It's Been 20 Years??? | By Maxine Farkas | Lofts Lobby Gallery
2025-10-27 08:00 - 2026-02-14 17:00 UTC | Loft Lobby, 160 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
As a part of our 20th year anniversary celebration, this exhibition highlights the work of Maxine Farkas, who joined the Western Ave Artist Community twenty years ago. The show traces her artistic evolution, shaped by that creative environment. Maxine has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally. Originally a fiber artist and quilter, her practice expanded as she connected with other artists in the Western Ave studios. Through this creative community, she explored painting, assemblage, and collage. In recent years, she has returned to fiber arts and quilting, creating intuitive, rule-free work enriched by the materials and techniques developed through her earlier explorations.
Reception: Lofts Lobby, December 5th, 5-7pm
Artist talk: teaching space in studio #225, November 22nd, 1PM

Join us for Open Studios on Saturday, November 1st, December 6th, January 3rd, and February 7th from 12–5pm to meet the artist and explore her work, or to schedule a private visit email Hope Flynn at: hopeaf93@outlook.com

1000 Cranes Project: A Wish for Peace | Group Exhibit | 2nd Floor Mini Gallery
2025-11-01 09:00 - 2025-12-20 17:00 UTC | 2nd Floor Mini Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
In Japanese culture, the crane symbolizes longevity, happiness, and good fortune. The legend of the senbazuru, one thousand origami cranes folded together, carries a wish for peace, a tradition that gained deep resonance in the aftermath of Hiroshima and continues today at temples in Japan. There, crane banners are left to weather in the open air, slowly dissolving as the wish is released into the world.
As part of this project, artists and creators at Western Avenue are invited to contribute to our own 1000 Cranes Project. Paper cranes will be gathered and sewn into long, colorful banners, while artists working in clay, glass, fabric, photography, embroidery, and other media are encouraged to create unique interpretations of the crane form. Together, these contributions will form a vibrant, collaborative installation celebrating creativity, community, and a shared wish for peace.
Each crane is donated by participating artists, and discussions are underway about sending the completed senbazuru to Hiroshima as a collective offering of peace after the exhibition closes.

Join us for Open Studios on Saturday, November 1st & December 6th from 12–5pm to meet the artists and explore their work, or stop by during regular business hours (Monday–Sunday, 9am–5pm).

Casas de Cartón | By gabriella alejandra aragon | Storage Closet Gallery
2025-11-01 09:00 - 2026-01-11 17:00 UTC | Storage Closet Gallery, 160 Western Ave, Lowell, MA, 01851
Storage Closet Gallery presents Casas de Cartón, Recent Sculptures by gabriella alejandra aragon, opening November 1st, 2025, and on view through January 11, 2026. The works on display are ofrendas – altars used in Latinx communities during Día de los Muertos. Upon these altars, offerings are placed to honor loved ones who have passed. aragon’s materials are 100% recycled. Upcycling materials revitalizes the earth and mirrors the act of beckoning and welcoming back the deceased. Aragon’s altars expand the traditional meaning of ofrenda, not only honoring the dead but also offering gratitude for life.
Viewable during open studios or by appointment, email Antionette Indge at: aeindge@gmail.com
Open Studio dates and hours:
November 1st, December 6th & 13th, January 3rd. 12-5pm

November Open Studios
2025-11-01 12:00 - 17:00 UTC | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
November Open Studios at Western Avenue Studios & LoftsSaturday, November 1st | 12-5 PM

Immerse yourself in the magic of our creative community during Open Studios.

This is not just an event; it’s an experience you don’t want to miss.

Five floors of art studios, two floors of artist lofts, a coffee shop, a co-op art gallery, and a food truck.

There is no charge for this event. This event is dog-friendly. We ask that you keep your pup on a leash. See you here!

Luminosity: Western Avenue's 20th Anniversary Fundraiser & Celebration
2025-11-12 18:00 - 21:00 UTC | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
We are so grateful to those who joined us and contributed to our luminous evening of art, performance, and celebration in support of keeping Western Avenue Studios & Lofts permanently affordable.
OUR EVENT HAS PASSED BUT YOU CAN STILL DONATE HERE
Proceeds support our mission to keep studios affordable and sustain a thriving creative community, ensuring artists can continue to live, work, and create here for years to come.

With gratitude to our generous sponsors:

Aurora Borealis Sponsor | $10,000

Eastern Salt Company, Inc.

