Explore art & culture in Salem this July through these exhibits (and events).
HALLIE FORD MUSEUM OF ART
Featuring works by Pacific Northwest and Native American artists and a diverse collection of traditional European, American and Asian art, and antique artifacts. Hallie Ford Museum, 700 State St, is open 12 to 5 p.m. Tues — Sat. Cost to explore is free for children, students 18+ and educators (with school id); $8 adults, $5 seniors, and free for everyone on Tuesdays. For more information, visit willamette.edu/arts/hfma, or call 503-370-6855.
Through August 30, 2025
C.S. Price: A Portrait is a retrospective of one of Oregon’s most influential Modernist painters, tracing 40+ years of his artistic evolution, highlighting his journey from Western illustrator to nationally recognized artist who helped define America's vision of the West. His bold, expressive style left a lasting impact on the region’s art scene and inspired a generation of Northwest painters.
July 12, 2025 to June 20, 2026
Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts Biennial highlights a selection of contemporary prints created over the past two years at the renowned printmaking atelier on the Umatilla Reservation. Founded in 1992 by artist James Lavadour, Crow’s Shadow has grown into one of the nation’s premier print studios, fostering artistic opportunity and cultural exchange for Native and non-Native artists alike.
SALEM ON THE EDGE
From fine art by established and up-and-coming artists to graffiti artists, Salem on the Edge features work by PNW artists in a wide variety of media for purchase. Stop in and visit at 156 Liberty St. NE. Info: salemontheedge.com (Note: The Gallery will be closed July 2-6)
Prince Gnarls
Artwork by Prince Gnarls
July
Prince Gnarls Presents: Welcome To Heartbreak: "Welcome To Heartbreak" is a neon-drenched exploration of love's euphoria and unraveling — the way passion burns electric pink one moment and collapses into bruised red the next. My acrylic painting pulse with the intensity of comic book melodrama and anime's emotional extremes, turning heartache into something luminous. These are scenes of love letters written in glitter and gasoline, of characters too loud, too bright, too much. This is love as we know it-beautiful, blinding, and always on the verge of breaking. — Stephen Hinton
Guest Artist Sontonya Necheal — My work represents my journey to finding my unapologetic self in a world where people are more comfortable with me being inside the imaginary box they created for me to be in. Walking in my truth and embracing every unexpected curve that life has thrown my way is present in each brush stroke, pencil line, and irregular shape in each piece. Each work is mixed media and each piece represents a layered page in my journal of life, giving a visual shape to my imagination and emotions. Accepting me as I am is freeing and falling in love with me, unapologetically, is absolutely amazing. The creative beast in me has been unleashed and working out those emotions on canvas is such a release. It feels like FREEDOM! Freedom to creatively be me without concern of making someone else uncomfortable.I choose ME, unapologetically! — Sontonya Necheal
NOTE: The reception for Prince Gnarls and Sontonya Nicheal will be during the August First Friday Art Walk — 5 to 8 p.m. August 2.
SALEM ART ASSOCIATION
The Salem Art Association (SAA) aims to actively engage the community in the appreciation of the arts through contemporary art exhibits and events, and arts education for youth and adults. Bush Barn Art Center & Annex, 600 Mission St. SE | 503-581‑2228, salemart.org
July 11 through August 30
Celebration of Art: SAA Gallery Guides — This exhibit is truly a celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Gallery Guides, the volunteer group of docents who have served and supported Salem Art Association since 1963! The members of this group provide staffing for gallery docent shifts at the Bush Barn Art Center and Annex, attend artist talks, and meet periodically for art-related programs. In this show, some of the pieces are created by the Gallery Guides themselves, and others are contributions from their personal collections. Some items are for sale, with all proceeds going toward supporting SAA services and programs in the regional art community.
Reception: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 11
Radiant Figures | Lily Roth — By examining the figure I can share my human experience and perception of my environment. I have the privilege of sharing how I feel about my experiences, while delivering a narrative that allows viewers to have their own interpretations. I feel that the study of human nature and figure as a vehicle to tell a story that either everyone can relate to or can expose them to something new. Most of my artwork is paintings, but has recently evolved into more sculptural aspects to expand on the concept of evolving human experiences. The subjects of these paintings are people who are important to my life and have shaped who I am today. Elements of these paintings include different objects that I chose because of their visual interest to me as well as their complexity. Working with numerous colors, especially blues and pinks pose a great challenge, yet a challenge that produces a beautiful range. I am continually inspired by changes in temperature, colorful reflections, and deep shadows.
Reception: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 11
The Art of Hope — “Art is the highest form of hope,” is a line first expressed by the German painter Gerhard Richter in 1982. Difficult times come to us all at some point in our lives. Art helps us to overcome obstacles, offers us solace and can bring joy back into our lives. It can have a transformative effect on our mental health and well-being. This show is about transcending the darkness and struggles we may be feeling and lightening our emotional burdens.
Reception: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 11
Black Archive | Nikesha Breeze — Nikesha Breeze is an international artist working across a diverse range of media—including oil painting, clay and bronze sculpture, installation, performance art, and film. Grounded in a global African diasporic and Afro-Futurist perspective, her layered, immersive works draw on African diasporic research, reclamation, and memorial, forging otherworldly spaces rich with storytelling and historical education. Her practice employs multiple materials and methodologies that call upon ancestral memory and archival resurrection to revive stories long erased from the global narrative, engaging directly with themes of grief, sanctuary, power and presence, visibility, and erasure.
