August 2026

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Artwork featured: Aaron Raymer

SAVE THE DATE:

Opening Reception, September 12, 2026

Light bites and cash bar from 4-7PM

Experience the vibrant creativity of our region at the opening reception for Louisville Visual Art’s 2026 Ohio Valley Biennial Exhibition.

Be among the first to explore a dynamic collection of contemporary drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, digital media, and installation. Selected by guest juror Dr. fari nzinga, this juried showcase offers a compelling snapshot of the extraordinary talent shaping the Ohio Valley visual arts community today. Guests will have the opportunity to mingle with participating artists and celebrate regional creative achievement.

Awards & Recognition: Three $1000 cash prizes will be presented on Sept. 12 at 5:30 PM, made possible through generous funds held at the Community Foundation of Louisville.

REGISTER TODAY:

LVA Artist Resource Series 1: Running Your Business - September 19, 2026

Presented by Glenn Barber, CPA, with over 25 years of experience in public accounting, this workshop recognizes a simple reality: running an art practice means running a business.

We’re thrilled to announce the re-launch of LVA’s Artist Resource Series, with 6 sessions over the next year, designed to equip local creatives with practical skills, insights, and industry connections.

Whether you join us live at 1538 Lytle St. for light refreshments and peer networking or opt for online access after the session to receive post-event video recordings and recap materials, this series is built around your needs.

You can even shape each session by submitting questions for our presenters directly during registration!

Admission is completely free (suggested donation $10–$20) to ensure high-quality professional development remains accessible to every artist in our region.

Explore upcoming topics and reserve your spot today!

The Artist Resource Series is made possible with generous support from the Great Meadows Foundation.

September 10, 2026

Portia Brown started Children's Fine Art Classes in 1955, when she was about seven years old, in a classroom on Brandeis Street filled with big wooden easels and Saturday mornings she looked forward to all week. Her teacher, Mary Walker Bernard, pushed her students while instilling a sense of wonder, and field trips to the Speed Museum opened her eyes to a wider world. That early lesson in seeing things differently stayed with Portia well beyond CFAC. She didn't build a career in art, life took her through social work, nonprofit administration, and native landscaping instead, but art never left. As she put it, "Drawing became my own private language for reflecting on life and processing everything from my emotions to ideas for making something better."

Portia's story is exactly why this year's Give for Good Louisville theme is "Where Are They Now?" Give for Good Louisville is our city's annual one-day giving celebration, and this September 10, Louisville Visual Art is using the day to spotlight CFAC alumni and the surprising, lasting ways early art education has shaped their lives. Portia's journey shows that impact doesn't end when a class does, it can quietly shape a person for decades. Every gift to LVA that day helps keep programs like CFAC accessible for the next generation of Louisville kids, so more stories like Portia's get the chance to begin.

The Children’s Fine Art Classes (CFAC) have been nurturing young artistic talent since 1925. Established to engage and inspire the next generation of creative leaders, CFAC provides intensive, in-depth visual art experiences for gifted and highly motivated elementary and middle school students throughout the Louisville Metro and Southern Indiana region.

CFAC is tuition-free to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent students from participating. There is a small administrative fee, which is waived for families participating in the National School Lunch Program.

Admission is by recommendation and classes meet for two hours each week during 10-week semesters and are held after school and on Saturdays at schools, churches, community centers, and local businesses across the Louisville Metro area, including Southern Indiana. 

Artist Registration Closes September 28, 2026

We’re Excited for the Return of OPEN STUDIO WEEKEND!

This self-guided studio tour invites the public to visit dozens of visual artists' workspaces throughout Louisville. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process and meet the artists!

Welcome Kirsten Pfalzgraf to the LVA Board!

Kirsten Pfalzgraf is a Senior Project Manager at KERTIS Creative, a Louisville-based creative agency built on the belief that human connection drives action. Before joining KERTIS, she spent more than a decade as the Director of Marketing at Louisville Public Media, leading marketing efforts for the city’s three public radio stations and the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. She also spent seven years in communications and marketing at the Speed Art Museum, Kentucky’s largest art museum.

Pfalzgraf holds a B.A. in Journalism and an M.A. in Liberal Studies with a concentration in marketing from Indiana University. She also earned a Certificate in Digital Marketing from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management and is a 2016 Leadership Louisville Ignite graduate. Additionally, she participated in PRX’s Project Catapult 2019 cohort, a six-month podcast training program for public media.

Help us celebrate a milestone! On March 19, 2027, Louisville Visual Art will mark the 10th Anniversary LVA Honors by recognizing four outstanding individuals who enrich the arts and culture of Metro Louisville.

Building on nine years of honoring local creators, advocates, and leaders, we need your input to select this year's honorees. Submit your nomination below!

Nomination Categories: Emerging Artist, Visual Art Educator, Legacy & Community Impact

On behalf of the entire LVA team, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels for their generous support through the 2026 Good Works Program Emergency Grant, which funded urgent building maintenance and safety improvements in to office, ensuring this administrative space is safe, functional, and fully operational. 

September 4 - "Un/Contained" Installation Opening in LVA Project Space 

September 12 - 2026 Ohio Valley Biennial Opening Reception

September 14 - Adult Figure Drawing, Session 1 Begins

September 19 - Artist Resource Series 1: Running Your Business: Financial Skills for a Sustainable Art Practice

September 28 - Deadline to Register for Open Studio Weekend 

Donate - A gift of any size to LVA’s Annual Fund fuels our mission-driven work in Youth Art Education, Artist Development & Support, and Public Art & Community Engagement.

Become a Member - Enjoy – the benefits of membership and the satisfaction of supporting your local art community.

Volunteer - Support local art, meet new people and do some good for your community!

We need volunteers to assist in the implementation of events, exhibits, as well as education and outreach programs. Experience not required. We also have youth volunteer opportunities as well.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides operating support to Louisville Visual Art with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.