Constellation Sponsor | $5,000

Nancy L. Donahue
Eastern Bank Foundation

Star Sponsor | $2,500

Clark Insurance, A Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company
Anonymous Donor

Candlelight Sponsor | $1,000

Conway Insurance Agency, Inc.
Rockland Trust Bank
Bell Tower Commercial Real Estate Group
Gormley’s Cafe
Greater Lowell Community Foundation

Spark Sponsor | $500

O’Hearn Insurance Agency
Nina & Arthur Anton
Cindie & Jim Kazmer
Lasting Environmental Solutions, Inc.
Brenda Costello
Matt McArthur
Cheryl Tougias

OUR STORY
What began in 2005 with 45 artists moving into an old mill has grown into one of the largest artist communities in the country, in fact, the largest in New England. Nearly 400 artists now call Western Avenue Studios & Lofts home. For two decades, we’ve transformed a historic textile mill into a thriving creative campus where art is made, shared, and celebrated.
From its beginnings as the Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company — a mill that once produced high-quality fabrics for furniture, trains, and automobiles — Western Avenue has always been a place shaped by makers. Today, our artists continue that legacy.
Western Avenue is the creation of dedicated and visionary owners, artists, and investors. Now a nonprofit as part of the Arts & Business Council’s Creative Campus, we celebrate our roots as an industrial investment that turned into an artist’s dream preserved by a mission to serve. As we celebrate 20 years, we’re also looking to the future: ensuring Western Avenue remains a permanently affordable home for artists and a place where art and community can grow together for generations to come.

Interested in supporting or volunteering? Please contact marketing@westernavenuestudios.com.

Light Up The Night | Group Exhibit | 1st Floor Mini Gallery
2025-11-15 09:00 - 2026-01-10 17:00 UTC | 1st Floor Mini Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
This is a show focused on art that uses light or lack thereof as part of its display, still riding the excitement and inspiration that our Luminosity fundraiser brought us. Artistic lighting fixtures and pieces that require special lighting are the focus.

This is an invitation to celebrate the halfway point of winter with us, a time where the light that we cherish is so fleeting. Following the theme of ‘light’ for Western Ave’s 20th anniversary, we present art that not only celebrates the light, but challenges the norm of bright gallery light being the only way to appreciate art.

A small reception will be held in the 1st floor mini gallery at 122 Western Ave starting at 4p.m. with an artist and curator talk beginning at 5p.m.
Join us for an artist talk & reception on December 21st 4-6 PM

Small Business Saturday
2025-11-29 12:00 - 17:00 UTC | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Small Business Saturday at Western Avenue Studios & Lofts
Skip the big box stores and shop small with heart this Small Business Saturday at Western Avenue Studios & Lofts.
With over 350 artists under one roof, you’ll find five floors of studios and two floors of live-work lofts filled with handmade, one-of-a-kind gifts from fine art, jewelry, and textiles to ceramics, home goods, and more.
Meet the makers, support local creativity, and discover meaningful gifts you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re shopping for the holidays or just treating yourself, this is your chance to support independent artists and small businesses in your community.
Grab a coffee, explore the building, visit the Loading Dock Gallery, and take your time discovering all the creative corners Western Avenue has to offer.
This event is free and open to the public. It’s dog-friendly too, we just ask that pets stay leashed.
Support local. Shop creative. Celebrate community.

December Holiday Open Studios
2025-12-06 12:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-13 12:00 - 17:00 UTC | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Holiday Open Studios at Western Avenue Studios & LoftsTwo Saturdays of Artful Holiday ShoppingSaturday, December 6 & Saturday, December 13 | 12-5 PM

Join us for not just one, but two special weekends of Holiday Open Studios at Western Avenue Studios & Lofts. On December 6 and 13, discover unique, handmade gifts created by over 350 local artists across five floors of studios and two floors of artist lofts.

From fine art to ceramics, jewelry, textiles, photography, home décor, and one-of-a-kind stocking stuffers, you’ll find meaningful gifts for everyone on your list (and maybe a little something for yourself too).

Enjoy the festive atmosphere as you explore the building, sip a warm drink from the coffee shop, browse the co-op gallery, and grab a bite from the food truck.

There is no charge for this event. It is family and dog-friendly event. We just ask that pups stay leashed.

Make Western Avenue part of your holiday tradition and shop local this season.

