New Orleans’ gallery scene is exciting, dynamic and best of all, big.
Big?
Yes, big. But big in the sense that goes beyond size — though size queens will be happy with this year’s shows.
Big as in choices: painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, all hugely different in mediums and perspectives. There are established artists, others emerging. Some with big price tags, other with ones that cost a nice meal out (read: more affordable to the masses).
But, where to start?
The following is a selection of shows opening in the second half of 2026. Remember, this is by far not all of the galleries in the city — as one can tell by the extensive list at the end of the article.
So, treat this an amuse-bouche, something to get your palate — or palette — excited for the bigger meal ahead.
Among the many delights of the French Quarter is the Claire Elizabeth Gallery (131 Decatur St., claireelizabethgallery.com). Founded 2016 by Claire Thriffiley, the gallery represents emerging and mid-career Southern artists, with a focus on themes of nature and ecology, as well as incorporating color theory. This summer, the gallery is featuring a two-person exhibition for Logan Ledford and Mary Singleton. This fall, Thriffiley plans to showcase the aerial photography by Ben Depp.
If Thriffiley’s name sounds familiar, it is because she was one of Avenue’s Activists of the Year in 2022, honored for her work with Amy’s Art Cart, which provides art supplies and creative outlets for patients at Manning Family Children’s Hospital. She is also among area gallery owners, as well as artists, who donate art to a number of nonprofit fundraisers, so be sure to thank her and others when you see them at these events.
A Gallery for Fine Photography (agallery.com), an anchor of the French Quarter art gallery scene — and photography world — moved Uptown in October 2025 and is now at its new location, 7457 St. Charles Avenue. Owner Joshua Mann Pailet has been in the business for 52 years with this as “the oldest gallery for fine art photography in the world,” he says.
With this new, expansive space, visitors can view more photography and admire the variety of techniques and perspectives of works from the 19th century to modern day. Up through mid-September is Richard Sexton: Seascapes, and Wendi Schneider: Held Light, whose latest works are photographs of Venice and Florence printed on Kozo paper, backed in gold leaf and set in antique frames Schneider collected through the years.
Strolling or driving down Magazine Street is always a pleasure with restaurants, bars, a dizzying array of stores — fashion, home furnishings and more — and of course, galleries.
One of the oldest galleries on the street, Cole Pratt Gallery (3800 Magazine St., coleprattgallery.com) had its first opening in 1993. After Pratt passed away, Erika S. Olinger, who started to work at the gallery in 1994, purchased it in 2008. Focusing on Southern Regional artists with styles ranging from hyper-realism to abstract, as well as photography, glass and ceramics, the gallery represented artists such as Stephen Hoffpauir, whose show “Grandiflora” is June 2-July 18; and Mike Williams, Danna Ruth Harvey and Stacy Underwood, with shows in October, November and December, respectively. Among the other 50 artists she represents are Mac Ball, Leigh Suggs, Leslie Addison & George Yerger, James Beaman, and Evert Witte.
Every city has a neighborhood where emerging artists can create and show their work. The St. Claude Arts District, which goes through the Marigny and the Bywater, is where more the experimental and edgier shows take place, often directly addressing societal themes.
The UNO St. Claude Gallery (2429 St. Claude Ave., unostclaudegallery.org) will host “Tigers in the Garden,” June 13- July 12. Presented by the John Burton Harter Foundation and organized by Ogden Museum of Southern Art Chief Curator Bradley Sumrall, the show gathers a new generation of LGBTQ+ artists working in New Orleans. The title of the show “honors a continuum in which queer Southern life moves from the coded narrative to embodied presence — from the margins of fiction into the fullness of lived and visible culture,” says the exhibition statement.
Spurred by the opening of the Contemporary Arts Center (900 Camp St., cacno.org) in 1976 and the nearby 1984 World’s Fair, Julia Street in the Warehouse District caught the eye of artists and art dealers, becoming “gallery row.” Arthur Roger was among the pioneers, opening his gallery at 432 Julia St. in 1988, moving there from his gallery on Magazine Street, which he opened in 1978.
