Create.Vegas

Abstractly Thinking
2026-04-24 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-25 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-26 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-27 12:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Artist Co-op Gallery of Reno, 627 Mill St., Reno, NV, 89505, United States
Join us at the Artists Co-op for “Abstractly Thinking”

April 1-30, 2026

Guest Artist: Trina Craig

Artist of the Month: Michaele Tristram

Consignment Artist of the Month: Sharon Randall

Reception: Sunday, April 12, from noon-4 p.m.

Find out what our abstract artists are thinking and doing. There will be images you have never seen before by our talented community of creative artists. Come enjoy the art, the company, the food, and the wine.

Home Truth: Image-making in Absence, Photography by Steven Seidenberg
2026-04-24 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-25 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-26 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-27 12:00 - 16:00 | John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art, University Arts Building - 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV, 89557, United States
The photographic practice of Steven Seidenberg explores a material world of the unnoticed, fixing attention on structures, environments, and landscapes often hidden in plain sight. Three photographic series are combined in this exhibition; each focuses on past and present living conditions in a different area of the world (Puglia and Rome, Italy; Kanazawa, Japan). Seidenberg’s richly detailed images capture current and former living spaces—houses, tents, outbuildings, and empty lots— providing the viewer with ideas about the lived environment, how space is used, and how humans travel through and live within the spaces they occupy under wide-ranging material conditions.
Image: Steven Seidenberg from the series, The Architecture of Silence: Abandoned Lives of the Italian South, photograph, courtesy of the artist

This Just In: Recent Additions to the Lilley Museum of Art Collection
2026-04-24 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-25 12:00 - 16:00 | John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art, University Arts Building - 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV, 89557, United States
An exhibition of new acquisitions to the Lilley Museum of Art
Image: Carol Cole Levin, Fortress, 1992, Clay, concrete, wire, and wood picture frame, Collection of the John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art, Gift of the Artist 2025.

Homeland Security: Images from the Epicenter of the Cuban Missile Crisis
2026-04-24 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-25 12:00 - 16:00 | John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art, University Arts Building - 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV, 89557, United States
In October 1962, Cuba was at the center of a crisis that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Today’s history books and classes are filled with stories of John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev locked in a battle of wills, but we know much less about how Cubans themselves responded to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Featuring photographs from Prensa Latina, Cuba’s revolutionary news agency, this exhibit offers a unique, intimate view of Cuban life during the crisis.
Image: Roberto Salas, A young man uses a rangefinder to watch for incoming aircraft, photograph, October 1962, courtesy of Prensa Latina.

Yari Ostovany – Paintings | Savage Mystic Gallery, Reno | April 2–25, 2026
2026-04-24 12:00 - 18:00, 2026-04-25 12:00 - 18:00 | Savage Mystic Gallery, 836 E. Second St., Reno, NV, 89502, United States
Savage Mystic Gallery in Reno, Nevada, is pleased to present “Yari Ostovany: Paintings,” a solo exhibition of works by abstract painter Yari Ostovany, on view April 2 through April 25, 2026.
Ostovany’s paintings explore the expressive possibilities of abstraction through layered color, gestural mark-making, and luminous surfaces. Drawing on influences ranging from the spiritual traditions of Persian art and poetry to the legacy of Western abstraction, his work creates contemplative visual spaces where intuition, memory, and presence converge.
Working primarily in oil on canvas, Ostovany builds his paintings through successive layers of color and texture. Forms emerge, dissolve, and reappear across the surface, suggesting shifting fields of energy, atmosphere, and light.
Ostovany studied art as an undergraduate at the University of Nevada, Reno, and received his Master of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1995. His work has been exhibited widely in the United States and internationally, including exhibitions in Paris, London, Cologne, New York, Los Angeles, and Tehran.
The exhibition will conclude with an artist reception on April 25 from 6–9 p.m. Visitors will have an opportunity to meet the artist and view the exhibition on its final day.
Exhibition Details:
Yari Ostovany: Paintings
Savage Mystic Gallery
836 E Second Street
Reno, NV 89502
April 2 through April 25, 2026
Artist Reception: April 25, 6–9 p.m.
savagemysticart.com
775-444-4605

