The first time I wandered into Spokane on a cool spring afternoon, I expected rivers, bridges, and perhaps the faint echo of history that clings to many mid-sized American cities. What I didn’t expect was to stumble into a world so alive with creativity that it seemed to pulse through the streets. Art wasn’t confined to galleries or museums here—it spilled onto murals, into converted warehouses, coffee shops, and even onto the sidewalks in chalk after a sudden burst of inspiration.
For me, Spokane’s art world is not polished or pretentious. It is raw, authentic, and often deeply personal. The artists I’ve met here are storytellers, dreamers, and craftspeople, many of them juggling multiple jobs while still pouring themselves into canvases, sculptures, or performances that feel like gifts to the community. And every time I return to Spokane, I dive a little deeper into that creative world.
The Downtown Murals: Spokane’s Open-Air Gallery
Wandering Through Painted Streets
One of my earliest encounters with Spokane’s creative energy came not in a museum, but on the streets themselves. Downtown Spokane is alive with murals—towering walls transformed into canvases. I remember turning a corner near Main Avenue and Post Street and being stopped in my tracks by a mural of swirling colors, faces merging into landscapes, eyes staring straight into mine.
These murals aren’t just decoration; they’re conversation starters. Some speak about Spokane’s industrial history, others celebrate indigenous heritage, and still others are simply whimsical splashes of color that make you smile.
Personal Reflection
I found myself tracing the outlines of paint with my eyes, feeling almost like I was reading a diary written on concrete. The artists behind these murals often work anonymously or collaboratively, but their voices are loud. In those moments, I realized that Spokane’s art world is democratic—accessible to everyone walking by.
Photo Tips
Come early in the morning, when the streets are quiet, and you can photograph the murals without cars blocking the view. Use the wide lens on your phone to capture the full scale, but don’t forget to zoom in on the tiny details hidden in corners.
Terrain Gallery and the Energy of Emerging Artists
Location and Atmosphere
At 628 N Monroe St, Spokane, WA 99201, Terrain Gallery is a hub for Spokane’s emerging artists. When I stepped inside, I felt like I had entered a living organism. The walls buzzed with color and texture—paintings, installations, photography—all of it rotating regularly, all of it infused with the spirit of experimentation.
My First Visit
On my first visit, I was struck by a piece that used recycled bike parts to form a sculpture of a bird in flight. The artist wasn’t present, but I could almost feel their hands on the metal, bending, welding, reshaping discarded fragments into something alive. I stood there for nearly twenty minutes, circling the sculpture, letting the light shift across its wings.
The Creative Energy
Terrain isn’t about selling art to the highest bidder. It’s about nurturing creativity, giving new artists a stage, and creating a community. Many of the artists I met were in their twenties, balancing barista shifts or teaching gigs while pouring their hearts into canvases. Their passion was contagious.
Booking Info
Visiting the gallery is free, though donations are encouraged. For events, I’ve used Eventbrite to secure tickets ahead of time, especially for Terrain’s annual art party that fills entire city blocks with installations and performances.
The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC)
Location and Atmosphere
Located at 2316 W 1st Ave, Spokane, WA 99201, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, often called the MAC, is Spokane’s largest cultural institution. But unlike some museums that feel distant, the MAC feels grounded in its community.
My Immersion in Local Art
One spring afternoon, I wandered into an exhibit showcasing Spokane-based painters. The works ranged from hyperrealistic landscapes of the Palouse to abstract interpretations of Spokane Falls. I stood in front of a massive canvas where the falls were painted not as water, but as streaks of silver light pouring into a void. It was haunting, and I found myself closing my eyes, hearing the roar of the actual falls outside the museum walls.
The MAC also highlights Native American artists, and those exhibits left me humbled. Beadwork, weaving, and storytelling artifacts carried histories that stretched far beyond the city’s founding. It reminded me that Spokane’s creative world is not new—it’s layered over centuries of indigenous artistry.
Costs and Booking Info
Admission is typically around \$10 for adults. Tickets can be purchased online through the MAC’s official website or via GetYourGuide, which sometimes bundles admission with walking tours. I once booked through Viator, pairing my museum ticket with a Spokane history tour.