New Year's Visual Art & Fashion Show | Group Exhibit | 2nd Floor Mini Gallery
2026-01-03 09:00 - 2026-03-09 17:00 UTC | 2nd Floor Mini Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Refuge Art School’s New Year’s Visual Art & Fashion Show showcases the vibrant creativity of our Fall Semester students. This dynamic exhibition brings together an exciting range of work, from paintings and drawings to ceramics and upcycled, handmade fashion pieces.
But this won’t be your typical art show. We’re adding extra flair with a mini fashion walk/run at 5:30pm, spotlighting student-designed wearable art from our sewing & up cycling class. Visitors can also enjoy live painting and participate in community canvases, making the event as interactive as it is inspiring.
Join us in celebrating the incredible talent and hard work of our students during our opening reception on January 8th, 2026, from 4:30–7pm.The exhibition will be open to the public January 3rd through March 9th.
Come experience creativity, community, and the energy of a brand-new year!

January Open Studios
2026-01-03 12:00 - 17:00 UTC | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Join us on Saturday, January 3rd for Open Studios at Western Avenue Studios & Lofts. Explore a vibrant community of artists as studios open their doors and welcome you inside their creative spaces.

With 5 floors to explore you are invited to wander through and meet artists, see works in progress, discover finished pieces, and shop one-of-a-kind handmade art. From painting and photography to fiber, mixed media, and more, every visit offers something new.

Open Studios is a relaxed, welcoming way to spend the afternoon whether you are a longtime supporter of the arts or visiting for the first time.

Saturday, January 3rd | 12–5 PMWestern Avenue Studios & Lofts122 & 160 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA

Free and open to the public. Four-legged friends are welcome; please just keep them on a leash.

Cool Comfort | Group Exhibit | 4th Floor Mini Gallery
2026-02-02 09:00 - 2026-03-08 17:00 UTC | 4th Floor Mini Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Cool Comfort explores the dynamic between the cold clarity of the winter and the intimate warmth found inside -whether depicted literally or suggested through abstract form, color, and space. The outer landscapes’ austerity sharpens our awareness, revealing what feels essential. In contrast, interior warmth becomes a symbol of refuge and connection. This theme reflects how comfort is most deeply understood in relation to its opposite, allowing both representational scenes and abstract gestures to express the dynamic between the edge of chill and the warm embrace of home.

This show is open to the public February 2nd – March 8th

February Open Studios
2026-02-07 12:00 - 17:00 UTC | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Shake off the winter blues and join us on Saturday, February 7th for Open Studios at Western Avenue Studios & Lofts. This is your invitation to step inside a thriving creative community where artists open their doors and share the work they love.
With 5 floors to explore, guests are encouraged to wander at their own pace, meet artists in their studios, see works in progress, discover finished pieces, and shop truly one-of-a-kind handmade art. From painting and photography to fiber, mixed media, and beyond, there is something to spark curiosity around every corner.
Open Studios is an easy, welcoming way to spend a winter afternoon, whether you are a longtime supporter of the arts or discovering Western Avenue for the first time.
Saturday, February 7th | 12–5 PM
Western Avenue Studios & Lofts
122 & 160 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA
This event is free and open to all. Friendly, leashed pets are welcome.

Flora & Feathers | By Kelsey Engvik | 3rd Floor Mini Gallery
2026-03-02 09:00 - 2026-04-06 17:00 UTC | 3rd Floor Mini Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
This exhibition celebrates the intricate and symbiotic relationship between plants and birds through the delicate art of embroidery. The show, titled “Flora and Feathers,” goes beyond simple representation. It’s a dialogue between two worlds, rendered in stitches. One section of the gallery is dedicated to flora, featuring embroidered botanical studies that capture the unique textures of petals, the delicate veins of leaves, and the twisted forms of branches. The work here celebrates the quiet, foundational beauty of the plant world. The other section of the gallery is dedicated to feathers, where the threads mimic the varied plumage of the birds that nest among these very plants.The composition of these pieces highlights the interdependence of these two life forms—how a plant provides shelter and sustenance, and a bird contributes to pollination and seed dispersal. This visual storytelling turns each embroidered piece into a microcosm of an entire ecosystem.

Available to the public March 2nd – April 6th on the 3rd floor mini gallery and a reception held on March 2nd: 6-7PM with an artist talk at 6:30PM.
See you there!