Always back to Nevada: Craig Sheppard and art at the University of Nevada, Reno
2026-04-25 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-25 13:00 - 17:00 | Northeastern Nevada Museum, 1515 Idaho St., Elko, NV, 89801, United States
The John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art at the University of Nevada, Reno proudly announces its exhibition, “Always back to Nevada” Craig Sheppard and art at the University of Nevada, Reno”, a curatorial project opening Dec. 9, 2025, through April 26, 2026 at the Northeastern Nevada Museum. Curated by executive director and chief curator Stephanie Gibson, “Always back to Nevada” showcases the constant oscillation of styles and experimental Nevada-centric works of the university’s Sheppard Gallery founding collector, Craig Sheppard.
Image: Craig Sheppard, The Couriers, oil on canvas, n.d., collection of the John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art

Three Generations of Polarized Light Art
2026-04-25 10:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-26 10:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-27 10:00 - 20:00 | Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89117
In the 1960s, a time of cross-pollination in art and science, Austine’s engagement with light and optics was shaped by her discovery of the phenomena of polarized light from her first husband, astronomer and physicist H. John Wood. In 1967, Austine developed a new light-based medium that she called Polage. By collaging clear cellophane between cross-polarizing filters, she began producing full color artworks without using any pigments or dyes.
Selecting for specific wavelengths from the prismatic spectrum of color in natural light produces her color palette. Colors plucked from light are vibrantly alive and will shift and change as the filters rotate or as the viewer moves about, making the perception of the art an active component of the work.
In 1976, Austine and her husband, David Comarow moved to the Las Vegas area. They worked together to establish a long-lasting studio practice and refined her Polage medium and methods of display, leading to many innovations and commissions over the following decades. Their first studio gallery opened in Boulder City, Nevada, in 1985.
That same year, Austine’s eldest daughter, Cara Wood Ginder, began working for Austine Studios as an art assistant, fabricator, and studio manager. This began a longtime artistic partnership with her mother, which grew into full design collaboration in later years.
In 1998, Austine’s younger daughter, Erika Wood, became part of the studio, later focusing on designing hybrid production methods that enabled Polage artworks to be created in carefully controlled multiples, comparable to traditional printmaking.
At that time, Austine Studios entered a long-term relationship with Maui Jim sunglasses, bringing the medium into dialogue with applied optics and polarized-lens technology as they secured an exclusive on Austine Studios artwork in optical boutiques worldwide.
In 2018, Cara accepted the position of full-time lead artist and studio director of Austine Studios. Her daughter, Charlotte Ginder, joined the studio in 2019; the third generation to work in the family business of Polage.
After Austine’s sudden passing in 2020, Cara, Erika, and Charlotte kept up the family legacy as the artists of Austine Studios until it closed in 2025.
Austine’s art is on view in the permanent collections of the Museum of Science, Boston; the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science; and Swarthmore College, among others, appearing in museums, hospitals, public spaces, and private collections around the world.
The nearby Spring Mountains Visitor’s Center, just outside Las Vegas on Mt. Charleston, features a 75-foot-long Polage art mural celebrating the flora and fauna of the desert that inspired so much of her work.
Today Cara and Erika have launched a new collaboration, Lightread Studios, where they continue their work together creating polarized light artworks and commissions.
On exhibit at Sahara West Library, 9600 W Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, Nevada, through May 2, 2026.