Photo Tips
Photography inside is limited, but outside the museum, the historic Campbell House next door (included with admission) is stunning. Take wide shots of its brick façade in the afternoon light.
Spokane’s Art Walks and Community Markets
The Spirit of Gathering
The First Friday Art Walk is one of Spokane’s best-kept secrets. On the first Friday of every month, galleries, coffee shops, and pop-up venues open their doors late into the night. I remember weaving through crowds on Sprague Avenue, a glass of local wine in hand, ducking into spaces where live music played beside walls covered in fresh art.
At the Perry Street Fair in spring, I wandered rows of booths where local artisans sold hand-painted ceramics, jewelry, and prints. A painter named Emily told me she worked out of a tiny studio above a bakery. She sold me a small watercolor of Spokane Falls, which now hangs above my desk at home.
My Reflection
These markets are where art becomes intimate. You talk to the creators, you feel their enthusiasm, and you realize that supporting them is not just about buying an object—it’s about fueling their ability to keep creating.
Costs and Booking Info
Most art walk events are free. For larger fairs, tickets are sometimes listed on Eventbrite for \$5–\$15. Bring cash for smaller vendors, though many now use mobile payment apps.
Photo Tips
Night photography during First Friday can be tricky—use the “night mode” on your phone and capture not just the art but the crowd, the laughter, the sense of celebration.
Meeting the Artists in Their Studios
Saranac Art Projects
At 25 W Main Ave, Spokane, WA 99201, I discovered Saranac Art Projects, a cooperative run by local artists. Walking in, I was greeted not by a receptionist but by one of the artists themselves, who eagerly showed me their latest work—a series of mixed-media pieces using old Spokane newspapers.
There’s something different about meeting artists in their studios. You see the paint-stained floors, the half-finished canvases, the notes scribbled on scraps of paper. It’s messy, alive, honest.
My Conversation with a Sculptor
One afternoon, I spoke with a sculptor named David who was welding pieces of scrap metal into human forms. He told me he found most of his materials in Spokane’s industrial yards. “I like giving the city back to itself,” he said. That sentence has stayed with me, echoing every time I see his work around town.
Costs and Booking Info
Admission to these cooperative spaces is usually free. Studio tours during events can sometimes be booked through Airbnb Experiences, which I once used to sign up for a guided Spokane art crawl led by a local.
Photo Tips
Always ask before photographing artists at work. When permitted, focus on their hands—the way paint smears across knuckles or how sparks fly from welding tools.
Platforms That Help Me Travel Into Art
Flights and Accommodation
To reach Spokane for these artistic adventures, I’ve often relied on Expedia and Priceline for flights. Booking.com has been my go-to for finding central hotels, especially those near downtown galleries. I once stayed at the Centennial Hotel Spokane, booked through Hotels.com, and could walk directly onto the Centennial Trail after mornings spent in galleries.
Tickets and Tours
For art events and museum admissions, I use Eventbrite, Viator, and GetYourGuide. These platforms often list hidden gems, like artist-led walking tours or special exhibit openings.
Restaurants After Art Walks
Spokane’s art scene pairs beautifully with its food scene. After art walks, I’ve used OpenTable to snag last-minute dinner reservations at places like Clinkerdagger or Mizuna. Pairing local cuisine with local art feels like completing a story.
Living Inside Spokane’s Creative Pulse
When I think of Spokane now, I don’t just picture the river or the falls. I picture the mural that startled me on a side street, the sculpture of a bird made from bike parts, the beadwork glimmering in the MAC’s exhibit hall, and the laughter of artists selling prints under twinkling lights at a night market.
I carry with me the feeling of standing in a studio where metal sparked under a sculptor’s torch, or sipping wine in a gallery while a jazz trio played in the corner. Spokane taught me that art doesn’t have to be distant—it can be woven into everyday life, into streets and markets and conversations with strangers who soon feel like friends.
And each time I return, I find new voices, new visions, new layers of creativity waiting. Spokane’s art world is not static; it’s alive, breathing, and ready to welcome anyone willing to step into its pulse.
