On Thursday, June 5, 2025, Portland’s First Thursday art walk features a vibrant array of exhibitions across its premier galleries. At Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Pat Boas deconstructs language into abstract forms in Scripts, while Jinie Park’s Exotic Animal presents delicate, ambiguous compositions. Russo Lee Gallery showcases A Place I Call Home by Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe, a series of striking portraits reflecting on identity and cultural heritage. Froelick Gallery features Orlando Almanza’s Gente de Río, luminous paintings inspired by his Cuban roots and river memories.
Blue Sky Gallery offers Jesse Egner’s playful and surreal photographic explorations of queer identity alongside Mariette Pathy Allen’s poignant documentation of transgender communities. Blackfish Gallery presents Benjamin Mefford’s Ozymandias, a meditation on empire and decay through mixed media and sculpture. At Gallery 114, Small Wonders brings together miniature works by local artists, while Elena Thomas and Morgan Curtis explore geometry and abstraction in The Square Perspective.
Finally, Waterstone Gallery hosts This Must Be the Place, where N. Wilkins reflects on personal and ecological memory and M. Pfanschmidt offers minimalist interpretations of space and architecture. Together, these shows offer a rich, multifaceted glimpse into contemporary art in Portland.
1. Elizabeth Leach Gallery
- Exhibitions: Pat Boas: Scripts and Jinie Park: Exotic Animal
- Reception: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Address: 417 NW 9th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209
- Website: elizabethleach.com
2. Russo Lee Gallery
- Exhibition: Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe: A Place I Call Home
- Reception: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Address: 805 NW 21st Avenue, Portland, OR 97209
- Website: russoleegallery.com
3. Froelick Gallery
- Exhibition: Orlando Almanza: Gente de Río
- Reception: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Address: 714 NW Davis Street, Portland, OR 97209
- Website: froelickgallery.com
4. Blue Sky Gallery
- Exhibitions: Jesse Egner: I Want to See How Things Play Out and Mariette Pathy Allen
- Reception: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Address: 122 NW 8th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209
- Website: blueskygallery.org
5. Blackfish Gallery
- Exhibition: Benjamin Mefford: Ozymandias
- Reception: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Address: 938 NW Everett Street, Portland, OR 97209
- Website: blackfish.com
6. Gallery 114
- Exhibitions: Small Wonders: Community Show and The Square Perspective – Elena Thomas and Morgan Curtis
- Reception: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Address: 1100 NW Glisan Street, Portland, OR 97209
- Website: gallery114.com
7. Waterstone Gallery
- Exhibition: N. Wilkins & M. Pfanschmidt: This Must Be the Place
- Reception: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Address: 124 NW 9th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209
- Website: waterstonegallery.com
🗺️ Suggested Walking Route
To make the most of your evening, here’s a recommended walking route starting from the northernmost gallery and moving southward:
- Russo Lee Gallery (805 NW 21st Ave)
- Gallery 114 (1100 NW Glisan St)
- Blackfish Gallery (938 NW Everett St)
- Froelick Gallery (714 NW Davis St)
- Blue Sky Gallery (122 NW 8th Ave)
- Elizabeth Leach Gallery (417 NW 9th Ave)
- Waterstone Gallery (124 NW 9th Ave)
- Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park Ave)
https://unpkg.com/leaflet/dist/leaflet.js
(function() {
// Wait until the DOM is fully loaded
function initMap() {
var map = L.map(‘portland-art-map’).setView([45.525, -122.683], 14);
L.tileLayer(‘https://{s}.tile.openstreetmap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png’, {
maxZoom: 19,
attribution: ‘© OpenStreetMap’
}).addTo(map);
var galleries = [
[“Russo Lee Gallery”, 45.5286, -122.6945],
[“Gallery 114”, 45.5263, -122.6837],
[“Blackfish Gallery”, 45.5247, -122.6812],
[“Froelick Gallery”, 45.5241, -122.6805],
[“Blue Sky Gallery”, 45.5245, -122.6817],
[“Elizabeth Leach Gallery”, 45.5248, -122.6827],
[“Waterstone Gallery”, 45.5251, -122.6826]
];
galleries.forEach(function(gallery) {
L.marker(
, gallery[2]])
.addTo(map)
.bindPopup(gallery[0]);
});
var routeCoords = galleries.map(function(gallery) {
return
, gallery[2]];
});
L.polyline(routeCoords, { color: ‘blue’, weight: 3, opacity: 0.7 }).addTo(map);
}
// Run initMap after a short delay to ensure Leaflet JS loads
if (document.readyState === ‘loading’) {
document.addEventListener(‘DOMContentLoaded’, initMap);
} else {
initMap();
}
})();
This route covers approximately 1.5 miles and allows you to experience a diverse range of exhibitions. Be sure to check each gallery’s website for any updates or changes to event details.
Enjoy your art-filled evening in Portland!
Discover more from Urban Art & Antiques
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