All That You Ever Wanted/Todo Lo Que Siempre Quisistes: A College of Southern Nevada traveling exhibition featuring the work of Orlando Montenegro – Henderson
2026-04-27 07:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-28 07:00 - 17:00 | CSN Henderson Campus Art Galleries, 700 College Drive, Henderson, 89002, United States
The College of Southern Nevada, School of Arts & Letters, and Department of Fine Arts will host a traveling exhibition of mixed media artworks by Central American-born, Nevada-based artist and College of Southern Nevada adjunct faculty, Orlando Montenegro. All That You Ever Wanted/Todo Lo Que Siempre Quisistes: A College of Southern Nevada traveling exhibition featuring the work of Orlando Montenegro, will open on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, and will travel throughout the Las Vegas Valley with showings on the CSN Charleston campus (July 1, 2025 – Oct. 31, 2025), the North Las Vegas campus (Nov. 1, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026), and the Henderson campus (March 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026). A special Gallery Talk and Artist Reception with light refreshments will take place on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the North Las Vegas Campus Tyrone Thompson Student Union Art Gallery. The CSN Student Union Art Galleries are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.
Speaking of his life, Montenegro says, “I was born in Central America in the early 1980s. My father was a lawyer, and he got into some trouble, and my mother was an accountant, and she did not like the government at the time. They immigrated to the United States sometime in the late 80s because it seemed better economically, and they ended up working in casinos. I have two younger siblings who are nurses, and they are also married to nurses. I once almost passed out giving blood and looking at a documentary where there was blood, and I was not good at math in school, but I liked to draw. My Spanish vocabulary is not that good, but I can speak and read some of it at a basic level. I prefer to talk in English if I have to. It’s impressive how people can interpret words and images differently when they see things from their own point of view, and how their upbringing, education, and beliefs affect that point of view.”
Regarding his work, Montenegro continues, “We live in the richest country in the world, but it’s a pyramid scheme. I had surgery with insurance and paid an inflated amount, only to get another bill in the mail. I wish we had decent public transportation because gas is expensive, and people drive irresponsibly. I wanted to rent, but my mortgage is cheaper because I moved into a house before the pandemic. Home insurance and car insurance are also a scam, but I need them just in case. I don’t buy juice anymore, or cereal, or Mexican Coca-Cola. The price went up, and my Doctor said I should eat fruit and I should just drink water, because I need to worry about diabetes. He said juice is a scam.
I started using things like newspapers and food packaging because they relate to consumption and the economy. Food packaging is discardable, and it can be aesthetically pleasing depending on how it is designed. Advertisements can be beautiful or seductive, but the food flyers that I get in the mail are not considered beautiful. I am not saying they are either. I see some graffiti around town while driving, and I like the bold colors and line work. Some of it does not make sense and feels abstract or nonrepresentational. I don’t really remember what I thought when I first saw Andy Warhol’s soup can art in Professor Rico’s Art History class some twenty years ago. I am sure that at the time, I thought the book and his lectures were all gobbledygook because “art is supposed to be beautiful”.
The CSN Student Union Art Galleries are free, family-friendly, and open to the public. Gallery hours vary by campus and semester. Please visit the CSN Student Unions page for current hours of operation for current hours of operation.
For more information, please call 702-651-4146 or visit CSN Art Gallery page.

Prairie Princess/Desert Dandy A College of Southern Nevada traveling exhibition featuring the work of Lauren Myers Reese – Charleston
2026-04-27 07:00 - 17:00 | CSN Charleston Campus Student Union Art Gallery, Student Union Building, 6375 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV, 89146, United States
The College of Southern Nevada, School of Arts & Letters, and Department of Fine Arts is now hosting a traveling exhibition of text-based paintings by Nevada-based artist and College of Southern Nevada adjunct faculty, Lauren Myers Reese. Prairie Princess / Desert Dandy: A College of Southern Nevada traveling exhibition featuring the work of Lauren Myers Reese, opened on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, and will travel throughout the Las Vegas Valley with showings on the CSN North Las Vegas Campus (July 1, 2025 – Oct. 31, 2025), the Henderson campus (Nov. 1, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026), and the Charleston campus (March 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026). A special Gallery Talk and Artist Reception with light refreshments will take place on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the Henderson Campus Student Union Art Gallery. The CSN Student Union Art Galleries are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.
Lauren Myers Reese is an artist, educator, and arts administrator, and currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Art & Art History Program at the College of Southern Nevada. Reese received his Master of Fine Arts in visual art from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2022 and his Bachelor in Fine Arts in Studio Art from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, in 2012. Reese is a co-founder of the Vegas Institute for Contemporary Engagement, a research lab for art and experimentation. Before attending UNLV, Reese worked in a variety of roles, including independent curator, arts writer, nonprofit administrator, factory worker, educator, and art gallery director. Reese’s visual work has been shown across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Scotland, Estonia, and Colombia. His writings are found in the Jewish Studies Journal, Art Focus Oklahoma, Southwest Contemporary, and Settlers and Nomads.
Speaking of his work, Reese states, “This body of work layers texts from a variety of sources on the history of Nevada. These books focus on early and pre-Statehood Nevada, as well as contemporary issues like gendered work, sexuality, labor rights, and equality as it relates to the recent history of Las Vegas and Nevada. Combining historical nonfiction and accounts of the Las Vegas and Nevada area pre- and post-statehood, the work layers text to create alternative narratives, and puts a highlight on the missing parts of the narratives from traditional histories of the West. By layering texts from both historical first-hand accounts, primary sources, and contemporary artists living in Las Vegas, the words combine and layer to create a miasma of time. Time collapses as texts from a variety of writers and eras are layered on top of each other. It is a reimagined story and historical fiction told through the spaces between the words.”
The CSN Student Union Art Galleries are free, family-friendly, and open to the public. Gallery hours vary by campus and semester. Please visit CSN Student Unions page for current hours of operation for current hours of operation.
For more information, please call 702-651-4146 or visit CSN Art Gallery page.

