Photo by Aidan O'Connor, courtesy of St. Paul Art Collective
The St. Paul Art Crawl is a beloved biannual tradition that celebrates the city’s rich artistic communities. This spring, it returns with its most geographically expansive lineup to date—spanning three weekends, seven wards, and 10 neighborhoods, with hundreds of local artists showcasing their work in galleries, studios, and pop-up spaces across the city.
Weekend 1: April 25-27
Ward 2 (Lowertown, West 7th, West Side)
Start your crawl in the heart of the city. Lowertown alone boasts 13 participating locations, including artist hubs like Lowertown Lofts Artist Cooperative, Northern Warehouse Lofts, and Tilsner Artist Lofts—each of which features work from resident and guest artists alike.
At Calendula Gallery, visitors can view work from over 40 artists working in painting, ceramics, mixed media, photography, and more. On Friday evening, don’t miss the opening reception of Jared Arven’s solo exhibit, “t. Paul After Dark,” from 5-8 p.m.
Other Lowertown highlights include Minnesota Museum of American Art, Art of Counseling, Burl Gallery, Lost Fox, Master Framers, Owl’s Eye Art, and Erta Ale Ethiopian.
Over in West 7th, six destinations await—including Grand Hand Gallery, Friedli Gallery, Great River Gallery, The Schmidt Artist Lofts, Schmidt’s Rathskeller at the Schmidt Brewery Complex, and Nine Lives Thrift. Artworks range from book arts and textiles to sculpture, painting, and more. On the West Side, F-O-K Studios will host open studios and live music for guests to enjoy.
Weekend 2: May 2-4
Wards 5, 6, and 7 (Como, Payne-Phalen)
The second weekend of the crawl invites art enthusiasts to explore the vibrant neighborhoods of Como and Payne-Phalen. At Front Avenue Pottery, guests can experience an intimate exhibition with works by four local potters and a jeweler. Como Streetcar Station will play host to eight local artists presenting an array of works across various disciplines, while the Como Pavilion Waterfall Room, located on the third floor, is highlighting 15 artists and their custom creations. Enjoy lunch and a drink at Dock and Paddle before continuing your crawl.
In the Payne-Phalen neighborhood, there is even more to explore. From tattoo artists and photographers to antique and vintage dealers, there is something for everyone to discover at Everest LLC. While you’re in the neighborhood, don’t miss exhibits at ArT @ 967 Payne, Urban Roots, and Second Shift Studio Space.
Photo by Aidan O'Connor, courtesy of St. Paul Art Collective
Weekend 3: May 9-11
Wards 1, 3, and 4 (Cathedral Hill, Little Mekong Cultural District, Summit-Grand, Creative Enterprise Zone, Merriam Park)
For the final weekend, each neighborhood offers one-of-a-kind artistic experiences and cultural events. Creative Enterprise Zone is the largest stop of the weekend, boasting six destinations for crawlers to explore. For those interested in the craft of bookbinding, The Bindery Building provides insights into this intricate art form. Meanwhile, the St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN) explores the art of media making through exhibits featuring youth projects and works by artist John Noltner. Midway Clay, Dow Art Gallery, Open Art Space, and Goldstein Gallery at the Goldstein Museum are also open to visit.
Home to SpringPOP, an annual community and maker market, Springboard for the Arts in the Little Mekong Cultural District is a prime stop for arts and crafts, music, dance, and more. In the Summit-Grand neighborhood, 825 Arts highlights an Ojibwe love story with Mni Giizhik Theatre Ensemble’s “Niizh.” Nearby, House of heART 2 – Short Term Rental Art Gallery—set within a historic, three-story house—is featuring work from 28 local artists.
Other crawl stops include Virginia Street Church in Cathedral Hill and Spatial Effects Gallery in Merriam Park.
