Upcoming Events
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
PETFEST 2025
🔥 PETFEST 2025 💥
PETFEST is a DIY-fueled, sweat-soaked, ear-ringing, all-day music explosion packed with the loudest, weirdest, and most face-meltingly good bands Omaha has to offer. No fluff. No filler. Just two stages of pure chaos.
💥 SATURDAY, AUGUST 16 | 2PM – MIDNIGHT
📍 PETSHOP | TWO STAGES!!
🎟️ $30 Advance / $40 Day of
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
September 5th First Friday!
Join us every First Friday of the month in the Benson Creative District for a night filled with art, live music, food, and community! From 5 PM to 2 AM, experience a variety of gallery openings, art exhibitions, local vendors, and live performances at venues across Maple Street and beyond!
APRIL VENDETTA — DREAM BABY DREAM
April Vendetta is an artist and archivist whose work explores control, labor, punishment, and surveillance—examining the body’s resilience in the face of it all. With over a decade of experience in community-based performance art, they founded Human Trash Dump in 2015, an online, open-source collaborative archive.
Their practice also bridges personal history and cultural memory, including preserving a home movie collection documenting the art and life of their late uncle, Kent Bellows.
October 3rd First Friday!
Join us every First Friday of the month in the Benson Creative District for a night filled with art, live music, food, and community! From 5 PM to 2 AM, experience a variety of gallery openings, art exhibitions, local vendors, and live performances at venues across Maple Street and beyond!
November 7th First Friday!
Join us every First Friday of the month in the Benson Creative District for a night filled with art, live music, food, and community! From 5 PM to 2 AM, experience a variety of gallery openings, art exhibitions, local vendors, and live performances at venues across Maple Street and beyond!
BFF Ball + Art Auction
✨ Get ready for BFF’s most dazzling event of the year! The 2025 BFF Ball & Art Auction returns Friday, November 14th! Get ready for another unforgettable ball celebrating another memorable year of art, music, culture, and community!
December 5th First Friday!
Join us every First Friday of the month in the Benson Creative District for a night filled with art, live music, food, and community! From 5 PM to 2 AM, experience a variety of gallery openings, art exhibitions, local vendors, and live performances at venues across Maple Street and beyond!
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
JEONG — Korean Artworks by Russ Oberg
Part of the New American Arts Festival, JEONG explores the Korean concept of deep emotional connection through vibrant, symbolic works by Russ Oberg.
Yuanjun Chen: Most of My Works To-Date
Yuanjun Chen: Most of My Works To-Date
📍 PETSHOP — 2727 N. 62nd St.
📅 Opening Reception: 8.1.25
🖼 On View Through: 9.20.25
In 2018, I came to Omaha hoping to finish my undergraduate degree in three years.For many reasons, it ended up taking longer than I expected. I arrived not knowing anyone or anything about the region, but over time, I came to recognize the streets and build friendships. Living in Omaha for six years had a significant impact on my life. Before I left, I wanted to share my photographs—and here we are.
I had been photographing primarily with film since 2012. Sometimes I would carry my camera for two days in a row without seeing anything that interested me. Other times, I’d come across something fascinating while running errands—without a camera on me. After a few of those moments, I started making a habit of always carrying a camera (mostly film) to avoid the regret of missing something. Because of that, people often asked me, “What do you like to photograph?”
For a few years, I wasn’t really sure how to answer, which made sense. Since I mostly find my subjects in everyday life, I simply photograph what interests me—and I never quite know what will catch my attention next.
Furthermore, I don’t enjoy most of the process after clicking the shutter. I would often toss the finished rolls into a drawer and procrastinate for a long time before developing them. Without seeing my own work, it was hard to give a meaningful answer to that question.
Because the film lab in Omaha was far and expensive, I had to change my practice. To keep costs low, I started buying bulk black-and-white film and processing everything myself. Omaha is not like the Guangzhou I’m familiar with—there’s not as much happening compared to a big city. Trying to make at least one good photograph every time I went out became a daily challenge.