Flux1: A College of Southern Nevada traveling exhibition featuring the work of Sherry Watkins – North Las Vegas
2026-04-27 07:00 - 17:00 | CSN North Las Vegas Art Galleries, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas, NV, 89030, United States
The College of Southern Nevada, School of Arts & Letters, and Department of Fine Arts will host a traveling exhibition of acrylic paintings by Nevada-based artist and College of Southern Nevada Performing Arts Center box office supervisor, Sherry Watkins. Flux1: A College of Southern Nevada traveling exhibition featuring the work of Sherry Watkins, will open on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, and will travel throughout the Las Vegas Valley with showings on the CSN Henderson Campus (July 1, 2025 – Oct. 31, 2025), the Charleston Campus (Nov. 1, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026), and the North Las Vegas Campus (March 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026). A special Gallery Talk and Artist Reception with light refreshments will take place on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the North Las Vegas Campus, Tyrone Thompson Student Union Art Gallery. The CSN Student Union Art Galleries are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.
Originally from Illinois, Sherry Watkins has lived in Las Vegas for nearly 50 years. She attended Clark High School, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the College of Southern Nevada. Watkins has been painting for over a decade, working primarily in abstract styles. Her work explores various techniques, including fluid pouring and original design methods. Watkins uses a wide range of tools and materials to achieve distinctive effects and embraces experimentation and creative risk in her process. While she occasionally paints traditional subjects—such as characters, still lifes, and landscapes—Watkins is most drawn to the expressive freedom of abstraction.
Speaking of her work, Watkins states, “Most of my work comes from trial and error, a willingness to explore new methods, opening my boundaries to include what I might not at first be comfortable with, and sometimes just pure luck. I enjoy the freedom of abstract art. I like the power of creating something that did not previously exist. I have AD/HD. When I was doing more “traditional” painting, such as still life and landscapes, I ended up with a lot of unfinished paintings. I would be on to the next idea before finishing what I was working on. With abstract art, only the artist knows when it is truly finished. Abstract art gave me the freedom to be able to paint without the anxiety of not completing my work and leaving paintings half done.”
The CSN Student Union Art Galleries are free, family-friendly, and open to the public. Gallery hours vary by campus and semester. Please visit CSN Student Unions page for current hours of operation for current hours of operation.
For more information, please call 702-651-4146 or visit CSN Art Gallery page

“Notions of Erasure: United By Territory” Nevada Arts Council
2026-04-27 09:00 - 16:00 | City Hall Metro Gallery, 1 E. First St., Reno, NV, 89501, United States
City of Reno City Hall
Metro Gallery
April 27 – June 18, 2026
Reception: Thursday, May 12, 2026 5–7 p.m.
Reno, Nevada – Metro Gallery presents Notions of Erasure: United By Territory, an exhibit that provides an opportunity for the residents and visitors of Reno to view selected works
from the 2023 Nevada Arts Council Visual Arts Fellows.
This traveling exhibition, curated by the Nevada Arts Council’s Artist Services Program, features 2023 fellows: Jeffrey Burden of Las Vegas, Glynn Cartledge of Reno, Gig Depio
of Las Vegas, Miya Hannan of Reno, Brent Holmes of Las Vegas, and Bobbie Ann Howell of Las Vegas. Each artist created work independently of one another and with no
intention of ever appearing together; yet, when shown alongside one another, the exhibit reveals how an artist’s place, time and environment can create unexpected
and unintended connections that share human experiences. This exhibit brings together an extraordinary collection of unique artworks that span multiple media—from intimate
drawings and bold paintings to intricate textiles, delicate cut paper compositions, and innovative digital creations.
The prestigious Nevada Arts Council Fellowship Award provides meaningful financial support and enhanced public recognition to exceptional Nevada artists, fostering their
continued pursuit of artistic excellence and creativity.
The exhibit is part of the Nevada Touring Initiative (NTI) Traveling Exhibition Program, which delivers high-quality visual arts exhibits to communities throughout the state. It is
funded by the State of Nevada and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Nevada Arts Council is a division of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. The Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, was created as a state agency in 1967. With offices in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada Arts Council programs serve as a catalyst to stimulate artistic, creative, cultural, and economic activity across the state, enliven its breadth of communities, ensure lifelong learning in the arts for all Nevadans, and to encourage public and private support for the arts.
To learn more about the exhibition, visit: https://www.reno.gov/community/arts-culture/city-art-galleries/metro-gallery or www.nevadaartscouncil.com.