The breadth and range of artists represented at the Arthur Roger Gallery and the adjacent Arthur Roger@434 (arthurrogergallery.com) is phenomenal, with the upcoming shows embodying this: Mary Jane Parker, Fahamu Pecou, through June 27; Holton Rower, Shawne Major, through mid July. For the White Linen Night opening (Aug. 1) and running through September, the gallery has themed the show “Alternative Consciousness,” featuring work by artists Walker Babington, JoLean Barkley and WENDO, and Che Mayfield, with separate exhibitions of Sean Svetlik, Keith Duncan. In October art lovers can see works by Simon Gunning, Jim Richard; and November, Nicole Charbonnet and David Halliday.
Artist Bradley Sabin’s sculptures bloom and undulate through June 30 at Callan Contemporary (518 Julia St., callancontemporary.com). The gallery, which opened in 2012 and is helmed by Borislava and Steve Callan, represents contemporary artists, with an emphasis on sculpture, which in addition to Sabin, includes Eva Hild and Pablo Atchugarry. Among the gallery’s other artists are George Dunbar, Raine Bedsole, James Kennedy, David Borgerding and Key-Sook Geum. If you are an Art Basel fan, the gallery will be at the Art Miami satellite show (Dec. 1-6).
Jonathan Ferrara has been a scene on the gallery scene ever since he started with Positive Space in 1995, then created the Jonathan Ferrara Gallery in 1998, moving to Carondelet Street in 1999, followed by a move to 400A Julia Street in 2007. Matthew Weldon Showman, who had been working there for years, switched gears in 2024 to become a partner, with the gallery now known as the Ferrara Showman Gallery (ferrarashowman.com), which features established, mid-career and emerging artists
It’s a busy summer, fall and winter here, featuring: Jonathan Ferrara, Becca Fuhrman, through mid-July; Wencke Uhl, July 1-Sept. 30; “We’ve Met Before…”, mid-July—Sept. 5; 30th Annual “No Dead Artists” International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Sept. 11-Oct. 24; Michael Tole, Tony Degradi, Oct. 28-Dec. 5; Audra Kohout, E2: Kleinveld & Julien, Dec. 9, 2026-Feb. 6, 2027.
LeMieux Galleries (332 Julia St., lemieuxgalleries.com) is another longtime familiar face on Julia Steet. Founded in 1983 on the West Bank by Denise Berthiaume, it moved to Julia Street in 1987 before settling on its current location in 1990. Bought in 2015 by current owners Christy Wood and Jordan Blanton, LeMieux always has a great mix of art on view at any time.
Upcoming shows include: June and July: Bernard Mattox, David Lambert; August-Mid September: And Now for Something New, Vol 8 Show, juried by Don Marshall and Kaori Maeyama; mid-September-October: Aron Belka, Phil Sandusky; November-mid December: Mary Monk, Annie Heisey; and end of December through January: Rami Sharkey, Nathan Durfee.
Octavia Art Gallery (700 Magazine St., octaviaartgallery.com), founded in 2008 by Pamela Bryan, set its art sights early to establish itself as focusing on emerging, mid-career and established artists with diverse cultural backgrounds and a strong concentration on abstraction. In June and July, works by Ann Marie Auricchio, Ryoko Endo are on view; for White Linen Night, Brittany Fanning, Luke Forsyth, Bradley Kerl and Ransome; and for October, Alia Ali.
Orleans Gallery (603 Julia St., orleansgallery.com), owned by Cayman Clevenger, specializes in Southern art, and as there is so much to showcase, there is an additional space, the Annex, across the street. Founded in 2012, the gallery moved into its current location in May 2025.
During mid-June through mid-July, visitors can see the art of Andrew Lamar Hopkins and Clementine Hunter. Also in July is Jose-Maria Cundin, who will mark the 250th anniversary of America with his flag series and the Declaration of Independence, “the most accurate printing of the document ever undertaken,” says the gallery. In August, see Kloé Donley, Morgan Gray, Denise Hopkins, and in September, Tony Bernard (who was artist George Rodrigue’s studio assistant) and Stephanie Torregrossa Gaffney.
