Riverside's ArtsWalk returns Thursday, Aug. 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. School starts back Aug. 10, so this is the last First Thursday of summer break for a lot of Riverside families. This month's Artswalk has a lot to offer. Come early, stay hydrated, and remember our museums and galleries are air conditioned.
The JKBN Gallery- 3544 University Ave.
- RSVP by Wednesday, Aug. 5, to info@thejkbngallery.com. Space is limited and only confirmed RSVPs will be admitted. The gallery is otherwise open by appointment only.
- "Bright Lights," 7 to 9 p.m. Original oil paintings by the first class of the Kadir Nelson Institute for Young and Emerging Artists.
- Ten artists, ages 17 to 22, came from around the country and abroad for a two-week intensive that began July 25. Kadir Nelson and Dr. Jungmiwha Bullock N. picked the class themselves and taught it themselves, oil painting alongside the business of making a living.
- Every painting on the wall was made here, in the last two weeks, by someone seeing Riverside for the first time. Sales benefit the student artists and the institute.
RCAA Gallery- 3860 Lemon St.
- The gallery's Hot Time in the City Anniversary Show, featuring spotlight artist Jim Behrman, aka Dr. Strangebot, is on view Thursday, Aug. 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. during ArtsWalk.
- Behrman has become a local icon building robots out of found metal, industrial technique in service of a whimsical vision. Longtime shoppers will know his work from MADE, where he was a popular vendor before the store closed.
- Behrman's solo show runs Aug. 5 through 28, with an opening reception Wednesday, Aug. 5, the night before ArtsWalk. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Artists on Main- Main St. between Fifth and Tenth
- The vendor rows fill Main Street from 6 to 9 p.m. They have run more than 100 artists a month this year.
- Beverly Salas is the Riverside Arts Council's August Artist Spotlight. The Anaheim illustrator works mostly from nature, has been a fixture at the Santa Ana ArtWalk for more than 12 years, and has done Riverside ArtsWalk every month since July 2025.
Benjamin Franklin Stage- City Hall Breezeway
- Live music starts at 6 p.m. with Mindless Dreams, a SoCal alternative indie rock band. The show is free, all ages and dog friendly.
Inlandia Institute- Main Library Community Room, 3900 Mission Inn Ave.
- Native Authors in Action: Conversation with Native Writers runs 5 to 7:30 p.m. It starts an hour before ArtsWalk and wraps at 7:30, so go there first.
Riverside Art Museum- 3425 Mission Inn Ave.
- Janet Wheeler opened Aug. 1 in the Taylor Gallery, showing five lithographs and a collagraph made between 1973 and 1975, while she was a master's student at Cal State Long Beach. Several render women's bodies as stiff-limbed dolls dropped into surreal suburban rooms.
- Admission is free during ArtsWalk.
The Cheech- 3581 Mission Inn Ave.
- Our Empire, a community show, holds its orientation at 6 p.m. upstairs in the Auditorium. That is the same minute ArtsWalk opens, so go straight there if you want in and save Main Street for after.
- This is a call for artists, an opportunity to participate with your own work of art and show it in the Altura Community Gallery.
- An Our Empire project by James McClung and Marcus Mercado. Admission is free all night.