March Open Studios
2026-03-07 12:00 - 17:00 UTC | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Spring is on the horizon, and there is no better way to welcome the season than Open Studios at Western Avenue Studios & Lofts on Saturday, March 7th. Spend the afternoon immersed in creativity as artists across the building open their studio doors.
With 5 floors to explore, visitors can wander freely through the studios, connect directly with artists, see works taking shape, and discover finished pieces ready to take home. From painting and photography to fiber, mixed media, and more, each visit offers new perspectives and fresh inspiration.
Open Studios is a relaxed and engaging experience, perfect for art lovers, curious explorers, and first-time visitors alike.
Saturday, March 7th | 12–5 PM
Western Avenue Studios & Lofts
122 & 160 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA
This event is free and open to all. Friendly, leashed pets are welcome.

She Still Loves You Nonetheless | By Cloudy Rosas | 4th Floor Mini Gallery
2026-03-14 09:00 - 2026-05-09 17:00 UTC | 4th Floor Mini Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
When uncomfortable feelings emerge, Cloudy’s response is to compartmentalize, to break down old cardboard boxes, stitch found objects to them, and assemble them into small buildings. Through this she thinks about loneliness, depression, nature, dreams, and spirituality. There is healing the deeper we go, slowly coming back up towards learning to overcome. This exhibit is a collection of vulnerability.
This will be open to the public March 14th – May 9th
Join us for a reception on March 20th 12PM – 2PM

Artists Thrive Summit
2026-03-24 - 2026-03-26 | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Calling all artists, arts administrators, educators, and funders! Get ready to energize your creative practice and cultivate meaningful connections at the 2026 Artists Thrive Summit, taking place from March 24th-26th. Registration closes March 8th, so don’t delay!
This unique event is designed for everyone, from first-timers eager to explore new avenues to seasoned professionals looking to deepen their impact.
The Summit will be held concurrently across six vibrant locations, each offering its own unique local theme to enrich your experience: Lowell, MA, Nashville, TN, Kansas City, MO, San Antonio, TX, Billings, MT, and Las Vegas, NV! While each site offers a distinct local focus, all six locations will unite for shared sessions, fostering a truly collaborative and expansive experience. Learn more here!
Register Today!

The Space We Make
2026-03-25 09:00 - 2026-05-11 17:00 UTC | 1st Floor Mini Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Lowell’s theme in this year’s Artists Thrive summit is “spatial justice”, a recognition that space is not neutral, but shaped by who has access to it, who is welcomed into it, and who is able to create within it. This extends past owned space to community space, space to create, public spaces, imagined space, and internal space. Western Avenue was once industrial space that has been reshaped, over time and through concerted effort, into something deeply human. Not just places to live or work, but claimed, adapted, and sustained artist space, nestled deep in the heart of Lowell. This show is a small introduction to that larger story, and an invitation for summit attendees to explore the space they are visiting, the city of Lowell and the community of Western Avenue. Where space is not just something that we occupy but something we actively make together.

April Open Studios
2026-04-04 12:00 - 17:00 UTC | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Celebrate the arrival of spring at Open Studios on Saturday, April 4th at Western Avenue Studios & Lofts. As the building comes alive with new energy, artists invite you into their studios to share their creative process and finished work.
With 5 floors to explore, guests are welcome to roam, meet the makers, watch art in progress, and shop unique handmade pieces directly from the artists who create them. From painting and photography to fiber, mixed media, and beyond, every floor offers something new to discover.
Open Studios is a welcoming, self-guided experience and a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon connecting with art and community.
Saturday, April 4th | 12–5 PM
Western Avenue Studios & Lofts
122 & 160 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA
This event is free and open to all. Friendly, leashed pets are welcome.

Other Work, as Assigned | Group Exhibit by WA Staff | 2nd Floor Mini Gallery
2026-04-22 09:00 - 2026-05-20 17:00 UTC | 2nd Floor Mini Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Featuring work by Western Avenue Staff.

Place of Serenity | By Western Avenue Loft Artists | Lofts Lobby Gallery
2026-04-27 09:00 - 2026-06-15 17:00 UTC | Loft Lobby, 160 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Places of Serenity: quiet, peaceful, and undisturbed environments that foster mental calmness and emotional balance, providing a sanctuary from daily chaos.
This show will be open to the public during May & June Open Studios or by appointment by emailing Curator Dina Mordeno at:
dinamordenostudio@gmail.com
Join us for a reception after Open Studios on May 2nd 4PM – 6PM

May Open Studios
2026-05-02 12:00 - 17:00 UTC | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Spring is in full swing at Open Studios on Saturday, May 2nd at Western Avenue Studios & Lofts. Studios are buzzing with new ideas as artists share recent work, experiments, and the momentum that comes with longer days.
With 5 floors to explore, visitors are encouraged to take their time—wander the building, strike up conversations with artists, watch creative processes unfold, and discover handmade work across a wide range of mediums.
Open Studios is self-guided, welcoming, and full of moments that invite curiosity and connection.
Saturday, May 2nd | 12–5 PM
Western Avenue Studios & Lofts
122 & 160 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA
This event is free and open to all. Friendly, leashed pets are welcome.

