events & exhibitions
Check out events at Onyx and around town. Follow us on Instagram @onyxfineartscollective to see move events.
21st Annual Juried Art Exhibit
The exhibit showcases 60 beautiful pieces of art which continues to reveal the creative talent within our artist community. Awards will be given to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention winners as determined by our independent jurors during the reception.
Onyx is excited to invite you to join us at the reception of our 21st Annual Juried Art Exhibit of artwork produced by 39 local artists.
Cos Anthony, LaMecca Bostwick, Arnold Broom, Clifford Crawford, Myron Curry, Aba Diallo, Whitney Diggs, Di Faria, Josiane Faubert, Delroy Franklin, Angelika Grant, Robert Horton, Jairzinho Jacob, TyResha Jones-Smith, Nahshon Joshua, Guilite Kamanda, Imani Kang, Terence Kelley, Nia Kent, Aschenaki Lulu, Wille Mcintyre, Angelena McQuarter, Douglas McQuarter, Tsewone Melaku, Kyle Melendez Daigre, Maya Milton, Juion Mitchell, Doreen Mitchum, Jackie Nichols, Crystal Noir, Sydney Noland, Markas Odom, Bilonda Mir Rommel, Altynai Saparbai, Fin'es Scott, Deborah Smith, Jay Taylor, Earnest Thomas, Nova Thomas (Youth Artist), and Ebony Watts
We look forward to seeing you!
Reception Celebrating Onyx 21st Annual Juried Art Exhibit
Gallery Onyx (located at 600 Pine Street, 3rd flr, Seattle, WA)
Sunday June 7, 2026 from 2 - 5pm. The exhibit runs from June 5 to August 28.
AAWA Readings and Events
The African American Writing Alliance has a wide variety of events happening in the Seattle area. Join them for poetry readings, open mics, writing workshops, and more. All events are free and have an open mic.
Everyone is welcome! Bring a friend!
AWAA Closing Reception
Join us for the final event celebrating this exhibit on August 23 with AAWA. During this special closing reception, AAWA members will once again share original poetry inspired by the artwork on display, offering a unique perspective on the exhibit.
We'll also announce the winner of the People's Choice Award, as selected by our visitors. Help us close out the 21st Annual Juried Exhibit with an evening of art, poetry, and community. Spread the word and join us!
Afro Buds and Blooms - Art Demo
Come watch Cynthia Hobbs demonstrate how to make Afro buds. Watch the art come to life as in real time before your eyes.
Live Caricature Drawings
Have your caricature drawing done! Artist Markas Odum will draw your caricature on the spot from 5 - 7 PM. We hope to see you there at this free family friendly event.
Live Painting, Jewelry Demo, Digital Photo Demo
Watch art come to life as talented artists create original works in real time before your eyes.
Imani Kang 1 - 2:00 PM live painting
Kierron-de Brown 2:30 - 3:30 PM jewelry demo
Jay Taylor 4:30 - 5:30 PM digital photo demo
Live Painting
Watch art come to life as talented artists create original works in real time before your eyes.
Willie McIntyre 2 - 3:00 PM
Juion Mitchell 5:00 - 6:00 PM
SAM Juneteenth Community Celebration
Join us for a community celebration of Juneteenth with art, music, and good company!
Throughout the day, the museum will come alive with DJs, live performances, and hands-on art making. Plus, grab a free museum ticket from our community partner tables. Onyx Fine Arts Collective will be tabling at this event.
Juneteenth marks a history of delayed freedom, and an ongoing story of Black resilience, creativity, and joy. This celebration is an invitation to honor the legacy of the past, present, and future.
We hope to see you there!
Live Painting
Watch art come to life as talented artists create original works in real time before your eyes.
Artist Aschenaki Lulu will do a painting live!
Juneteenth - The sound of Connection
Juneteenth at NAAM is a powerful reminder of what it means to honor the past while gathering in the present through joy, creativity, movement, and community. Centered around this year’s theme, The Sound of Connection, our 2026 Juneteenth Celebration invites people of all ages to come together for a day rooted in rhythm, reflection, expression, and unity.
Eyewitness to Greatness Reception
This year, we’re celebrating Juneteenth with a special gallery exhibition, “Eyewitness to Greatness,” featuring local artists of African descent from the Onyx Fine Arts Collective. Meet the artists and enjoy refreshments and live music from acclaimed Pacific Northwest guitarist and vocalist Michael Powers. This event is free to attend!
The gallery will be available for viewing from June 1-25.
Artist Reception June 18, 7 - 9 PM at Blakely Hall.
21st Annual Juried Art Reception
Onyx is excited to invite you to join us at the reception of our 21st Annual Juried Art Exhibit of artwork produced by 39 local artists. The exhibit showcases 60 beautiful pieces of art which continues to reveal the creative talent within our artist community.
Awards will be given to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention winners as determined by our independent jurors during the reception.