Reception: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 11
STEFANI ART GALLERY
Showcasing modern, contemporary, and abstract art from local and internationally recognized artists. We offer original artworks, fine art photographs, and limited-edition prints for collectors at every level. Art should be accessible to all, and we’re here to help you find the perfect pieces for your space. Stefani Art Gallery, 305 Court St NE | stefaniartgallery.com
Through July 31
Stefani Art Gallery
Veils of Light: Between Stillness and Illusion
Veils of Light: Between Stillness and Illusion | Robert Bibler & John Van Dreal
In this exhibit, Robert Bibler's and John Van Dreal's works converge in a contemplative encounter—an exhibition where visual language is pared down to its most essential and presence is shaped through restraint, tone, and light.
Robert’s graphite drawings invite introspection through still, enigmatic figures, while Johns’s tonal landscapes evoke memory and atmosphere through shifting washes of light. Together, their work creates a contemplative space where the visible and the emotional gently blur.
Please note: this exhibit contains classical nudity.
ARTISTS IN ACTION (AiA) GALLERY & GALLERY 444
An artist co-operative featuring 22 artists that share a space with Elsinore Framing's Gallery 444 at 444 Ferry St SE | AiAArtGallery.org
July 6 through 26
Featured Artist: John Mohney — During the month of July, the AiA Art Gallery will show a special feature of the work of co-op member John Mohney, watercolor.
John says: “I have been painting in watercolor for over twenty years and continually take classes and have taken many workshops from nationally recognized art teachers.
I paint mainly in watercolor because it is an unending challenge. There are so many ways to paint in watercolor. Often you are surprised at what turns out because one does not always have control of the paint/water mix. I use a limited palette with 3-5 colors at most on a painting
My process of painting starts with gathering reference material. I usually have a sketchbook or camera at hand to record places, scenes and people. My final pictures may come from several sketches and photo references, not necessarily from the same place. Thus, a painting may depict a northwest scene but not of a particular place.
Even when painting Plein Air I make a sketch first to compose the picture and then paint from the sketch, only looking at the scene to verify local details. Artists are always changing as they experiment, learn and grow. I have chosen these paintings for this show because they show the direction my painting is evolving in."
Opening Reception: 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 6
BUSH HOUSE MUSEUM
July 11 through September 30, 2025
Black Archive | Nikesha Breeze — Nikesha Breeze is an international artist working across a diverse range of media—including oil painting, clay and bronze sculpture, installation, performance art, and film. Grounded in a global African diasporic and Afro-Futurist perspective, her layered, immersive works draw on African diasporic research, reclamation, and memorial, forging otherworldly spaces rich with storytelling and historical education. Her practice employs multiple materials and methodologies that call upon ancestral memory and archival resurrection to revive stories long erased from the global narrative, engaging directly with themes of grief, sanctuary, power and presence, visibility, and erasure.
Reception: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 11
Cultural Exhibits
WILLAMETTE HERITAGE CENTER
14 historic structures house permanent and changing exhibits, a research library and archive, a textile learning center, and rentable event spaces over a five-acre campus, which also has retail shops, art galleries, artist studios, and offices. 1313 Mill St SE | 503-585-7012, willametteheritage.org
July 11 to December 6, 2025
Caralyn B. Shelton: The Nation’s First Female Governor — Recognized as the first female acting governor in the United States, Caralyn B. Shelton served as Oregon’s Governor during the transition between the terms of George E. Chamberlain and Frank W. Benson in 1909 – 3 years before Oregon women were granted the right to vote!
In her three-day tenure as acting Oregon Governor, Caralyn B. Shelton demonstrated that a woman could execute the duties of the highest state office. Her story was told by newspapers all over the world at the time, but few today know her name and her remarkable story.
In addition to telling this remarkable story, this exhibit will be the first time artifacts from the Caralyn B. Shelton Collection at the Willamette Heritage Center will be on display.
WORLD BEAT GALLERY
The World Beat Gallery gives local cultural communities a space to share their heritage: the stories told and items exhibited come directly from members of our community. 390 Liberty St SE | 503-581-2004, salemmulticultural.org
Through July 31
Turtle Island: Dances & Regalia — Indigenous people walked these lands long before they were called America. Long ago it was called Turtle Island, as we are carried by our grandfather, the Turtle. Our grandfather carries us on his back, giving us knowledge, wisdom, and the ability to care about one another. We honor our family from the North and the South, as before colonization, there were no borders between us. This exhibit is a celebration of our family on this beautiful Turtle Island. From the northern tip of Canada, east to the Caribbean, and to the southern tip of South America, Turtle Island is the home of the Indigenous and land of the resilient. As you explore this exhibit, you will read about and see the importance of dance and regalia to the Turtle Island population.
Also...
Diane Trevett
Variation on a Tulip II, charcoal drawing
Diane Trevett Summer Art Exhibit
Salem artist Diane Trevett, Calla Studio Fine Art, will exhibit a collection of her artwork during June, July, and August. Diane uses painting and drawing media to explore botanical, nature and landform subjects. She is fascinated by their unique form, diverse color and hidden details, and uses the final composition to enhance these qualities. The exhibition will feature various mediums such as charcoal/pastel drawings and oil and acrylic paintings. Through July at Windermere Heritage Real Estate, 675 Orchard Heights Rd.