The Things We Carry: What's In Your Suitcase? | Group Exhibit | 3rd Floor Mini Gallery
2026-05-17 09:00 - 2026-07-12 17:00 (Asia/Dubai) | Third Floor of WA, 122 Western Ave., Lowell, Massachusetts, 01851
In the new Western Avenue Studios exhibit, The Things We Carry: What’s in Your Suitcase?, artists transform miniature wooden suitcases into deeply personal visual stories. Each piece reflects a journey—through life changes, migration, disability, love and loss, dreams, resilience, and the unexpected turns along the way.
The exhibit will be on view in the Third Floor Gallery at Western Avenue Studios from May 17th through July 13. With an opening reception on Saturday, May 16th: 4PM – 6PM.
The project invited participation from anyone living, working, or studying in Lowell. Artists of all ages and backgrounds responded, including participants from the Lowell Senior Center, Butler Middle School, Refuge Art School, the Lowell Association for the Blind, Thrive Communities, and Western Avenue Studios.
Each artist began with the same object: a small wooden suitcase. From there, the results diverged in striking and imaginative ways. Using materials ranging from paint, paper, wool, and clay to metal, sand, thread, plastic figures, and found objects, the suitcases evolved into intricate, expressive works. Some remain intact, while others have been cut, drilled, expanded, or transformed into larger sculptural environments.
The exhibit is curated by Jan Whitted, a Western Avenue Studios mixed media artist and founder of Creative Adventures. The idea for the project began with a rediscovered collection of 75 miniature suitcases from Artbeat, her former creativity store and studio in Arlington, which closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I knew these little boxes would evoke memories and emotions,” said Whitted. “I wanted to create a space where people could share their stories—and where others could see reflections of their own experiences.”
The Things We Carry invites visitors to slow down, look closely, and consider the visible and invisible stories we all bring with us.

Aquatica Exotica | Group Exhibit | 5th Floor Mini Gallery
2026-05-29 09:00 - 2026-08-17 17:00 UTC | 5th Floor Mini Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
What happens when fourteen fish tanks become fourteen windows into an imagined watery world? This immersive three-dimensional installation embraces the boundless diversity of aquatic life. Through realism, abstraction, and imaginative interpretation, WAS artists dive into the complexity, beauty, and mystery of our watery realm.
This exhibit will be open to the public May 29th – Aug 17th
Join us for the reception on June 6th, 5-7 PM on the 5th Floor Mini Gallery

Heal and Prosper | Group Exhibit | 1st & 2nd Mini Galleries
2026-06-01 08:00 - 2026-07-13 17:00 UTC | 1st Floor Mini Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
The Refuge Art School Spring Art Show is a multidisciplinary exhibition featuring artwork created by 50 students of diverse ages and backgrounds. Throughout the semester, students explored the theme of healing as it relates to their individual lives, experiences, identities, and communities. Not all work is made inspired by the theme of healing and there will be a studies section demonstrating the creative process of our drawing class.
Join us for a reception celebrating the work created this spring by our students. Experience community canvases, live student art, and a special film presentation highlighting pieces from our Shadow Puppetry class. Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase select artwork.
June 6th, 4:30–6:30 PM
1st & 2nd Floor Mini Galleries
This exhibition celebrates art not only as creative expression, but as a meaningful process of reflection and growth. Healing is not one-size-fits-all. For some students, healing meant reconnecting with cultural heritage. For others, it involved processing grief, confronting anxiety, rebuilding confidence, or finding beauty in everyday rituals. The theme encouraged students to reflect inward and interpret healing through their own lens, emotional, physical, spiritual, communal, or environmental.
Rather than prescribing a singular definition, this exhibition honors healing as personal, layered, and ongoing.