Artist in Show
Cos Anthony, LaMecca Bostwick, Arnold Broom, Clifford Crawford, Myron Curry, Aba Diallo, Whitney Diggs, Di Faria, Josiane Faubert, Delroy Franklin, Angelika Grant, Robert Horton, Jairzinho Jacob, TyResha Jones-Smith, Nahshon Joshua, Guilite Kamanda, Imani Kang, Terence Kelley, Nia Kent, Aschenaki Lulu, Wille Mcintyre, Angelena McQuarter, Douglas McQuarter, Tsewone Melaku, Kyle Melendez Daigre, Maya Milton, Juion Mitchell, Doreen Mitchum, Jackie Nichols, Crystal Noir, Sydney Noland, Markas Odom, Bilonda Mir Rommel, Altynai Saparbai, Fin'es Scott, Deborah Smith, Jay Taylor, Earnest Thomas, Nova Thomas (Youth Artist), and Ebony Watts
We look forward to seeing you!
Eyewitness to Greatness
This year, we’re celebrating Juneteenth with a special gallery exhibition, “Eyewitness to Greatness,” featuring local artists of African descent from the Onyx Fine Arts Collective. Meet the artists and enjoy refreshments and live music from acclaimed Pacific Northwest guitarist and vocalist Michael Powers. This event is free to attend!
The gallery will be available for viewing from June 1-25.
Artist Reception June 18, 7 - 9 PM at Blakely Hall.
Black Graduation
Black Graduation is a two-day art fair and cultural gathering celebrating Black artists across the diaspora. Presented by Wa Na Wari in partnership with NAAM, this inaugural event brings together artists, collectors, and community for a curated marketplace, live music, film, conversations, portfolio reviews, and more. Join us at the Northwest African American Museum. General admission for Black Graduation on May 30 is free and open to the public. VIP Early Access on May 30, along with the Cinemetheque Soundtrack program on May 31 are ticketed.
Journey of Artist + AAWA Poetry + Ethiopian Coffee
Join us as the African American Writers Association (AAWA) will share poetry inspired by the art in our exhibit and our newest board member, Tsewone, is the lead person for the Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Hear from artists in the, ‘Celebrating Success” annual women’s exhibit and their journey through their art.
A Roundtable Discussion
Join us at NAAM on May 16 from 12 PM to 2 PM for A Roundtable Discussion, featuring Dr. Carver Gayton, author of Odyssey of a Seattle Native Son; Dr. Emile Pitre, author of Revolution to Evolution; James Donaldson, author of Celebrating Your Gift of Life; and Arif Khatib, author of Remember Their Sacrifice
Stories of Unheralded Athletes of Color. During the program, Dr. Carver Gayton will also be presented with the Trailblazer Award by the Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame. The event includes a live discussion, audience Q&A, book sales, and signings. RSVP here!
Saturday's Benjamin Banneker Math Room
Step into the Benjamin Banneker Math Room at NAAM, an interactive space where children and families explore math through hands-on play, puzzles, and creative problem-solving. Inspired by the legacy of Benjamin Banneker, this experience makes math engaging, accessible, and rooted in curiosity and discovery. Join us every Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM and learn through play together. Learn more here!
Luther Vandross Exhibit
Experience Luther Vandross: Artistry and Elegance at NAAM, a special exhibition curated by the Grammy Museum® celebrating the voice, style, and legacy of one of music’s most beloved artists. Explore iconic stagewear, handwritten lyrics, Grammy Awards, and more.
At NAAM, now on view through July 19.
Artist Talk - Celebrating Success
Join us for “Celebrating Success,” our 4th annual women’s exhibit! See a variety of works by talented Black women artists in the PNW.
This year, 36 artworks by 23 artists are on display for your viewing and purchase.
Please stop by to see these wonderful works, which reflect the experiences of these artists from ages 16 to 99.
Artist Reception April 12: 2 - 5 PM.
Artist Talk April 26: 1 - 4 PM.
More information coming soon!
Celebrating Success
Join us for “Celebrating Success,” our 4th annual women’s exhibit! See a variety of works by talented Black women artists in the PNW.
This year, 36 artworks by 23 artists are on display for your viewing and purchase.
Please stop by to see these wonderful works, which reflect the experiences of these artists from ages 16 to 99.
Artist Reception April 12: 2 - 5 PM.
Artist Talk April 26: 1 - 4 PM.
Between Places and Memory
Come see fellow artists Angelena and Douglas McQuarter at Slip Gallery.
Learn more about hours and viewing here.
Scribes of the African Diaspora - Closing Reception
Join us for our closing reception with a special reading from the African American Writers Alliance, who will share their powerful poetry inspired by the art in the gallery.
Scribes of the African Diaspora is a vibrant celebration of Black voices, visions, and storytelling across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. This expansive exhibition brings together a dynamic range of artists whose works document joy, resistance, memory, imagination, and the everyday brilliance of Black life.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Image from STG and Alvin Aiely American Dance Theater
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater embarks on its next era under the leadership of new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack, guided as ever by Alvin Ailey’s pioneering legacy. Audiences will be treated to classic works from the Ailey repertory that have inspired and uplifted fans for decades—including the touchstone of inspiration Revelations, the ultimate anthem to resilience and joy.
