First Friday Art Walk

Visit Bas Bleu Theatre this First Friday from 5:30 to 9:00 PM to see artwork by Dan Huling (@coloradoshoeschool) and Annabel Reader (@annabelreader). Dan and Annabel are the featured artists paired with the current production, "The Importance of Being Earnest" written by Oscar Wilde. Their work and installation will be on display in Bas Bleu through the running of the production.

The installation examines themes of social class, consumption and the performance of decorum, suggesting that outward appearances often carry more weight than the true substance of one’s character. In doing so, it seeks to dismantle the carefully constructed facades of self-image.

You can learn more about Dan and Annabel and the Colorado Shoe School at coloradoshoeschool.com.

All works on display are not for sale. Please reach out to the artists directly with inquiries at info@coloradoshoeschool.com.

We hope to see you on First Friday or during open box office hours at Gallery Bleu! Purchase your tickets now for "The Importance of Being Earnest" now through March 15th.

Join us for First Friday Art Walk at CC’s Flowers Old Town on Friday, March 6 from 6–9 PM. Enjoy an evening of local art and live music in a welcoming, creative atmosphere.

We’re excited to feature live music from the Mike Yob Bluegrass Band, a high-lonesome traditional bluegrass quartet blending timeless standards with hard-driving original tunes that honor tradition while pushing it forward.

The Mike Yob Bluegrass Band (@mikeyobbluegrassband) is a high-lonesome, traditional bluegrass quartet based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Featuring Mike Yob on guitar, Mike Fritz on banjo, Travis Annameier on mandolin, and Erin Youngberg on upright bass, the group blends timeless bluegrass standards with hard-driving original tunes that keep the tradition alive while pushing it forward.

Local artist Mandy West (@mandywestfoco) will showcase her acrylic paintings, inspired by cast shadows, meaningful places, and the beauty found in everyday life.

Mandy West grew up in Fort Collins. After majoring in oil painting in college, she met her husband and they renovated an old house to create Midnight Oil Coffeehouse in Searcy, AR. While raising their three boys back in Fort Collins, she always found creative outlets; painting murals, teaching art classes, making jewelry and sewing. The last few years, she has focused on acrylic painting. Her favorite subjects to paint are cast shadows, items or places with special memories, and beauty found in everyday life.

Come sip, shop, and celebrate local talent with us at CC’s Flowers, 153 N College Ave. We look forward to seeing you there!

Explore the artwork of creators who are part of the Fractal Visions exhibition "The Museum of Mothers Art."

"My mother suddenly passed away on June 16th, 2025 due to heart failure after a lifetime of amazing journeys helping take care of her family. She touched the lives of so many individuals with her uplifting support and constant inspiration to create something new for everyone to enjoy. The least we can do is share her art with the world and continue to honor her legacy." ~Lisa

The Museum of Mothers | Fractal Visions | IGLI

Lisa Nevot (@lisanevot) is a seasoned member of the creative arts industry, and Certified Theraputic Arts Practitioner.

With a career spanning just shy of 4 decades Lisa has run a business fashioned to suit her lifestyle, craving for adventure, freedom in expression, and passion for art.

Lisa’s work varies in style and medium making her accessible to multiple clientele tastes and needs.

Her mediums include watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, graphite, canvas, and wood. Even painting on glass and brick. Her style is recognizable yet vastly different based on current inspiration and influences.

Her artwork has won her awards, been published, licensed, auctioned, in galleries, in stores, and sold online. All through her own marketing and distribution channels.

Her love for the arts has brought her to speak on panels, speak to large audiences, paint live on stage with best selling authors. It has taken her work to Italy to tour for a year, to hang along side the likes of Diego Rivera and even Michelangelo. She has been published in multiple magazines and it has led her to teach art history through the artists of the past as well as teaching beginners to bring out their love of creation.

