Salem Arts Association upcoming events

Gallery Reception: American Dream (Friday, May 01, 2026)

Fri, 01 May 2026 22:00:00 GMT

American Dream

"American Dream" showcases member artists exploring what the American Dream means to them, reflecting diverse experiences and perspectives, and the rich tapestry of the American experience

In honor of Pride Month, we highlight the intersection of American pride and LGBTQ+ identities. This body of work showcases how the pursuit of happiness, freedom, and equality shapes our collective dreams.

From symbols of freedom and progress to deeply personal stories of struggle and resilience, this show presents diverse perspectives on what it means to dream, live, and take pride in America.

Opening Reception: Friday May 1, 2026, 6:00 – 8:00
Exhibit Dates: Saturday May 2 – Saturday June 13, 2026
Gallery Hours are every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Gallery Reception: Reimagined by Bobbie Bush (Friday, May 01, 2026)

Fri, 01 May 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Reimagined: A Modern Approach to Traditional Art

Bobbie Bush’s work explores a space between worlds—where contemporary digital tools and traditional artist materials come together to create something entirely new. At its core is a process of transformation: not the enhancement of an image, but its reimagining.

A photograph often serves as the starting point, carrying with it a sense of likeness, structure, or memory. From there, the work evolves through layers of digital brushwork and continues to develop through the physical application of oils, pastels, texture, and cold wax. The result is not a rendering or a filtered interpretation, but a fully realized painting—one that holds depth, surface, and a strong material presence beyond the original image.

This process reflects a long-standing exploration. From early darkroom experimentation to years spent studying paintings in museums, Bush has been drawn to the expressive potential of the altered image and the integrity of the painted mark. While the tools are modern, the work remains grounded in a deep respect for the language of painting—resulting in pieces that move beyond documentation into something more dimensional, considered, and enduring.

Opening Reception: Friday May 1, 2026, 6:00 – 8:00
Exhibit Dates: Saturday May 2 – Saturday June 13, 2026
Gallery Hours are every Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

For more information:
https://www.salemarts.org/bobbie-bush-reimagined/

Exhibition: American Dream (Saturday, May 02, 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

American Dream

"American Dream" showcases member artists exploring what the American Dream means to them, reflecting diverse experiences and perspectives, and the rich tapestry of the American experience

From symbols of freedom and progress to deeply personal stories of struggle and resilience, this show presents diverse perspectives on what it means to dream, live, and take pride in America.

Opening Reception: Friday May 1, 2026, 6:00 – 8:00
Exhibit Dates: Saturday May 2 – Saturday June 13, 2026
Gallery Hours are every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Exhibition: Reimagined by Bobbie Bush (Saturday, May 02, 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Reimagined: A Modern Approach to Traditional Art

Opening Reception: Friday May 1, 2026, 6:00 – 8:00
Exhibit Dates: Saturday May 2 – Saturday June 13, 2026
Gallery Hours are every Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

For more information:
https://www.salemarts.org/bobbie-bush-reimagined/

Gallery Reception: Inspired by PEM (Friday, June 19, 2026)

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Inspired by PEM

"Inspired by PEM" reflects upon the current Peabody Essex Museum's exhibit, “OnThis Ground: Being and Belonging in America.” For this exhibition, Salem Arts Association welcomed artist members and non-members to submit their work.

PEM has brought collections of Native American and American art together for the first time in its history. The installation celebrates artistic achievements across time, space, and worldviews, exploring how art can help us understand this place we call America.

Artists were encouraged to respond to this broad and rich exhibit of artwork, crafts, antiques and tableaus, representing a wide swath of American culture.

Opening Reception: Friday June 19, 2026 6:00 – 8:00
Exhibit Dates: Saturday June 20 – Saturday July 25, 2026
Gallery Hours are every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Exhibition: Inspired by PEM (Saturday, June 20, 2026)

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Inspired by PEM

Artists were encouraged to respond to this broad and rich exhibit of artwork, crafts, antiques and tableaus, representing a wide swath of American culture.