Gallery Listing
A Gallery for Fine Photography
7457 St. Charles Ave.
agallery.com
A.L. Lowe Custom Framing
730 Dublin St..
allowecustomframing.com
Alex Beard Studio
3926 Magazine St.
alexbeardstudio.com
Alexis Walter
702 Magazine St.
alexiswalter.com
Angela King Gallery
241 Royal St.
angelakinggallery.com
Antieau Gallery
719 Royal St.
antieaugallery.com
Anton Haardt Gallery
2858 Magazine St.
antonhaardtgallery.com
Ariodante Contemporary Craft Gallery
535 Julia St.
ariodantegallery.com
Art by Christy Gallery
4616 Magazine St.
artbychristy.com
ARtscapes AR
935 Gravier St #1042
artscapes.co
Arthur Roger Gallery
432 Julia St.
arthurrogergallery.com
Axiom Art Gallery
4613 Freret St.
axiomartgallery.com
Beata Sasik
541 Julia St.
sasikart.com
Billy Solitario Fine Art
4531 Magazine St.
billysolitario.com
Black Heritage Gallery
719 Bourbon St.
blackheritagegallery.org
Boulier Photo Gallery
618 Julia St.
boulier.co
Caliche & Pao Gallery
312 Royal St.
calicheandpao.com
Callan Contemporary
518 Julia St.
callancontemporary.com
Camp Street Studios
822 Camp St.
campstreetstudios.org
Carol Robinson Gallery
840 Napoleon Ave.
carolrobinsongallery.net
Casey Langteau Art
4700 Magazine St.
caseylangteauart.com
Claire Elizabeth Gallery
131 Decatur St.
claireelizabethgallery.com
Cole Pratt Gallery
3800 Magazine St.
coleprattgallery.com
Craig Tracy Gallery
827 Royal St.
craigtracy.com
Creative Alliance of New Orleans
326 Esplanade Ave.
cano-la.org
Curated
328 Julia St.
neworleansauction.com
Degas Gallery
604 Julia St.
thedegasgallery.com
Derby Pottery & Tile
2029 Magazine St.
derbypottery.com
Dr. Bob Folk Art
3027 Chartres St.
@drbobart
Dutch Alley Artist’s Co-op
912 N. Peters St.
dutchalleyonline.com
Eight One Eight
2300 Laharpe St.
gallery818photography.com
Elise Allen Art
6063 Magazine St.
eliseallenart.com
Elliott Gallery
540 Royal St.
elliottgallery.com
Esom Art
400 Julia St.
esomart.com
Ferrara Showman Gallery
400A Julia St.