Celebrate Our Liberation
Join us at the Kirkland Arts Center for Celebrate Our Liberation a showcasing of Black art in the Pacific Northwest.
Artist Reception March 6, 5 - 8 PM.
Exhibit Hours: Tues - Friday 11 AM - 4 PM.
Saturdays 11 AM - 2 PM.
Featuring the work of 15 talented artists:
Adetola Abatan
Nita Coby
Clifford Crawford
Di Faria
Bonnie Hopper
Robert L. Horton
Nashon Joshua
Nia Kent
Aschenaki Lulu
Angelena McQuarter
Kyle Melendez
Bryon Stewart
Earnest Thomas
Nova Thomas
Valerie Washington
We STILL Dream a Future: Reclaiming Our Humanity
Image courtesy of Seattle Office of Arts and Cultured
This exhibition is framed through a chronological time line. The museum is a multi-sensory, interdisciplinary approach that uses authentic artifacts (primary resources), storyboards, and the ancient art of storytelling. The museum is framed through four segments: Mother Africa, U.S. Chattel Slavery, the Jim Crow Era, and Still, We Rise (focusing on African American inventors and inventions). Mr. Richardson believes that the connection with the past can guide ones’ present and future.
American 250: The Verdict Is?
America stands accountable at the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. We rise as the governed, with high expectations that our judiciary must uphold the rule of law in that all people have the right to due process.
Join the Black Heritage Society of Washington State as we honor the trailblazing legacies of Washington State Black judges who commit themselves to interpreting the law, and we also recognize those who continue to advocate for fair and just treatment. Where do we stand in the court of public opinion these 250 years later?
Learn More
Living Voices: Fly for Freedom
Experience a new historical multimedia program featuring the little-known stories and contributions of working women in the World War II aeronautics industry, amplifying the experiences of Black women through the Rosie the Riveters who built planes in Boeing’s factories, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), the Tuskegee Airmen, and the Double Victory campaign.
Artists Reception Scribes of the African Diaspora
Come enjoy art and light refreshments at our artists reception for Scribes of the African Diaspora.
Scribes of the African Diaspora is a vibrant celebration of Black voices, visions, and storytelling across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. This expansive exhibition brings together a dynamic range of artists whose works document joy, resistance, memory, imagination, and the everyday brilliance of Black life.
Come experience a chorus of perspectives that honor the past, speak to the present, and boldly shape the future of the African Diaspora.
Live Music by Edimbo playing the conga drums
Art in image by Bilonda Mireille Rommel
Call To Conscience
A month-long celebration of Black history through immersive installations, performances, and community programs. The historic Columbia City Theater will transform into a curated Black History Month museum honoring the legacy, resilience, and contributions of Black communities in Seattle, Tacoma, and beyond.
A wide variety of events are happening all month long, learn more here.
Melodies of the Diaspora
In celebration of Black History Month 2026, the City of Bellevue is working with community partners to present "Melodies of the Diaspora: Celebrating 100 Years of Black History Month," an art exhibition featuring the work of Pacific Northwest Black artists on display at the Bellevue Arts Museum and Bellevue City Hall and is designed to take visitors on a chronological journey of Black art through downtown Bellevue.
The exhibition will feature paintings, photography, sculptures, textiles, and fashion and is curated by Jay Taylor, Fancy Vargas, and Jerry Lee.
Viewing Dates
February 1 - 3:00 - 6:00 PM Artists Reception
February 2 - 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
February 5 - 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
February 7 - 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
February 14 - 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
February 21 - 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
More on the Artists Reception
PARKING INFORMATION
Free parking is available all day in both the North and South Tower parking garages located on Bellevue Way NE.
Both garages are approximately a 2-minute walk to the museum from either direction.
North Tower Parking Garage
500 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
South Tower Parking Garage
500 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
Once parked, simply walk toward the former Bellevue Arts Museum entrance.
EVENT DETAILS
Time: 3:00–6:00 PM
Location: Former Bellevue Arts Museum
Complimentary light bites and beverages
Live performances
Remarks from community leaders and project partners
This is a family-friendly community celebration, and we encourage you to come early, take your time, and enjoy the exhibition.
We look forward to celebrating Black history through the arts with you
Art in poster by Bryon Stewart and Rajaa Gharbi
Scribes of the African Diaspora
Scribes of the African Diaspora is a vibrant celebration of Black voices, visions, and storytelling across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. This expansive exhibition brings together a dynamic range of artists whose works document joy, resistance, memory, imagination, and the everyday brilliance of Black life.
Come experience a chorus of perspectives that honor the past, speak to the present, and boldly shape the future of the African Diaspora.
Artists Reception Feb 1, 2 - 5 PM
Art in image by Bilonda Mireille Rommel
Holiday Season Reception
Come see our Holiday Season exhibit. Talk with artists, enjoy refreshments, and view wonderful art!
We requested artwork from artists priced $600 or less. The objective of lower-priced artwork (lower-priced is not synonymous with lower quality) is to make original art more affordable and allow both seasoned collectors to add more wonderful artwork to their collections and first-time collectors to enter the collecting arena.