images that are drawn are sometimes inspired by the title of the book or subject matter.
12 – 7:30: Art Show & Sale
You’ll find Reilly’s work adorning the supports of our shelving.
Shop for art as you shop for books ~ both make unique Valentine’s Day Gifts!
5:30 – 7:30: Meet the Artist Reception
Enjoy sweet treats and great conversation.
Reilly also does custom work on commission!
Reach him through Instagram: reilly_woodward
Following our evening at the bookstore, head upstairs to First Friday at Parrish Studios, where you can explore work by over 50 local artists!
Burkholder Art Studio & Galleries
719 P ST. | 5 PM - 8 PM
Show runs February 6-28
On the ground floor we have Erin Cross & Keith Hartley in the Main Gallery. The Skylight Gallery will host Albert Maxey, and in the Outback Gallery is the annual 12″ x 12″ group show!
Main Gallery
‘Noun: person, place or thing’, Erin Cross and Keith Hartley
For Erin Cross’ work, she writes:
“In my exploration of fractured narratives, I often utilize the educational tool of “master copies” within the compositions as aid in illuminating the complexities of society and human relationships. This approach allows me to deconstruct familiar imagery, fostering a dialogue that challenges viewers to reconsider their perceptions. By intertwining historical references with contemporary themes, I reflect the disjointed nature of our shared experiences. My work serves not only as an artistic endeavor but also as a medium for social commentary, prompting introspection and connection. Through these fractured pieces, I aspire to create a space where viewers can engage with the nuances of their own narratives within the broader context of our collective existence.”
Outback Gallery
12″ x 12″, group show
This is a fun annual group show of both Studio and Associate artists challendged to create a piece (or two!) that are restricted to 12″ x 12″. This show often highlights the diversity of our artists in the building.
Skylight Gallery
‘Work' by Albery Maxey
Special Exhibit Space
‘Sweet Love,’ Valentine's Day Group Show
140 N 12TH ST. | 5 PM
More details to come.
119 S. 9TH ST. | 5 PM - 8:30 PM
Join us for the opening event of our February show, What We Hold Dear! We are featuring thirteen members of the gallery and five guest artists from Lincoln. Come in person to participate in a community art piece all month long. Listen to live clarinet music performed by Kaye Howell Music and have some treats from The Rabbit Hole Bakery.
200 S ANTELOPE VALLEY PARKWAY | 5 PM - 8:30 PM
More details to come.
2055 O ST. | 6 PM - 8 PM
Constellation Studios presents the painted book covers of Turner McGehee, Hastings, Nebraska, and the bound books of painted pages by Ward Schumaker, San Francisco CA.
Schumaker’s expressionistic brush work, and stenciled text creates a “disorienting….discourse” as hymns, quotes, dreamy narrations are legible than obscured with paste, pigment, and scribbled graphite onto pages. McGehee plays with adding value and reclaiming discarded/deaccessioned book covers for his stream-of-conscience painted flow of mysterious figures, stamped patterns, landscape references, and biological-like microworlds.
The artists’ common issue is to embed the book format and material references with free associations and to spark our deep reading.
Turner McGehee was born in Alabama. He has a degree in psychology from Washington and Lee University (BA, 1975) and in printmaking from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro (MFA 1981). He joined the Hastings College art faculty in 1983, where he currently teaches printmaking, drawing and art history.
His work has been exhibited in shows at the Joslyn Art Museum, Sioux City Art Center (SD), Colorado College, the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, and the Hyde Park Art Center (Chicago, IL). He has exhibited solo at the Haydon Gallery (Lincoln, NE), the Museum of Nebraska Art, Louisiana State University and other college and university galleries.
He has presented lectures on the art of the ancient Maya, the relationship between jazz and visual imagery, the psychology of creativity and the evolution of Christian iconography. https://www.hastings.edu/bio/turner-mcgehee/
Ward Schumaker has been interpreting text into visual narrative for most of his working life. Though he started out in fine art over 40 years ago, he evolved into an internationally recognized illustrator for most of his career and is still heavily involved in the business. His illustrational style uses text as an integral part of the drawing to identify his clients and their products.
