BFF Omaha 2025 Year in Review!

2025 was a big year for BFF Omaha. We spent the year producing exhibitions, performances, markets, and public programs across the Benson Creative District. Below is a month-by-month look at everything we presented and celebrated in 2025.

FEBRUARY

February First Friday launched the exhibition year with a full slate of gallery openings and programming. At BFF Gallery, Acre 54 by Bart Vargas opened, presenting an extensive body of hand-cut collage works developed over a two-year period. At Petshop Gallery, o·ver·lap by mx. Jae featured collage-based works created from vintage magazines spanning the 1960s–1980s, examining themes of beauty and gender expression. Star Deli Gallery featured oil paintings by Leah Bevington, while BFF hosted a Friend of BFF Happy Hour at The Sydney with live music by Dex Arbor.

MARCH

March programming focused on creative process and interdisciplinary work. At Petshop Gallery, PLAY/BOOK opened as a group exhibition centered on artist sketchbooks and works-in-progress, offering insight into early stages of creation. At BFF Gallery, The Reincarnation of Finn Young presented a mixed media exhibition combining painting, poetry, jewelry, and clothing as a unified narrative. Star Deli Gallery featured The Saint Agatha Procedure by Jasper Claudin, and BFF hosted a Friend of BFF Happy Hour at The Sydney featuring Loh Aliese.

APRIL

April exhibitions explored memory, reflection, and interdisciplinary dialogue. At Petshop Gallery, Here and After by Matel Rokke and Hannah Demma examined grief and presence through handmade paper, cyanotypes, and sculptural elements. During the run of the exhibition, Petshop hosted a special FORTE pop-up performance with the Omaha Symphony, highlighting bassoon-focused chamber music. At MaMO Gallery, Everyday by ZWIAN presented 365 animated GIFs created over 23 days as an immersive digital installation. At BFF Gallery, Points of Contact by Callaghan Cavanaugh and Lily J. Svoboda examined intersections of art, research, and social justice, while Star Deli Gallery presented Mundane | Sublime by Drew Davies.

MAY

May marked the launch of BFF’s outdoor programming season with the opening of the BFF Summer Artist Market, featuring over 75 vendors, live art activations, and music across outdoor spaces adjacent to Petshop Gallery. Inside Petshop Gallery, Bittersweet, a BFF Crew group exhibition, explored themes of intimacy, vulnerability, and resistance. MaMO Gallery presented Garbage Gardens by Shya Thayer, an interactive installation built from found materials, while BFF Gallery opened Unfolding Voices, featuring artists participating in the Nebraska Arts Council Creative Aging Program led by Kim Darling. Behind Petshop, PETSHOP: UNLEASHED Vol. 1 launched the summer concert series with performances by Mad Darling, Dos Mundos, and Maddy and Sarah, and a Friend of BFF Happy Hour at The Sydney featured Ria Gold.

JUNE

June First Friday served as BFF Omaha’s annual Pride Edition, combining exhibitions, performances, and outdoor programming. The BFF Summer Artist Market returned alongside the BFF Youth Artist Market, showcasing youth artists from BFF’s Artrepreneurial Academy. Behind Petshop, PETSHOP: UNLEASHED Vol. 2 – Queer Factor featured drag and performance by Ilana Case Deveaux, Lola Valentino, Annie Christ, Alana M Viviana, DeeDee Monic, Molli Poppinz, Pavé von Prisma, Milö Nova, and Lucy Cerise, hosted by Purris Stilton and Mr. G, with music by DJ Roam. At Petshop Gallery, Mediums by Aspen Monet Laboy opened, while MaMO Gallery presented Sometimes We Return by Shelby Freehling, and BFF Gallery opened Free Gift With Purchase by Sara Cameli. BFF also presented 62TH CLUB at Shakedown Street Tavern, featuring music and burlesque performances by Pure XTC, Bell Mine, No Functional Purpose, Iona Fortune, Lilly EnVogue, and Kali Elvana Cavalier.

AUGUST

August First Friday coincided with the New American Arts Festival, produced by BFF Omaha, highlighting immigrant, migrant, and refugee creative expression across music and visual art programming. Behind Petshop, PETSHOP: UNLEASHED Vol. 3 featured live performances by Los Estereotips, Loss Benky’s, Sapphire, Sanjana Jayanti, and the AIFS Youth Drumming Circle. At Petshop Gallery, Most of My Works To-Date by Yuanjun Chen presented film photography and projected works spanning Omaha to Guangzhou. MaMO Gallery opened Always Shining: Beauty in the Grit by Margarita Velazquez, featuring sculptural works inspired by labor and resilience, while BFF Gallery presented JEONG by Russ Oberg, exploring care and connection through mixed media. A Friend of BFF Happy Hour took place at The Sydney, featuring Omnipleasures.

Later in August, BFF presented Petfest 2025 at Petshop, a full-day music festival featuring performances by Frankie Chiaro, Velvet Velvet, Magu, Puffs, Dalima Kapten, Dex Arbor, Uriah with Roam, Dream Ghoul, ERAWQ, The Bedrock, Wedding, Sean Pratt, Spurney’s Hawk, Kobrakyle, Mike Schlesinger, Indian Caves, Specter Poetics, Queer Nite, Bad Self Portraits, and Thirst Things First.

SEPTEMBER

September First Friday was presented as FURst Friday, a dog-centered evening of programming. Behind Petshop, PETSHOP: UNLEASHED Vol. 4 concluded the summer concert series with performances by Conny Franko, Soli, Mr. Bomb, and Uriah with Randall & Roam. At BFF Gallery, Hunter Parry debuted a self-titled exhibition of painting and draftsmanship. Petshop Gallery presented Lidwina by Sheila Talbitzer, featuring embroidered MRI-inspired floral works, while MaMO Gallery opened DREAM BABY DREAM by April Vendetta, examining labor, surveillance, and memory.

OCTOBER

October introduced BFF Omaha’s first Handmade Parade, a large-scale public art procession featuring handmade puppets, costumes, banners, and floats created by artists, families, schools, and community members. At BFF Gallery, the Nebraska Art Teachers Association Art Educator Exhibition was presented. Petshop Gallery opened Amoral City Folk, featuring work by three New York–based artists, while MaMO Gallery presented Breathing Occupation by Nebraskans for Palestine. Star Deli Gallery featured Off-Shift, a group exhibition of work by Joslyn Art Museum staff.

NOVEMBER

November programming centered on exhibitions and fundraising events. At Petshop Gallery, Help! I’m Trapped in a TV! by Jordan Halloran presented an immersive video installation. MaMO Gallery opened Inner World by Gabriela Hermed, exploring painting as ritual and reflection. At BFF Gallery, Auction Preview Night opened for the Under the Big Top Ball & Art Auction, featuring work by over 75 artists, followed by the Under the Big Top Ball & Art Auction, which included live performances by Damn Drogyni, Tumbleweed, Parfait, and Shimmy LaRoux.

DECEMBER

December First Friday closed the year with holiday programming across BFF-operated spaces. At Petshop Gallery, C418 ALPHA by Reagan D. Pufall presented laser-cut paper works and dimensional prints. At BFF Gallery, BFF Made a Maze opened as a community-built immersive installation inspired by Dave Made a Maze. BFF also presented 62TH CLUB: Big Gay Christmas at Shakedown Street Tavern, featuring Suzie Tooth, Milo Nova, Vinyl the Clown, Lola Valentino, Purris Stilton, narration by Fudgy!, and music continuing into the night with CTRL+ALT+DEL.