Refuge Art Stars Residency Spring '26 Art Show | Group Exhibit | 4th Floor Mini Gallery
2026-06-01 09:00 - 2026-07-13 17:00 UTC | 4th Floor Mini Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Featuring a variety of mediums and artistic talents, the Art Stars Residency
program celebrates its Spring 2026 residents in a fresh, new body of work. This show promises a profound and thoughtful investigation on a wide variety of of subject matter i.e. identity, history, and much more.
Join us for a collaborative reception with Refuge Art School Students on June 6th 4:30PM – 6:30PM
Exhibiting artists: Amada Moundele, Luca Pesaturo-Meireles, Gabriel Pereira, Cassandra Donnelly, and Cloudy Rosas

June Open Studios
2026-06-06 12:00 - 17:00 UTC | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
Open Studios returns on Saturday, June 6th at Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, bringing early summer energy into every corner of the building. It’s a moment when creativity feels especially alive—open, social, and in motion.
With 5 floors to explore, guests can move freely between studios, discover new bodies of work, and connect directly with the artists who call Western Avenue home.
Whether you stay for an hour or the whole afternoon, Open Studios offers an easy, inspiring way to spend a Saturday.
Saturday, June 6th | 12–5 PM
Western Avenue Studios & Lofts
122 & 160 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA

Summer Block Party Open Studios
2026-06-27 12:00 - 18:00 UTC | Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
You are invited to the first Summer Block Party Open Studios on Saturday, June 27th at Western Avenue Studios & Lofts. This special event expands Open Studios beyond the studios and out into the parking lot, creating a shared summer celebration that brings together artists, neighbors, and visitors from across Lowell.
Inside the buildings, artists open their studio doors and welcome guests into the creative heart of Western Avenue. With 5 floors to explore, visitors can meet the artists who work here, watch creative processes unfold, and discover original art and handmade goods throughout the building.
Outside, the parking lot becomes an open, welcoming gathering space filled with music, food, and opportunities to connect. The outdoor portion of the event invites people to linger, socialize, and enjoy the energy of summer while remaining fully connected to the creative activity happening inside.
The Summer Block Party Open Studios is an open invitation to experience Western Avenue in a new way and to celebrate the creative community that makes Lowell vibrant.
Saturday, June 27th | 12–6 PM
Western Avenue Studios & Lofts
122 & 160 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA

Momento Vivere: Take a Look Around Vol. 2 | By Nev Morin | 3rd Floor Mini Gallery
2026-07-27 09:00 - 2026-08-24 17:00 UTC | 3rd Floor Mini Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
This show is a culmination of works by artist Nev Morin, a longtime local artist. In Momento Vivere (remember to live), Nev centers her work around the quiet, sustaining labor of family, labor that often goes unseen but holds everything together. Drawing from her relationship with her grandparents, the exhibition reflects on the contrast between her own freedom to move between university and creative pursuits and the long, demanding workdays that structure her grandparents’ lives. Her grandfather’s hands carry grease and dirt from decades as a mechanic; her grandmother’s labor lives in data, keyboards, and months spent away for work. Together, they have not only provided materially, but have acted as the connective tissue of the family.
These figures are more than workers, they are teachers, role models, and sources of stability. Through their determination, Nev learned responsibility, perseverance, and the possibility of choosing a different future while remaining deeply rooted in where she comes from. The works in this exhibition are acts of gratitude and recognition, portraying her family members not only through what they do, but through who they are beyond their labor.
Working in acrylic paint and charcoal, Nev builds portraits and memory-fragments that feel both intimate and slightly surreal. These forgiving materials allow for softness, texture, and emotional resonance rather than strict realism. Warm tones dominate the palette, each brushstroke an attempt to hold the comforting presence of her subjects. Every piece represents either a family member or a moment connected to them, unified through texture, color, and feeling.
At its core, Momento Vivere is a reminder, to pause, to look around, and to remember that life is held together by relationships, care, and shared time. Whether it’s watching television after a long day or laughing through small moments, Nev invites viewers to reflect on their own role models and connections. We are more than our productivity, more than our expectations. Stop. Take a look around. Remember to live.

This show will be open to the public July 27th – August 24th
Join us for a reception on August 8th 5-7PM

Beneath The Dust | Solo Exhibit by Matthew Robertson | 2nd Floor Mini Gallery
2026-07-27 09:00 - 2026-09-14 17:00 UTC | 2nd Floor Mini Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01851, United States
This exhibit portrays emotional portraiture and figure drawing through the use of charcoal and pan pastel.
Join us for a reception on August 1-3 PM