While in his senior year at Omaha University, a work he made won first prize in the Nebraska Governor's Art Show, but was deemed obscene by a viewer, forcing him to withdraw it under pressure. Consequently, Schumaker moved to San Francisco from Nebraska in 1966.
His exhibition record includes shows in New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, UC Berkeley, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Charleston, Miami, and Nashville. His work can be found in the Achenbach Foundation (Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco), The Zimmerli Art Museum (Rutgers); The Joslyn Art Museum (Omaha), and The Crocker Art Museum (Sacramento, CA).
https://ward-schumaker.squarespace.com/
140 N. 8TH ST. | 6 PM - 9 PM
First Friday: Artist Shelby Krause & Music with Orion Walsh
Shelby Krause:
I’m a 2D/ Mixed Media Artist based in Lincoln, Nebraska. My life, like many of my works, has been a winding road of different turns and surprises. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Education, I spent 10 years in the public education system as a middle school Art teacher. I learned that some of my best ideas come from talking with others, that I want to help lift up the voice of others, and that I am far weirder than most teenage kids.
Over the last few years, my life has changed dramatically and one thing that has helped me heal is artmaking. Many of my works are colorful and primal chronicles of my life’s journey; the good, the bad, and the ridiculous. While I do love working through emotions in my art, other times I go down rabbit holes and make weird and random things. Recently, I have been inspired by the places I have visited - the beauty I have been lucky enough to see and the memories connected to them. I also find inspiration in pop culture and my sweet baby angels Bill and Yeller.
Orion Walsh:
After a decade of putting out albums and touring, Nebraskan singer-songwriter Orion Walsh has released “Walking Through the Forest” with new label Fair Vaux Records. Brimming with vivid storytelling, this is truly a mature step forward for this well-traveled troubadour. Walsh has previously released eight albums with independent labels Sower Records & Indie Vision Music, including “The Hitchhiker’s Son” produced by AJ Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk). He also released two full length albums with his previous band Slow Coming Day (Tooth & Nail Records) which had major label distribution.
Walsh has been touring for over a decade and has performed over 1,000 concerts all over the United States as well as multiple tours to Europe both as a solo artist and with his band. Orion has performed his music in 15 different countries and opened up for artists in the past such as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Magic Slim, David Dondero, Mae, David Bazan, The Mynabirds, Wild Child, Samantha Crain, Wayne Hancock, 6′ 10″, etc. Several of his songs have been used on television and independent films in the past, including “Skins” (UK), “Pawn Stars”, “NY Ink” (TLC), “What Not to Wear”, & “America’s Next Top Model” of international fame. Expect to see more from this free-spirited traveler and songwriter in the years to come.
1100 E O ST. | 5 PM - 9 PM
More details to come.
STADIUM DR. & T ST. | 5 PM - 7 PM
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Eisentrager-Howard Gallery will host the 39th Annual Undergraduate Juried Exhibition. The exhibition opens with a First Friday reception on Friday, Feb. 6 from 5-7 p.m. and continues through Feb. 27.
A closing reception will be held Friday, Feb. 27 from 5-7 p.m. in the gallery with awards presented at 5:30 p.m. More than 10 awards will be announced, including the Faulkner Memorial Awards.
Sixty-eight works were selected, and 64 undergraduate artists are represented in the exhibition. Mediums range from digital to traditional.
The guest juror this year is Susan Longhenry, who has served as Director of Sheldon Museum of Art since 2023. Prior to that she served as director and chief curator at the Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; as Director of the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico; as Alfond Director of Museum Learning and Public Programs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; as Director of Education and Public Programs at the Indianapolis Museum of Art; and as Curator of Education at the Georgia Museum of Art in Athens, Georgia.