Lisa believes in conscious creation. The connectivity of all living things and the entanglement theory of the quantum universe. Her art represents the thinning of the veil and our ability to move through life not being identified by it but rather a passenger on a journey in this dimension. She has intuitive gifts that present themselves in her vision and dreams feeling the connection to the collective consciousness. She asks that we see ourselves not as our bodies or suffering, but as creators. Architects of our lives through our passion and desire for the health of ourselves, our community and the planet. Through personal power we can then join each other and light up the world, exposing the underbelly and driving it out with the light. Every thing that is alive now walking and living on the earth should be treated with reverence.

Lisa is still creating and teaching to this day, continuing to live her way and loving the life she leads.

“Success is in the ability to live the lifestyle you choose, not just the power of acquisition.”

She creates from the soul for the soul.

When she is not locked up in her studio or spending time in the galleries, Lisa can be found wandering Old Town Fort Collins enjoying the local flavors or taking road trips and doing photography.

Lisa will be offering all work 20% off and raffling off one of her Framed Hand Painted Print this First Friday Artwalk!

Tom Vaughan
“Stealing a Ride” 1972
Capturing the freight train sensation on film.
Original photograph

Join us for ANOTHER unforgettable First Friday Art Walk at Edge Optics! Grab your friends, bundle up, and stop by for an evening full of local art, delicious food, and good vibes. Here's what's happening:

JES Creations (@_jes_creations_) - Unique handcrafted fiber art!

Voulez Vous Bonbons (@voulezvousbonbon) - Gorgeous handmade artisan chocolates!

Stephanie Brown - Stunning paintings and pet portraits!

Solana Studios (@solanastudios_) - Breathtaking, high-quality permanent jewelry!

Lydia Cruz - Beautiful, expressive art and custom caricatures!

The Smoke Post Food Truck (@thesmokepostbbq) - The best BBQ in town!

Whether you're here to shop, snack, admire local art, or just soak in the atmosphere, this night will be packed with good vibes.

Follow your nose down the marble steps into our 142bis gallerie and discover fresh works from our bevy of talented female artisans. You’ll find French Pastoral themed acrylics from Blossom Bird Studio (baaa baaa), visions of printemps captured by Ute of handarbeit (@esscentualsfortcollins) ephemera collage paquets, floral and fruit fragranced candles by Beldamia and exquisite earrings and necklaces laden with charms & pearls crafted by L. Emerson Artworks (@lelovinglife) and JBS. Think Spring with us…

FoCo Cafe is excited to launch the Grand Opening of Sahtein Mediterranean Restaurant in tandem with First Friday Art Walk! Sahtein chef, Darwish, is an alumni of Arboretum Coffee's apprenticeship program and FoCo Cafe is excited to serve as a launch pad for Sahtein!

In addition, the colorful and expressive artwork of Efilaf will be featured on the cafe's gallery walls. Efilaf, born Anthony D. Gipson, is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores themes of resilience, identity, and societal influence.

Through his latest collection, It Could Rain, Efilaf invites audiences to embrace life’s storms, recognizing them not just as obstacles, but as catalysts for growth and reinvention. His work stands as a testament to the power of perspective, urging individuals to reclaim their narratives and find meaning even in turbulent times.

The FoCo Cafe exhibit is a combo of his We Are Watching and Rain series.

Join us for First Friday Art Walk with free entry to experience our current exhibits and our permanent collection galleries, alongside live music from Petrichor Collective (@petrichor_collective_)!

Hutch Home Co. is excited to host local artist, Dave Theissen (@dtheissenart). Dave focuses primarily on painting and drawing with a focus on landscape, objects, and figures.

Visit Linden Street Tattoo Co. this First Friday to see featured work by resident tattoo artist Cullen Puffer (@goatpriest) Cullen will be exhibiting a collection of original pastel drawings and fine art prints for sale, including small collectible pieces and a large 20 x 30 inch original.

Stop by to meet Cullen and view the artwork inside the studio where he creates his tattoos!

Hey, there! 👋 A note from your Downtown Fort Collins crew: We're ink-credibly excited to welcome Linden Street Tattoo Company as a new Art Walk participant! Stop by, meet the artists, and see some serious skin art in Old Town.