After moving to Chicago, I developed and digitized the last 15 rolls of film in my drawer—the oldest one dating back to 2021. Now, with access to all of my film photographs from Omaha, I’d like to invite you to see my journey over the past few years.
The world is constantly changing, and it doesn’t take long for something to disappear forever—like the former W. Dale Clark Library or the barn at Boys Town Dairy Farm. No one can photograph them anymore. I try to stay attentive to my surroundings, keeping a record of them—hopefully with a good picture.
For this show, the works are divided into two sections: printed and projected. The framed photos **were mostly captured within the last two years, during the time I still called Omaha home—**with a few exceptions.
The second part consists of projected images. I’ve had the privilege of experiencing life on both sides of the planet.In a time of rising international tension, I wanted to show some of my earlier works from China alongside photographs from the U.S. (mostly taken around Omaha between 2018–2025).
I hope the photographs from China offer a quieter, more personal view into the everyday lives of ordinary Chinese people. Looking back, I wish I had thought more critically about subject matter—but in retrospect, these photos serve as a visual record of the southern China I lived in. They focus on the younger side of Guangzhou, seen through the lens of the young, amateur Jun.
July 21st, 2025
Jun
More information at bffomaha.org/naaf
Always Shining: Beauty in the Grit
Indianapolis-based artist Margarita Velazquez draws from her lived experience as a first-generation Mexican immigrant and U.S. Armed Forces veteran to explore transformation through everyday labor. Her exhibition, Always Shining: Beauty in the Grit, is inspired by time spent working at her family’s business, Always Shining Hand Carwash.
Through iridescent film, glass, wire, and found car parts, Velazquez highlights the repetitive gestures of care, cleaning, and survival—revealing how imperfection and effort can become sources of reflection and strength. The installation uses controlled lighting and sculptural forms to mimic the interplay of sunlight, water, and movement found in the carwash environment.
August 1st First Friday + New American Arts Festival
Join us every First Friday of the month in the Benson Creative District for a night filled with art, live music, food, and community! From 5 PM to 2 AM, experience a variety of gallery openings, art exhibitions, local vendors, and live performances at venues across Maple Street and beyond!
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
Handmade Parade Open Workshop
Drop in and help build the Handmade Parade from the ground up. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own or want to jump in on a group project, these open workshops are a space to create, collaborate, and get things parade-ready….
July 4th First Friday!
Join us every First Friday of the month in the Benson Creative District for a night filled with art, live music, food, and community! From 5 PM to 2 AM, experience a variety of gallery openings, art exhibitions, local vendors, and live performances at venues across Maple Street and beyond!
BFF's 13th Birthday Fundraiser!!
IT’S OUR BIRTHDAY, BABY!
BFF is turning 13 and we’re throwing a party to celebrate Join us for the BFF BDAY FUNDRAISER on Friday, June 27th @ 7PM at Shakedown Street Tavern — an unforgettable night of live music, drag, pizza, surprises, and more!
Help us make Year 14 our biggest yet by donating early at bffomaha.org/support Every dollar supports the local artists, programs, and events that keep the Benson Creative District thriving.
Stay tuned for the full entertainment lineup and mark your calendars — it’s gonna be a banger.
#BFFomaha #BFFbday #FundraiserParty #SupportLocalArt #BensonFirstFriday #OmahaEvents #DonateNow
Mediums // Aspen Monet Laboy
Mediums // Aspen Monet Laboy
Opening Reception 6 - 10pm
6 June - 19 July, 2025
2725 N 62nd St
𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺𝘀
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶?
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰?
𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵?
𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶?
𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭?
Sometimes We Return // Shelby Freehling
Join us for the opening of Sometimes We Return, a new sculptural installation by artist Shelby Freehling. The exhibition opens Friday, June 6th as part of Benson First Friday and will be on view at MaMO, located in the south lot of Petshop Gallery.
Free Gift With Purchase // Sara Cameli
🎁 FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE 🎁
Opening Reception: Friday, June 6th | 6–9PM
📍 BFF Gallery – 5901 Maple Street
New to Nebraska, artist Sara Cameli debuts Free Gift With Purchase — a vibrant collection of large-scale paintings inspired by her cross-country journey and the natural world she carries with her. 🌿✨ Through repeated symbols and layered imagery, Sara brings the serenity of nature into her new urban landscape.