The following students are participating in the exhibition: Dawson Adams, Ace Ahmed, Natalie Allrich, Christopher Alvarez, Sophia Baker, Megan Belgum, Cassidy Benjamin, Bae Brummond, Nicholas Bushard, Isaac Castro-Velasquez, Hannah Christensen, Clare, Clark, Griffen Denne, Katie Dia, Brooke Dlouhy, Zoelynne Engel, Kevin Escamilla, Alexis Frank, Keely Gill, Mallory Grundman, Sydney Hale, Abby Halsey, Sophia Harding, Olivia Harley, Ally Hendricks, Sam Hendricks, Jacob Hillyer, August Hudson, Marina Kushner, AJ Maly, Elle Marroquín, Ellie Maxwell, Fritz Mazzini, Madalyn Mellick, Israel Mendez Lopez, Coralea Montague, Gianna Morris, Lilly Murphy, Ellie Nelson, Saylor Newman, Savannah Paisley, Mu Paw, Van Phan, Claire Polly, Marz Pratt, Lim Pouch, Sarah Rady, Kaileena Ramirez, Richard Rawlings, Levi Robertson, Pat Rujirayanyong, Nico Rurik, Sidney Sivill, Braxton Small, Aaliyah Smith, Samantha Spencer, Ava Sturdy, Callie Swenson, PawEh ThaYou, Elizabeth Troia, Taylyn Watson, Red Wilhelm, Amy Xu and Emily Zimmerman.
The Eisentrager-Howard Gallery is located on the first floor of Richards Hall on the university’s city campus at Stadium Drive and T streets. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public.
For more information on the exhibition, please contact the School of Art, Art History & Design at (402) 472-5522 or e-mail schoolaahd@unl.edu. Follow the gallery on social media via Instagram @eisentragerhoward and Facebook @EHArt Gallery to be informed of any gallery updates.
The Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures
RM 831 of Oldfather Hall on UNL City Campus | 2 PM - 6 PM
We are open First Fridays through May 1st from 2 - 6 pm. Admission is always free (not just on First Fridays). This semester we are featuring an incredible miniature Nebraska Sod House created by local artist Marjorie Bailey.
211 N 14TH ST | 6 PM - 9 PM
More details to come.
130 S 13TH ST | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Join us as we welcome back beloved local artist Tom Sheppard as he presents his new show! We will be open late, until 7:30, for a reception during Lincoln’s First Friday Art Walk on February 6th! We can’t wait to see you there!
About the Artist:
Tom Sheppard is a well-known Nebraska artist, often associated with Lincoln, who is primarily a watercolorist, former art teacher for Lincoln Public Schools (LPS), and coach, known for his balanced, intuitive style, and is featured at local spots like the Burkholder Project and Francie & Finch. He studied art at Hastings College and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), blending logical and creative approaches in his work, which sometimes includes local subjects like the Nebraska State Capitol.
124 S. 9TH ST. | 5 PM - 8:30 PM
"Animal House" an all-member Gallery 9 group show.
Join us in February for a mixed media menagerie of beasts, critters, and fantastical fauna as the Gallery 9 artists explore the theme of "animals."
On display February 4-March 1
1300 P Street | 5 PM - 8:30 PM
More details to come.
1155 Q ST. | 5 PM - 7 PM
The Great Plains Art Museum is open late on First Friday, Feb. 6, 5-7 p.m. with four exhibitions and light refreshments. We’re launching special 50th anniversary T-shirts and sticker packs at this month’s First Friday event.
On View:
“Collection Connections: Art in Conversation”
January 20-July 25, 2026
In 2026, the Center for Great Plains Studies and its Great Plains Art Museum celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Center and the 45th anniversary of the museum’s opening. To commemorate these milestones, this exhibition highlights artworks from the collection that span the museum’s history, from the founding donation to recent acquisitions. Rather than presenting these selections in a chronological arrangement, artworks are paired or grouped to focus on formal and thematic connections and emphasize the diverse perspectives that tell the multifaceted stories of the Great Plains.
“‘All the Beauty You Can See’: Dwight Kirsch in Nature”
January 20-July 25, 2026
A native Nebraskan and prolific artist, Dwight Kirsch (1899-1981) was an important figure in the Lincoln arts community in the early-to-mid twentieth century, serving as chair of the University of Nebraska Art Department and playing an integral role in the Nebraska Art Association. The Great Plains Art Museum’s extensive collection of Kirsch’s work spans his time teaching in Nebraska through his last years at the Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home. This exhibition presents a small sampling of those holdings, each selected to demonstrate Kirsch’s deep and lifelong fascination with conveying the nuances and beauty of the natural world through art.
