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First Studio Gallery hosts invitational shows, calls for art, and curatorial shows throughout the year.
Join us on First Fridays for our open house/receptions from 5 to 9 pm.
First Studio Gallery is located in the historic First Studio Building, 631 N 1st Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003, just south of McKinley.
ART Exhibitions
ART Exhibitions
✨ Small Works Show & Sale ✨
First Studio Gallery | 631 N 1st Ave, Phoenix, AZ
Exhibition Dates: November 7, 2025 – January 17, 2026
Discover the joy of art in small packages!
First Studio Gallery is delighted to present its inaugural Small Works Show & Sale—a curated collection of original artwork no larger than 12" x 12". Each piece is a handmade gem, perfect for holiday gift giving or for adding a special touch to your own home.
The show features an exciting mix of styles, materials, and media—clay, painting, drawing, and mixed media—each offering a glimpse into the creative spirit of local artists. Selected works may be taken home at the time of purchase, so you can find that perfect piece and take it with you the same day.
Receptions
🎉 Opening Reception (First Friday): November 7, 2025 | 5–9 PM
🎄 Holiday Reception (First Friday): December 5, 2025 | 5–9 PM
✨ Closing Reception (Third Friday): January 16, 2026 | 5–9 PM
Join us for one (or all!) of our festive receptions—meet the artists, enjoy refreshments, and find a one-of-a-kind treasure just in time for the holidays.
For additional information, email First Studio Gallery
The Shape of
The Shape of
My Voice
The art of Kris Kollasch
My Voice
The art of Kris Kollasch
Sept 5 – Oct 18
This is a rare chance to see Kollasch's large steel sculptures—only during the receptions at First Studio Gallery, 631 N 1st Ave, Phoenix
Artist Receptions: First Fridays! Sept 5 & Oct 3 (5–9 PM)
And Saturday Sept 6 (1–5 PM)
The art of Kris Kollasch resists definition, flowing effortlessly from steel to ceramic to acrylic, and incorporating an eclectic array of found objects gathered along her creative journey. Soothing, organically inspired landscapes lead into bold, upbeat mixed-media assemblages that explore our hopes, dreams, and shared humanity.
A highlight of the show is a captivating collection of ceramic heart “specimens,” each with its own story to tell. Poetry and prose written by the artist are often woven into her work, harmonizing with the imagery to create an even richer, layered experience.
The Shape of My Voice will feature a blend of new pieces and beloved older works—like your favorite concert with fresh hits and classic favorites. Whether you’re discovering Kris’s work for the first time or are a long-time collector, this exhibition offers a front-row seat to her ever-evolving, eclectic artistic voice.
Special Feature – During the Artist Receptions only, several of Kris’s large steel sculptures will be on display in the main studio. We hope you’ll join us for this unique opportunity to experience the full range of her artistry.
Art has long been a force for revolution, reflection, and reform. A Show of Resistance, opening June 2, 2025, at First Studio Gallery, is a powerful testament to the role artists play in shaping conversations, confronting injustice, and imagining a more equitable future.
This bold, multi-artist exhibition, presented in partnership between Arizona Art Alliance and First Studio Gallery, features 150 compelling works selected from over 200 submissions nationwide. Eighty of these pieces were chosen to be exhibited at First Studio Gallery. The virtual exhibition offers a broader platform for artists’ expression and ensuring accessibility to audiences beyond Arizona.
The artwork spans a range of media, styles, and voices, unified by a common thread: resistance. Whether addressing personal battles or global challenges, the selected artists use their creative expression as both mirror and megaphone, inviting viewers to engage, reflect, and act.
A Collective Effort for Change
A Show of Resistance is more than an exhibition—it’s a movement. Hosted in the iconic First Studio building—Arizona’s first radio and television studio and now a creative hub in the heart of downtown Phoenix—the show reflects a deep commitment to curating thought-provoking, socially conscious art. First Studio Gallery is a collaborative curatorial effort led by Kristine Kollasch, alongside Ellen Nemetz, Marnelle North, and Tess Mosko Scherer.
The exhibition is made possible in partnership with Arizona Art Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enriching Arizona’s arts landscape. For 25 years, AzAA has supported community-building through exhibitions, education, and outreach—offering programs for veterans, individuals affected by suicide and grief, and those working in healthcare.
Attend, Engage, Reflect
You are invited to attend the Opening Reception on June 6 from 5:00–9:00 PM, as part of Downtown Phoenix’s First Fridays. The Closing Reception will be held August 1, also from 5:00–9:00 PM. Outside of these events, the gallery is open by appointment—please contact FirstStudioGallery@gmail.com.
FIRST STUDIO GALLERY | 631 N 1st Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003
For more information, follow @FirstStudioGallery and @AZArtAlliance on social media.
March 7, 2025 First Friday Reception 5:00-9:00 PM
Exploring the Hidden Depths of Human Emotion and Identity
Undercurrent: an underlying feeling or influence, especially one that is contrary to the prevailing atmosphere and is not expressed openly.
We all have facades that hide the undercurrents in our lives: our emotions, beliefs, and illnesses. Our exterior personae are like the reflections on water that hide what is going on underneath the surface.
UNDERCURRENT explores these hidden depths and reveals the complexities of the human experience. The notion of undercurrent serves as a metaphor for the unspoken and unseen aspects of our lives that shape who we are. In a world where appearances often take precedence over authenticity, my art seeks to peel back the layers and offer a glimpse into the raw, unfiltered realities that lie beneath.
Each painting is meant to evoke a sense of introspection and self-discovery. By using a combination of recognizable and abstract forms, textures, and colors, I strive to create a visual representation of the emotional currents that flow within us. The interplay between light and shadow, transparency and opacity, serves to illustrate the duality of our existence - the visible and the hidden, the known and the unknown.
UNDERCURRENT is an invitation to acknowledge and embrace the complexities that make us human, to understand that beneath the surface of every individual lies a rich tapestry of experiences, emotions, and stories yet to be told. Then we can begin to foster a deeper connection with ourselves and others. My hope is that this body of work will inspire a greater sense of empathy, vulnerability, and authenticity in a world that often demands perfection and conformity.
Join me on this journey as we delve into the unseen and unspoken to discover the beauty and strength that reside in the depths of our true selves.
Upper Gallery through March 2025:
A group show of art work by Marnelle North, Tess Mosko Scherer, and Kristine Kollasch.
The show features paintings and sculptures by three of the curators of First Studio Gallery.
coming soon....
coming soon....
April 4, 2025 and May 2, 2025 First Friday receptions featuring the artwork by five emerging and mid career Phoenix based artists:
Sheila Kollasch, Rennan Kooistra, Stan Kurth, Gail Haire, and Kimberly Harris
join us for the receptions First Fridays on April 4 and May 2, 2025, 5:00 to 9:00.
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