ferrarashowman.com
Frank Relle Photography
910 Royal St.
frankrelle.com
Fredrick Guess Studio
607 Julia St.
frederickguessstudio.com
Frenchy Live
8314 Oak St.
frenchylive.com
The Front
4100 St. Claude Ave.
nolafront.org
Galerie Rue Royale
3648 Magazine St.
frenchart.net
Gallery B Fos
745 Baronne St., Ste. C-1
beckyfos.com
Gallery Burguieres
736 Royal St.
galleryburguieres.com
Gallery Cayenne
702 Decatur St.
gallerycayenne.com
Gallery Huracan
3441 Magazine St.
galleryhuracan.com
Gallery Orange
819 Royal St.
gallery-orange.com
Gallery Rinard
611 Royal St.
galleryrinard.com
Gallery 600 Julia
600 Julia St.
gallery600julia.com
George Schmidt Gallery
626 Julia St.
georgeschmidt.com
Glassblower Ben
1239 St. Ferdinand St.
glassblowerben.com
Good Children Gallery
4037 St Claude Ave.
goodchildrengallery.com
Great Artists Collective
815 Royal St.
greatartistscollective.com
Gryder Gallery
615 Julia St.
gryder.co
Guy Lyman Fine Art
by appointment only
guylymanfineart.com
Harouni Gallery
933 Royal St.
harouni.com
Jillian Mac Fine Art
3923 Magazine St.
jillianmacfineart.com
Julie Silvers Art
3714 Magazine St.
juliesilversart.com
Kevin Gillentine Gallery
3917 Magazine St.
kevingillentine.com
LeMieux Gallery
332 Julia St.
lemieuxgalleries.com
Martine Chaisson Gallery
727 Camp St.
martinechaissongallery.com
Megan Barnes Art
2855 Magazine St.
@meganbarnesart
Michalopoulos Gallery
617 Bienville St.
michalopoulos.com
MH Contemporary
604 Julia St.
mh-contemporary.com
MS Rau
622 Royal St.
rauantiques.com
Myth Gallery
831 Royal St.
myth-gallery.com
New Orleans Photo Alliance
7800 Oak St.
neworleansphotoalliance.org
New Orleans School of Glassworks & Printmaking
727 Magazine St.
neworleansglassworks.com
Octavia Art Gallery
700 Magazine St., Ste. 103
octaviaartgallery.com
Palace Market/Frenchmen Art Bazaar
619 Frenchmen St.
palacemarketnola.com
Pollack Glass Studio
4132 Magazine St Unit B
pollackglassnola.com
Porche-West Gallery
3201 Burgundy St.
porche-west.com
Potsalot Pottery
3818 Magazine St.
potsalot.com
Rodrigue Studio
730 Royal St.
georgerodrigue.com
St. Claude Arts
6707 St Claude Ave.
stclaudearts.org
Scene By Rhys Fine Art
1036 Royal St.
scenebyrhys.com
Sibyl Gallery
8630 Zimpel St.
sibylgallery.com
Sidewalk Side Studio
3645 Magazine St.
sidewalkside.com
Staple Goods
1340 St. Roch Ave.
staplegoods.org
Stella Jones Gallery
201 St. Charles Ave.
stellajonesgallery.com
Sterling Frame Studio
3440 Magazine St.
sterlingframestudio.com
Studio Amanda Talley
1382 Magazine St.
amandatalley.com
StudioBE
2941 Royal St.
studiobenola.com
A.O Cuneo/Sullivan Gallery
3825 Magazine St.
aocuneo.sullivan-gallery.com
Sutton Galleries
519 Royal St.
suttonsgalleries.com
Tanner Gallery & Studio
625 Royal St.
tannergallery.com
Terrance Osborne Gallery
3029 Magazine St.
terranceosborne.com
The Spielman Gallery
1332 Washington Ave.
davidspielman.com
Thomas Mann Gallery I/O
500 Napoleon Ave.
thomasmann.com
UNO St. Claude Gallery
2429 St. Claude Ave.
unostclaudegallery.org
Venusian Gardens
2601 Chartres St.
vgartgallery.com
Vieux Carre Gallery
507 St. Ann St.
vieuxcarregallery.com
Where y’Art Works
1901 Royal St.
whereyartworks.com
Windsor Fine Art
221 Royal St.
windsorfineart.com
Wine Art Gallery
440 Julia St.
wineartgallery.com
Zele NOLA
2841 Magazine St.
@zele_nola
Zana Brown Studio Gallery
3908 Magazine St.
zanabrownstudio.com
Artful Events
While the Julia Street and Magazine Street galleries have monthly coordinated openings the first Saturday, the St. Claude Avenue galleries on the second Saturday, and Royal Street in the French Quarter on first Fridays, there are other upcoming events that you don’t want to miss on the this side of Lake Pontchartrain, as well as on the Northshore.
Let’s start with the big shots of the New Orleans art events: Fidelity Bank White Linen Night and Art for Arts’ Sake.
Hosted by the Arts District of New Orleans (artsdistrictneworleano.com), a consortium of art galleries, museums, performance spaces, restaurants and bars within the Warehouse District, White Linen Night is Aug. 1, 5 p.m.-10 p.m., and is centered at the Julia Street galleries. ADNO already hosted Jammin’ in Julia in April and don’t forget Brady’s Wine Holiday Cheers, Dec. 5.
Also, on ADNO’s schedule is Art for Arts’ Sake, Oct. 3, which takes place in two areas of New Orleans. ADNO hosts the Julia Street galleries, 5 p.m.- 9 p.m., while further Uptown, the Magazine Street Merchants Association (magazinestreet.com) has its version, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. The merchant’s association is also having other events through the year, including art walks on the first Saturday of the month in June, September, November and December, when it is called Santa’s Champagne Stroll.
Heading over to the Northshore, the St. Tammany Art Association (sttammany.art) is having its 56th Annual National Juried Artist’s Exhibition: The Summer Show. Opening July 11 and on view through Sept. 12, the show attracts artists from throughout the U.S. This year’s juror is acclaimed artist MaPó Kinnord. The St. Tammany Art Association Art House is located at 320 N. Columbia St., Covington.
Heading into the fall is the Covington Three Rivers Art Festival (covingtonthreeriversartfestival.com), Nov. 14 and 15. Located in downtown Covington, the festival features a juried selection of 200 artists in a variety of mediums.