Installation Nation
This group exhibition gathers together five local and regional artists to explore the intersection of installation art, nature and our environment. Installation art moves beyond traditional art forms to incorporate sound, architecture, found objects to give an immersive experience to the viewer.

In My Eye
The striking and unique landscape paintings of Fort Collins-based artist Gina Blickenstaff show nature in all of its glorious moods and textures. From close up views of grasses and leaves to far away vistas and changing light, Blickenstaff’s landscapes hone in on the elegant details and design of nature.

A Pendulum Oscillates About Its Lowest Point
Having worked as studio mates for many years, Gretchen Marie Schaefer and Derrick Velasquez share a sustained exchange that has shaped both practices through proximity, generosity, and ongoing critique. This exhibition emerges from an interwoven relationship between the two artists developing their work in close conversation, where insight, influence, and support circulate alongside difference instead of collapsing into it.

Featured Artists: 

Nicole Banowetz

Ashley Hope Carlisle

Chelsea Gilmore

Katelynn Mai-Fusco

Abbie Powers

Gina Blickenstaff

Derrick Velasquez (@transformingmilkintomilk)

Gretchen Marie Schaefer

Old Town Art and Framery (OTAF) has been a creative cornerstone in Fort Collins where art is preserved, celebrated, and brought to life. For decades, this space has supported local artists, and framed cherished memories.

Now, under new ownership, OTAF is entering an exciting new chapter while honoring the foundation that made this shop a pillar in Northern Colorado art scene. The refreshed gallery features stunning local artwork, thoughtfully curated to reflect our community. We continue offering professional custom framing — whether it’s fine art, photography, memorabilia, or family heirlooms, we’re passionate about helping every piece tell its story beautifully.

This month’s First Friday ArtWalk is a celebration of that new era. We invite you to explore the revitalized space, discover incredible local art, and experience the energy of a business that continues to evolve while staying rooted in its purpose: supporting artists and strengthening Fort Collins' creative culture.

As a special complement to the evening, our featured artist, Rozine, will be offering henna tattoos and tarot card readings — adding an interactive and memorable layer to an already inspiring night.

Join us for:
• A fresh look at our curated local art collection
• Expert custom framing consultations
• A welcoming space to connect with fellow art lovers
• Live henna and tarot experiences during the event

Featured Artworks by: 

Rozine Artist (@rozine3)

Billie J Colson (@colsonbillie) | Facebook 

Kate Dardine (@totemkate) | Facebook

Alene Nitzky (@alenedissolveart) | Facebook

Jane Basile (@janebasile) | Facebook

Shelly Hearne (@hearneshelly) | Facebook

Pam Furmo

Clint Eccher (@clinteccherfineart) | Facebook

Whether you’ve visited us for years or are stepping inside for the first time, we invite you to come see what’s new, reconnect with what you love, and be part of the next chapter in this longstanding creative hub.

Hey, there! 👋 A note from your Downtown Fort Collins crew: We're framing this moment to welcome Old Town Art and Framery as a new Art Walk participant! Stop by and discover stunning local artworks.

Emily Prouty is a powerful creative who seeks to share beauty she sees around her in the world. Trained at Vanderbilt University in Latin American Studies, Cultural Anthropology, Ethnography and International Community Development, her travels in the developing world during college and graduate school solidified in her a deep love of her fellow human beings and a powerful pull towards the art of living well as your true self.

She found that the women she worked with around the world — but most especially in even the most difficult and deeply impoverished communities across Latin America — adorned themselves daily with deep reverence, bright vibrant color and incredible grounded joy. Self-possessed and powerful these women with their incredible stories and their singular style are something Emily has carried in her heart ever since. When we begin to dress for ourselves alone we are on the path of reclamation of our wild selves. The ones who know who we are most truly. The ones we most need and are most likely to forget in a culture that is forever telling us how to look and who to be. The power of seeking our own self-possession through self-expression is very real. You alone know what you love. You alone what makes you soul sing. You alone know you Truth. You should wrap that knowing around your own shoulders everyday and wear it with the same grace as you do your own skin. Dressed in your own knowing you are your most powerful, beautiful and free.