"Indigenous Ceramics from the Collection"
January 20–July 25, 2026
This permanent collection spotlight exhibition in the museum’s Mezzanine Gallery features diverse ceramic works by Indigenous artists of the Great Plains and nearby Southwest region.
“Wild Great Plains”
October 3, 2025-February 21, 2026
Lower-Level Gallery
Inspired by the Center for Great Plains Studies’ 50th annual conference, “Wild Great Plains,” this exhibition considers the concept of “wild” in art. Drawing from the Great Plains Art Museum’s permanent collection, “Wild Great Plains” explores how artists have connected with and portrayed the wild species and places of the region.
Handspoken Fair Trade (originally Ten Thousand Villages)
140 N. 8th ST. | 6 PM - 8 PM
Handspoken (Formerly Ten Thousand Villages) hosts a craft night in collaboration with Downtown Lincoln Artwalk First Friday. These events are free to anyone and everyone. The crafts vary each month. The craft for each month will be announced here and on our social media!
1208 O ST. | 5 PM - 8 PM
Join us for February First Friday, happening this Friday, February 6th, from 5–8 PM! View our current James Eisentrager exhibition on our third floor, American Regionalist work on our second floor, and contemporary artists on our first floor. Enjoy a cash bar while you browse.
Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel
333 S. 13th St. | 6 PM - 9 PM
More details to come.
701 P St SUITE 102 | 5 PM - 8 PM
More details to come.
'Frostbite and Fever' - the coldest month, hottest exhibit.
Culture + Coffee
Vintage clothes. Skate park. Coffee. Hosted by Mike Smith with the Booey Boys.
131 CENTENNIAL MALL N | 5 PM - 7 PM
More details to come.
More details to come.
325 S 11th St. | 8 PM
MARK YOUR CALENDAR, you have plans this Friday 😎 join us in enjoying some good drinks, good vibes, and amazing pottery with @thee.babbling.brooke
1410 O St. | 7 PM - 10 PM
Check out their website and view all of their different studios for more details.
More details to come.
Saint Paul United Methodist Church
More details to come.
1st Friday Karaoke + Sing to Win Raffle
Theme / Description:
Get ready to light up the mic at Salt Mine City Brewing Co. for our 1st Friday Karaoke + Sing to Win Raffle. It’s your chance to sing your heart out, win prizes, and enjoy a night filled with music, good vibes, and great company.
Format Details:
• Free to join – no cover charge.
• Massive karaoke catalog featuring everything from throwback hits to today’s chart-toppers.
• Ice-cold brews, cocktails, and drink specials available all night.
• Fun, inclusive atmosphere for singers and spectators alike.
Sing to Win Raffle:
• Earn raffle tickets for every song you perform.
• Tickets are drawn hourly throughout the night.
• Each winner spins the prize wheel for a chance to win bar prizes and giveaways.
How to Participate:
Arrive early, grab a drink, and sign up to sing. The more songs you perform, the more chances you have to win — so bring your friends and make it a night to remember.
Venue Info / Schedule:
Salt Mine City Brewing Co. | 1st Fridays | Downtown Lincoln | 21+
Interested in meeting new people and sparking engaging conversations about art? Join us this First Friday for gallery conversation prompts and interactive games. Whether you come with friends or on your own, you’re guaranteed to have an enjoyable evening.
Interactive gallery games will begin at 5:30 PM. This event is free and open to everyone, no registration is required.
First Friday Art Exhibition!
"Purgatory" featuring Madison Sparks, Niko Rurik and Sophia Baker opens First Friday, February 6th from 7-10.
Will DJ ol' moanin' be there? I hope so!
210 Architecture Hall (HDR Pavilion Lobby) | 5 PM - 7 PM
More details to come.
More details to come.
Have an art show in downtown Lincoln you'd like added to our monthly list?
Email Maia at maia@downtownlincoln.org.