The Harrison Center will welcome visitors for an expansive evening of art, music and community during First Friday on September 4, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. Featuring seven new exhibitions, live performances, street food and free ice cream, the event offers guests an opportunity to explore a diverse range of artistic perspectives throughout the center’s galleries.
In the Harrison Gallery, Indianapolis artist Stephanie Spay presents “Pursuit of the Muse,” a new series of oil paintings examining the transformative power of intuition. Through a vibrant dialogue with color, Spay seeks to reveal the creativity that exists within each person. The collection celebrates the pursuit of inspiration while prioritizing presence and curiosity over expectation and judgment.
Family life takes center stage in the Gallery Annex with “Family Matters,” featuring oil paintings by Lauren Saunders, Stephanie Spay and Kate Orr. Through still lifes, intimate interiors and figurative works, the three artists reflect on the people, places and everyday experiences that shape our understanding of family. The exhibition encompasses both the quiet moments and more complicated realities of life with those closest to us.
Kristi Marsh Watson explores the complexities of middle adulthood in “The Way Home,” opening in the Speck Gallery. Created with a combination of traditional art supplies and natural materials, her two-dimensional mixed-media paintings trace an introspective journey through evolving relationships, changing landscapes and the passage of time. At its heart, the exhibition considers what it means to find a sense of home within oneself.
In the City Gallery, visitors can experience “A Closer Look” by impressionist plein air painter Jason Bailey. Known for capturing fleeting light, atmosphere and the energy of a scene, Bailey creates his oil paintings outdoors through direct observation. His bold, expressive brushwork encourages viewers to slow down and appreciate the quiet details that often reveal themselves only through careful attention.
The Underground Gallery will be transformed by “Stories From a Kite Runner: The Human Desire for Freedom,” an immersive exhibition by Afghan artist Qahar Behzad. Through paintings and handmade kites, Behzad celebrates the beauty, resilience and rich cultural heritage of Afghanistan. Suspended overhead, a colorful sky of kites will surround visitors and transform the gallery into a space filled with wonder. The exhibition uses the creativity and symbolism of flight to explore the universal desire for freedom.
In Hank & Dolly’s Gallery, “Whimsy” by Kyrie Lewis pairs intimate watercolor scenes with meticulously created acrylic works. Lewis invites visitors into an enchanting world of stories and imagination, presenting whimsy as an important source of comfort amid uncertainty and everyday pain.
Quincy Owens rounds out the evening’s exhibitions with “Remnants and Fractures” in the Sky Gallery. The show brings together two contrasting bodies of work: stark black-and-white resin pieces and a collection of vivid paintings. By placing the works in conversation with one another, Owens explores how the left and right hemispheres of the brain operate both independently and together. The exhibition also searches for beauty within fractures, imperfections and faults.
The evening’s creative energy will extend beyond the galleries. On the Sky Deck, Asheville, North Carolina, musician Hannah Kaminer will perform songs developed during two 48-hour residencies. Eden Pixar-Byeon, an artist from Guatemala, will share music created during a five-week residency.
Guests can also enjoy street food from The Garnacha Spot food truck, located across the courtyard, as well as free ice cream at the courtyard entrance.
All exhibitions open at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 4. Following First Friday, visitors can tour the galleries in person Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Special Senior Hours are offered every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m., with no appointment required. Online versions of the exhibitions will open September 5.
Appointments and online galleries are available at harrisoncenter.org/buy-art.
Founded in 2001, the Harrison Center is a community-based nonprofit arts organization dedicated to serving as a catalyst for renewal in Indianapolis. The center houses more than 40 artist studios and eight galleries while offering programs that encourage the creation of new art, cultivate relationships between artists and emerging patrons, and create opportunities for public conversation. Its work also connects residents and visitors with the culture, communities and neighborhoods that make Indianapolis distinctive.
The exhibitions and programming are presented with support from the Indy Arts Council, City of Indianapolis, Indiana Arts Commission, Lilly Endowment Inc. and Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation.
For more information, visit harrisoncenter.org or call 317-396-3886.
