More about ... <br/>Art in Eureka Springs

An arts destination for more than a century, Eureka Springs offers a wealth of experiences for anyone who creates or appreciates art.

Art by Glenn Gant at the Museum of Eureka Springs Art

Museums

The Museum of Eureka Springs Art showcases all styles and eras of work by artists who have lived in Eureka Springs. It is an essential stop not only for art lovers but anyone who wishes to understand the soul of the city.

The Eureka Springs Historical Museum also has a selection of works by Eureka Springs artists, including Louis Freund’s large mural of Carrie Nation that once hung in Hatchet Hall.

Eurekan Art gallery — An art gallery on Main Street in Eureka Springs

Galleries

Most of Eureka’s many art galleries are in the walkable downtown stretches of Main and Spring Streets. Along Spring Street, starting from the Basin Park Hotel, are:

Iris at the Basin Park, with an eclectic mix of local and regional artists, including Pete the Cat creator James Dean;
Wilson & Wilson Folk Art, featuring the whimsical work of Blakely Wilson and her mother, Sylvia;
J. A. Nelson Gallery, in the upper level of clothing store Nelson’s, featuring distinctive abstract wood carvings by Jim Nelson;
aMUSEd, with a selection of offbeat and fantastical illustrators;
LondonAire, with a mix of local and national artists in a variety of media;
Quicksilver Gallery, specializing in wood and metal work; and
Satori Arts, featuring originals and prints by local and international artists, including Michael Parkes.

Main Street’s galleries, starting across from Basin Park and heading north, include:

Visions on Main, featuring a variety of local artists;
Studio 34, home to the works of a small but diverse group of artists;
EureKan Art, with a large selection of local artists;
PhylArte Art Gallery, featuring the work of Phyllis Plumley; and
The Art Colony, a residential community for artists that includes a small gallery of their work.

On US Highway 62, Studio 62 features the painting and photography of Jody Stephenson and Ron Lutz, and further out, Sacred Earth west of town features the works of Edward and Janalee Robinson, and Cherokee Mountain Gallery east of town features work by Native American artists.

Many other shops in town have small selections of art for sale among their other offerings.

Public art

Art is always around the corner in Eureka Springs. Outdoor art abounds in both public spaces and the yards of the city’s homes. Just a few examples:

The Eureka Springs Centennial Mural, at 22 South Main Street, was designed by Louis Freund in 1979.
The Eureka Springs Art Wall, along First Street close to the centennial mural, is a series of panels with historic and modern photographs of city sights. Viewers can download an app to point their phones at each panel and watch it come to life.
Just down Main Street from the centennial mural is UP, better known as “the rainbow stairs.” One of the most popular selfie spots in Arkansas, the colorful mural is painted on a stairway between Main and Center Streets.
The Eureka Springs Augmented Reality Tour is a series of markers near springs and art installations throughout the city. Viewers can download an app to see augmented reality videos at each site.
Aza, a statue representing peace, gazes over Basin Park.
Dogs Walking Hippies is a mural in Harmon Park at 532 Spring Street, between the skate park and dog park.
Many downtown buildings have remnants of historical advertisements, known as “ghost signs”, painted on their sides.

Events

The Eureka Springs Festival of the Arts spans the entire month of May each year, packed with events including the ARTrageous Parade and the White Street Art Walk.

The daily Arts Desire Tour is a one-mile guided walk to view art and architecture downtown.

From spring to fall, the second Saturday of each month features a Gallery Stroll, with the town’s galleries offering refreshments and the chance to meet their artists.

Classes

The Eureka Springs School of the Arts offers professional-level classes throughout the year on their 55-acre campus west of town, in media such as painting, ceramics, metalworking, and woodwork.
Art supply store Adventure Art offers daily art classes in topics such as watercolors and sketching.
The Fire Om Earth retreat center offers occasional classes in clay work.

Crystal Bridges

Any art lover visiting Eureka Springs should make a side trip to the world-class Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, an hour’s drive away.

The museum’s vast collection includes works from artists such as John James Audubon, Norman Rockwell, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Andy Warhol, as well as an entire house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.