Wicker Park Bucktown
First Fridays

First Fridays is a FREE, self-guided monthly art walk throughout Wicker Park and Bucktown. You will find exhibition openings, local artist pop-ups, artist talks, and more each month as you explore the map below.

 

When: Every First Friday of the month

The next is May 1st from 6 - 8 PM

 

Where: Check out the map below!

What's Going on at First Fridays?

Check out our lineup of local events and exhibition openings for First Friday on May 1st!

Flat Iron Arts Building

1579 N Milwaukee Ave

 

#204 Wondergem Studio

Photography of Leigha Wondergem & Jewelry Showcase by Hoard of Asbod

 

#206 LMN Wedge Studio & Gallery

Live Watercolor portraits by Laura and chess lessons with Leif!

 

#207 Black Bobbin Guitars

Open guitar showroom hours

 

#304 Screams Everything Studio

Art made from what you throw away

 

#320 T2D2 Toys

Surprise Mystery Grab Bags

 

Studio #330

Photography exhibition by Rici Aquino

 

#339 Inner Listening Wellness Studio

Mixed Media Art & Curious Conversations

 

#344 Phil Circle Music

First Friday open mic jam session

 

#345 Chateau by Boehlen

Pop-up art gallery with Bridget Thompson

 

Featured exhibitions from Lorenzo Dolce, Bill Moran, UIC School of Architecture, Mari Eboli, Julia Schrecengost, Zaza Maks, Michael James, and Allan Koss

 

DJ set by Collective Energy Crew

Public Works Gallery

2141 W North Ave

 

New show!!! 🔥🔥🔥 Join us for the grand opening of DAWN OF DIGITAL—a gallery installation and sensory experience at Public Works Gallery.
 
Opening Friday May 1st 7-11pm feat DJ sets by: @ritalukea & @ommen of @_pixelgrip_
 
To kick off the months long installation, we’re hosting a three-day event series celebrating the evolution of digital innovation, visual culture, and sonic history.
 
From cracked pixels to crashed software, this is a tribute to the stubborn magic of making art with machines that break promises. ⚡️

Physio Chicago - Bucktown

1866 N Damen Ave, Unit 1

 

We will be featuring a mural from local artist, Adriana Chychula, at our physical therapy clinic. The mural features a scene from the Chicago lakefront.
 
Come by and say hello!

Heaven Gallery

1550 N Milwaukee Ave, #2

 

Heaven Gallery will be showcasing "Strategies of Resistance: Immigrant Legacies Beyond Assimilation"

This exhibition aims to focus on the political strategies used by Tesora Garcia, Lorena Molina, hazel batrezchavez, MartĂ­n Wannam, Dominique Muñoz, and Victor Yañez-Lazcano, whose many praxis mainly focuses on their identities coming from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala, to challenge displacement and recenter their legacies within the United States. Through photography, sculpture, and performance, the featured artworks reveal how language, objects, gestures, and cultural practices can become tools of resistance against the homogenizing forces of the “American” mainstream. 

Tom Robinson Studio

2416 W North Ave

 

New Paintings and Miniatures will be on display!

 

Lots to choose from!

Jackson Junge Gallery

1389 N Milwaukee Ave

 

Jackson Junge Gallery presents FORMS & HORIZONS, a retrospective exhibition celebrating the work of Benjye Troob. Known for her expressive figure drawings and evocative landscapes, Troob captures both movement and atmosphere with a distinct sensitivity to color, gesture, and form. Follow Troob’s extensive career and her continued evolution as an artist; one whose work remains as dynamic and compelling today as it ever was.

 

Exhibition on view through May 24th.

MarioInk

1441 N Ashland Ave

 

First Friday Tattoo Special! $50/$100 flat rate, Black & Grey design! Tonight only!

Fine art, hand painted clothing, custom vinyl figures, jewelry. 

Ed & Jean's Tavern

2032 W Armitage Ave

 

Visit Ed & Jean's Tavern to view their newest photography exhibition, "Lepidoptera," featuring the photographs by Mark Lind!

SoNa Chicago Art Gallery

1527 N Ashland Ave

 

SoNa Chicago supports the General Strike and May Day actions that will be underway across the U.S. on Friday, May 1.

We believe the times we are living in require a "no business as usual" stance. This day will be an opportunity for the public begin to show their economic muscle as a way to protest.

SoNa will be open on Friday, May 1 to offer a space for community and conversation, and appreciation of the arts, but we will not put through any purchases so as to support the economic blackout.

We realize not every small business can afford to do this. A key message of this Day of Action is to highlight the need to put workers over billionaires. Thriving small businesses are a key to strong communities. May Day can be a day to commit to the economic blackout when it comes to Amazon, Walmart, Target, and other megabusinesses that line up in support of the trump administration's draconian actions.

SoNa will be open on Friday, May 1 from 5-8 pm as a participant in the amazing cultural community of @wickerpark_bucktown and @westtownchicago

** Abolish ICE - Free All Detainees
** Workers Over Billionaires
** Invest in healthcare, housing, education, and the arts, NOT WAR!

Here is just one of the many actions on this Day of Action 2026: Union Park, corner of Ashland and Randolph. A short opening rally begins promptly at 1 pm, Union Park, with a march downtown to follow.

A Pied

1933 N Damen Ave

 

Jameonne Yun Morris and A Pied present the Distortion Exhibition!

 

Materials used:
Glass, Metal, Wood, Sun, My Hand, Feelings, Cameras, and Humans.

Oh, and you can be EVERYTHING you want to be.

And so many more!