Annual “Senior Art Show” 2026 City of Reno McKinley Galleries
2026-04-27 09:00 - 16:00 | McKinley Arts and Cultural Center, 925 Riverside Dr., Reno, NV, 89503, United States
McKinley Arts & Culture Center
Gallery East/West
April 13 – May 21, 2026
Artist Reception: Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 5-7 p.m.
Reno, Nevada – Gallery East & West in the McKinley Arts & Culture Center is proud to host the “Senior Artists Exhibit & Show,” organized by the City of Reno Senior Citizens Advisory Committee. The exhibition will run from April 13 – May 21, 2026 at the McKinley Arts and Culture Center, Gallery East and West. The public is invited to attend the artists’ reception on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from 5–7 p.m.
In honor of Older Americans Month this May, the exhibit celebrates seniors’ creativity. This is the fourth annual senior artist exhibit that showcases work by Reno residents aged 60 or older. The show includes a variety of mediums including painting, photography, macramé, needlepoint, crochet, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, glass art, and more.
The McKinley Gallery is one of three galleries operated by the City of Reno and open to the public, free of charge, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. To learn more, please visit: McKinley Gallery East and West | City of Reno Metro Gallery

Notions of Erasure: United By Territory at Metro Gallery Reno City Hall
2026-04-27 09:00 - 16:00 | City Hall Metro Gallery, 1 E. First St., Reno, NV, 89501, United States
“Notions of Erasure: United By Territory”Nevada Arts Council
City of Reno City HallMetro Gallery
April 27 – June 18, 2026
The Metro Gallery presents Notions of Erasure: United By Territory, an exhibit that provides an opportunity for the residents and visitors to view selected works from the 2023 Nevada Arts Council Visual Arts Fellows.
This traveling exhibition, curated by the Nevada Arts Council’s Artist Services Program, features 2023 fellows: Jeffrey Burden of Las Vegas, Glynn Cartledge of Reno, Gig Depio of Las Vegas, Miya Hannan of Reno, Brent Holmes of Las Vegas, and Bobbie Ann Howell of Las Vegas. Each artist created work independently of one another and with no intention of ever appearing together; yet, when shown alongside one another, the exhibit reveals how an artist’s place, time and environment can create unexpected and unintended connections that share human experiences. This exhibit brings together an extraordinary collection of unique artworks that span multiple media—from intimate drawings and bold paintings to intricate textiles, delicate cut paper compositions, and innovative digital creations.
The prestigious Nevada Arts Council Fellowship Award provides meaningful financial support and enhanced public recognition to exceptional Nevada artists, fostering their continued pursuit of artistic excellence and creativity.
The exhibit is part of the Nevada Touring Initiative (NTI) Traveling Exhibition Program which delivers high-quality visual arts exhibits to communities throughout the state. It is funded by the State of Nevada and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Nevada Arts Council is a division of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.

Douglas County – FREE “Art with Heart” Workshop – Grant Funded NAC / NEA
2026-04-27 10:30 - 12:00 | Douglas County Library, 1625 Library Lane, Minden, 89423, United States
Join us for “Art with Heart,” a free creative workshop series generously funded in part by the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. The program is designed to support self-expression, connection, and healing through art. Open to ages 15 and older, this series guides participants through clay and oil pastel projects in a supportive, community-centered environment. No artistic experience needed
Mondays, 10:30 a.m.-noon, beginning April 27 through June 15, 2026. (No Class – May 25 and June 8). Sponsored by the Suicide Prevention Network (SPN) Douglas County, Nevada. All Supplies Included.
Sessions led by Nevada Arts Council Roster Artist/Inventor of the Oil Pastel Smudge technique: Carol Foldvary-Anderson. She will be guiding us though some exciting ways to play with air dry clay for the first session of 6, later creating beautiful art of hearts working with a template of simple shapes in the medium of oil pastel. All classes and exhibit will be held at the Douglas County Minden Library.
Group workshops are an exciting place to gather and share conversation. The Suicide Prevention Network (SPN) and health statistics have found bringing people together in art activities is healing. Space is limited. Call for more information and to register: SPN 775-783-1510.