🌟 The first 55 guests will receive a handmade mystery gift from the artist herself — a playful nod to the show’s title and a little sprinkle of surprise for your First Friday. 🎨💝
June 6th First Friday Pride!
Join us every First Friday of the month in the Benson Creative District for a night filled with art, live music, food, and community! From 5 PM to 2 AM, experience a variety of gallery openings, art exhibitions, local vendors, and live performances at venues across Maple Street and beyond!
Bittersweet
How are the arts a conduit for desire, intimacy, and the erotic?
Bittersweet explores how erotic art reflects personal and collective longing, challenges societal norms, and reimagines intimacy. From ancient figures like the 35,000-year-old Venus of Hohle Fels to today’s visual provocations, erotic art has always asked: what is desire, and who gets to define it?
Unfolding Voices
Unfolding Voices showcases a compelling body of work created by seniors from Florence Senior Center, ENCAP, Dundee Presbyterian Seniors, Benson Community Center, and UNMC Munroe Meyer PPA group.
Garbage Gardens by Shya Thayer
🌱 GARBAGE GARDENS 🌱
A new exhibition by emerging artist Shya Thayer is sprouting up at MaMO this spring!
Garbage Gardens digs into the magic that happens at the intersection of art, sustainability, and community—featuring vibrant works made from found objects that reimagine waste as wonder. With themes of urban gardening, food justice, and creative reuse, the space will transform into a communal garden gallery reflecting the heart of Benson.
May 2nd First Friday!
Join us every First Friday of the month in the Benson Creative District for a night filled with art, live music, food, and community! From 5 PM to 2 AM, experience a variety of gallery openings, art exhibitions, local vendors, and live performances at venues across Maple Street and beyond!
BFF Volunteer Orientation + Green Team Cleanup!
🌟 Want to get involved with BFF Omaha? Now’s your chance! 🌟
Join us for BFF Volunteer Orientation
🗓 Thursday, April 24
🕔 5PM – 7PM
📍 Petshop – 2727 N. 62nd St
Come learn all about how YOU can make a difference as a BFF volunteer — then stick around for a neighborhood cleanup with the BFF Green Team! 💪🌱
No experience needed. Just bring your energy, creativity, and love for community. 💖
#Volunteer #Community #ChooseYourOwnAdventure
Here and After
What does loss look like? How do we carry memory? Artists Matel Rokke and Hannah Demma bring their personal reflections on grief, the afterlife, and the intangible nature of mourning to Petshop Gallery in their collaborative exhibition Here and After.
Through handmade paper, deep cyanotypes, layered drawings, and sculptural works, they create a space for conversation, contemplation, and connection.
Points of Contact
This exhibition showcases the work of Scheerer Fellows, a distinguished group of artists committed to the arts as a vehicle for empowerment and social justice. The Scheerer Scholars in the Arts Program, rooted in the Ignatian values of Creighton University, supports students using studio practice, research, and activism to incite civic participation and spark community dialogue.
Through POINTS OF CONTACT, Callaghan and Lily explore the profound intersection of art and social impact, reflecting their journeys as emerging artist-scholars.
Mundane | Sublime
In Mundane | Sublime, Drew Davies explores how ordinary, overlooked things — whether physical fragments of nature or fleeting moments in time — can be elevated, reimagined, and reframed.
Everyday: An Exhibition of 365 Art Gifs by ZWIAN
After years of making thousands of gifs, then nearly stopping, ZWIAN reignited their practice—creating 365 gifs in just 23 days. Now, they’re bringing this new body of work to MaMO Gallery in Everyday, an exhibition of digital motion studies, remixes, and animated collages.
April 4th First Friday!
Join us every First Friday of the month in the Benson Creative District for a night filled with art, live music, food, and community! From 5 PM to 2 AM, experience a variety of gallery openings, art exhibitions, local vendors, and live performances at venues across Maple Street and beyond!