Emily designs and makes all Beloved Sovereign pieces with love and intention in sunny Northern Colorado.

First Friday is back at Petrichor Collective on March 6th from 6–9pm at our studio at 131 E Lincoln Ave, Suite C.

Live Music: @readtheroom_music and @MR.VIGIL

Featured Artists: @Kolasaitoti, @Fcksh.tup, and @MooGlass

Kola Saitoti (@Kolasaitoti) explores three-and-four dimensional worlds in a two-dimensional plane. These meditations inspire us to sit with the paroxysm of life, allowing us to have more compassion and reverence for the challenges of duality, and to contemplate what it means to be indigenous to this planet in the 21st century.

Noah Moomaw (@noahmoomaw) grew up in North Carolina before moving to the mountains of Colorado in 2015, where he began blowing glass while continuing to pursue his love of the outdoors. Skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and climbing keep him busy alongside long days in the studio honing his craft. Today, he lives in the Colorado Front Range, where he has built his own home-based glass blowing studio. He specializes in milli and functional work, creating pieces such as pipes, milli cane and coin, cups, pendants, and more.

Tarot readings by @AlexeiFinch.

Off the radar local Art. From the Artists, for the Collective.

We will be hosting Diane Edwards, a versatile artist who paints in oils, watercolor, and pastels. Having lived on the Great Plains of North Dakota and in the San Luis Valley of Colorado she paints the landscapes and terrain of those areas that she loves. Her paintings are filled with the warmth of the flowing rivers, rocks and colorful geology of New Mexico, Colorado, and North Dakota.

I will have my Studio, 211, open to the public from 5-9 pm. New this month… see the completed Smitten Siren, From the Ashes; Phoenix, Cycles; Horse & Dragon, and Tea Dragon paintings, along with other works in progress. I’ll planned to be painting something, I just don’t know what yet.

To see samples of my work and to get updates on First Friday and my other events, please check out my Facebook | Website | Instagram (@SheriLauren_Art)

MOA (@moafortcollins) Community Curated Art & Conversation Show focusing on mental health will also be open in the collaborative space on the second floor. Plantiness (@planti.ness) will be our featured nonprofit. The artists will be available for meet and greet and have tables in Suite 215.

Artists include: Kyah Probst (@kyahprobst.art), Thomas Troup (@naturalphotosbytroup), Lee Oaks (@thundermonkeygo), and Sheri Lauren. I’m also very happy to be joined by Charming Quail Jewelry Design and Partum Iter in my studio to 11 and the hall space. Freebird Funnday (@FreebirdFunnday) will also be rejoining us with Live finger painting.

For our March First Friday Art Walk at The Emporium, we are proud to feature local Northern Colorado artist Vicki McCarger, whose work reflects a lifetime of thoughtful observation and creative devotion.

Vicki’s artist eye has been shaped over many years - first drawn to art as a child, then stepping away to devote herself to a nursing career and raising her family. At 50, she returned to her first love of drawing and painting with renewed depth and perspective. Her years as a caregiver are rooted in patience, compassion, and attentiveness, which now guide her artistic process, allowing her to capture not just the likeness, but the soul of her subjects.

The natural world is her constant muse. Working primarily in watercolor, Vicki brings a layered softness and vitality to wildlife, landscapes, and living things. More recently, she has embraced collage as another expressive outlet, exploring texture, color, and composition in fresh and unexpected ways.

Living in Northern Colorado, surrounded by extraordinary wildlife and sweeping landscapes, Vicki frequently ventures out to wander, observe, and gather inspiration for her next piece.

Join us at The Emporium on March 6th for the First Friday Art Walk to experience her work up close and to witness her creative process in action. Vicki will be working on a new piece during the event, offering guests a rare opportunity to see her thoughtful technique unfold in real time while enjoying an evening of art, community, and seasonal fare.