Opening Reception: Friday June 19, 2026 6:00 – 8:00
Exhibit Dates: Saturday June 20 – Saturday July 25, 2026
Gallery Hours are every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Gallery Reception: Souvenirs of Summer (Friday, July 31, 2026)

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Souvenirs of Summer

“Souvenirs of Summer” is a members-only exhibition at our Pickering Wharf gallery. This show celebrates the sights, sounds, and sensations of summertime — those fleeting moments that linger long after the season fades. Think beach days and boardwalks, road trips and ice cream cones, salt air and sun-warmed evenings. This theme is also open to a more personal interpretation: what memories, emotions, or symbols represent your summer story? This show captures the warmth, nostalgia, and rhythm of the season in each artist's own unique way.

Opening Reception: Friday July 31, 2026 6:00 – 8:00
Exhibit Dates: Saturday August 1 – Saturday September 12, 2026
Gallery Hours are every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Exhibition: Souvenirs of Summer (Saturday, August 01, 2026)

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Souvenirs of Summer

Opening Reception: Friday July 31, 2026 6:00 – 8:00
Exhibit Dates: Saturday August 1 – Saturday September 12, 2026
Gallery Hours are every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Gallery Reception: Monsters & Myths (Friday, September 18, 2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Monsters & Myths

“Monsters & Myths” is an open exhibition to members and non-members at our Pickering Wharf gallery to celebrate Salem’s spooky season.

We’ve invited artists to explore the creatures, legends, and stories that haunt our imaginations. From ancient folklore and supernatural beings to modern-day fears and personal phantoms, this show celebrates the power of myth and mystery in all its forms.

This fall exhibition allows artists to delve into the realm of the eerie and the extraordinary, celebrating the rich tapestry of folklore, legends, and the fantastical creatures that haunt our imaginations. As Salem is renowned for its history of witchcraft and supernatural tales, we have encouraged artists to explore their interpretations of monsters and myths, whether they be drawn from personal experiences, cultural stories, or classic literature. "Myths & Monsters" showcases a unique vision of the mysterious and the macabre.

Opening Reception: Friday September 18 , 2026 6:00 – 8:00
Exhibit Dates: Saturday September 19 - Saturday November 7, 2026
Gallery Hours are every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Exhibition: Monsters & Myths (Saturday, September 19, 2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Monsters & Myths

“Monsters & Myths” is an open exhibition to members and non-members at our Pickering Wharf gallery to celebrate Salem’s spooky season.

Opening Reception: Friday September 18 , 2026 6:00 – 8:00
Exhibit Dates: Saturday September 19 - Saturday November 7, 2026
Gallery Hours are every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Gallery Reception: Member Holiday Showcase (Friday, November 13, 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Annual Member Holiday Showcase

Our Annual Member Holiday Showcase at the Pickering Wharf gallery wraps up the first year in our new space! This festive exhibition celebrates the creativity and community of our members during the holiday season. We encourage artwork that embodies the essence of the holidays, whether it’s a celebration of winter, personal reflections, or the warmth of togetherness.

From painting and photography to sculpture, crafts, and mixed media, this show shares the latest creations intended to find a new home for the holidays!.

Join us as we fill the gallery with color, warmth, and imagination to celebrate another vibrant year of art in Salem and ring in the holiday season together!

Opening Reception: Friday November 13. 2026, 6:00 – 8:00
Exhibit Dates: Saturday November 14, 2026 – Saturday January 2, 2027
Gallery Hours are every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Exhibition: Member Holiday Showcase (Saturday, November 14, 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Annual Member Holiday Showcase

From painting and photography to sculpture, crafts, and mixed media, this show shares the latest creations intended to find a new home for the holidays!.

Join us as we fill the gallery with color, warmth, and imagination to celebrate another vibrant year of art in Salem and ring in the holiday season together!

Opening Reception: Friday November 13. 2026, 6:00 – 8:00
Exhibit Dates: Saturday November 14, 2026 – Saturday January 2, 2027
Gallery Hours are every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.