This month The Masonic will be showing a preview of the works of Michael Safran (@michael_j_safan) who's opening reception for his solo show "Possibilities" will be the following evening, 3/7 from 6pm - 9pm. Michael pulls from literature, philosophy, history, science, nature and mythology to create striking geometric works of art that light up a room and spark the imagination.

We're also excited to be joined by Melissa Mitchell, a local creative collaborator and writer and Fort Collins' current Poet Laureate. You can find her work in her debut chapbook, Portrait Lands, by Finishing Line Press, as well as in Birdy Magazine, Twenty Bellows, and Gulo Gulo Poetry Magazine.

Come join us for a memorable evening at The Masonic Event Center and make this First Friday Art Walk historic!

Allison Harvey (@piecesofchildhood) | Pieces of Childhood:

I've been an artist my whole life. I've only been selling it for the last 6 years. I upcycle many things, my business is called Pieces of Childhood because all my art incorporates toys and pop culture from the 80's and 90's. Nostalgia runs deep in my blood. I have a lot of fun creating wall art, flannels and many other projects.

Join us all month long for March Mug Madness, a playful and creative celebration of all things mug-inspired. Our talented member artists have come together to showcase handmade mugs, one-of-a-kind coasters, paintings of mugs, and plenty of delightfully mug-related surprises. Whether you're a coffee lover, tea enthusiast, or simply appreciate functional art, there’s something to make you smile.

Stop in this March and find your new favorite mug!

This month we are featuring the talented Morgan Conrad (@kneatfreak7). Come check out the stunning illustrations Morgan has to offer!

Join us for a Western-themed Art Walk celebrating bold color, big skies, and frontier spirit. Watch renowned artist Gregory Mayse bring the West to life with a live painting demonstration, sharing his process from first brushstroke to final highlight.

Enjoy complimentary samples from Jersey Cowboy Food Truck. Proudly voted the #1 food truck in Fort Collins serving up crowd favorite bites with cowboy flair.

It's an evening of art, flavor and Western charm you won't want to miss 🤠🌵

Pet That Dog Co is a local beanie, collar, bandana, and dog tag designer. You can get a dog tag made right here in our shop and check out her other products. Their mission: Spread Love and Smiles.

This month we are featuring two of Wayward's resident artists! Jade Lipman and David Clavier will be hosting a custom "DIY" patches and prints workshop where guests can try linocut printing for themselves. All supplies will be provided and everyone will get to take home their very own custom work.

Jadelyn Lipman (@lpod.designs): "As an artist, Jade mostly works within the realm of printmaking, but is also stoked to be a maker and doer of as many crafts as possible. At Wayward, she will have paper prints and her spring collection of printed clothing items.

David Clavier (@davidgaugeart): "David is a multi-media artist whose collections center around the American Traditional tattoo style. He specializes in woodburning and painting but has just expanded into linocut printing. Custom wood pieces, prints, patches, and clothing are available at Wayward."

Thrilled to host AKcreative (@akcreative). Experience the incredible talents of this analog collage artist and concert photographer, who creates unique hand cut paper collages and captures raw moments with no zoom lens or digital programming.

Join us at the Publick House to enjoy a new exhibit of works by Steve Fryberger with live music from Dominick Antonelli.

Steve says:

This show at Wolverine Farm Publick House displays new works from around Fort Collins and older works from Oman, with a side trip or two. My favorite milieu around Fort Collins is here at Wolverine Farm. This is an especially inspiring place to have an espresso, note down ideas in a sketchbook, and then bounce them off new and old friends and the multi- talented folks who work here.

Live music by Dominick Antonelli (@dominick_antonelli_music) starts at 6:30pm. Dominick Antonelli plays a mix of acoustic instrumental guitar and singing. He has infused the instrumentals in workshops where he facilitates meditation, ear acupuncture, and group energy healing. He is prepping for his first national tour this summer and is currently studying Music and Recording Arts at FRCC, diving into bridging the electronic and acoustic world.