Open Space Art Gallery & Studios

08/25/2026

What I hoped it could become to what it is now! This weekend I walked in to see every table filled. Seeing people creating, laughing, and enjoying the space has been one of the most emotional moments of this whole journey. This is exactly what I dreamed it would be. 🎨

We’re open! Come see it for yourself:
🕐 Tue–Fri: 11am–7pm
🕐 Sat: 10am–5pm
🕐 Sun: 11am–4pm

And don’t miss Poetry Night tomorrow, Wednesday,
7–8:30pm ✨

08/22/2026

Day 1 of our LaSalle Street space is officially in the books and I couldn’t be more humbled. I know that this space is cozy and cute and inviting and full of love and inspiration but what I was not prepared for was to walk into the space to see people at every table creating art! Every person happy and laughing, enjoying the space. It literally brought me to tears.

One especially amazing moment:
A friend from out of town stopped by to see the space and we were chatting, someone was painting on the easel at the window and she stood up revealing her painting, I commented that it was beautiful and she said she hadn’t painted in 10 years. She was walking her dog past the shop this morning before we opened and bumped into Georgia as she was starting to open up, asked what the space was, and said she’d be back! Took her pup home and came back to paint. She’d been wanting to get back into painting and this was the push she needed. She ended up gifting the painting to my friend and they exchanged info! Two strangers bonding over art! This experience was literally everything I had hoped this space would bring to our community, make art, meet people, buy handmade - it’s literally our slogan and it happened on day one.

I am the happiest little business owner in the whole wild world and I’m just so excited for this new space 🥰

08/22/2026

Open today 10am-5pm on LaSalle Street! Come make some art with us 💛

08/21/2026

08/21/2026

A little different kind of Third Friday but hey, we’re rolling with it!

08/21/2026

The show must go on! Thunderstorms can’t keep Third Friday away!!

-Open Space Kids- (Madison Street location)
Reception for Hailey Williams and makers inside!

•Misfits Ottawa: food and drink specials and hosting artists inside

•Disco Bungalow: open until 6

•Bold and Curvy Boutique open until 6

•CatsEye reception for Jay Reed and Artists drop for Pursley Pottery

• Jeremiah Joe Coffee downtown location will host artists until 8pm!

• Open Space Art Gallery & Studios LaSalle Street Location Soft Opening 5-9pm with artist drop by Toil & Thyme

•Prairie Fox Books artist drop by Cathy Claus and an author reading!

08/21/2026

THIRD FRIDAY WEATHER UPDATE 🌧️
Due to the incoming storm and out of concern for the safety of our artists, vendors, and community, tonight’s outdoor Third Friday vending has been postponed.

BUT—we’re still celebrating tonight! 💛

✨ The Third Friday reception for Hailey Williams at our Madison Street Gallery is still happening tonight.
✨ We’ll also be having the soft opening of our new LaSalle Street Gallery!
✨ We’re working with local business owners to offer indoor vending opportunities for some of tonight’s artists. Check back for a full list of places to find the artists soon!

We know weather changes are never fun, especially when everyone has been preparing for this event, and we truly appreciate your patience and understanding. Our priority is keeping everyone safe while still finding ways to celebrate our amazing creative community. 💛

**Artists check your emails**

08/21/2026

Today is the day!! 🎉
The LaSalle Street soft opening is HERE and my heart is so full.

Reflecting on the last month and a half (okay, especially the last two weeks 😅) this space would not exist without the most incredible people showing up for us, every single day. My dad was here EVERY DAY building shelves, building benches, trim work, flooring, literally anything and everything we needed done, done. My mom helped me clean, organize, build things and get every supply in its place as well as drive with me everywhere to pick up all my marketplace finds! Jacqueline reupholstered furniture that Georgia donated (and we got to take a trip to the most amazing fabric store in Chicago together!!). Georgia bringing me a late night dinner because I forgot to feed myself yesterday 🫠 Denise and Cathy jumped in on shelving and furniture building. Pat and Aubrey painted their hearts out, and Aubrey and Jocelyn curated and hung the most gorgeous gallery wall you’ll ever see. Chelsea and Harper helped organize and Floyd and John enjoyed shopping at ikea 😂 and Kaylin panted the most amazing windows, all the artists who took the time to fill the shelves with their amazing work, and so many others helping encourage me or talk me through the hard moments. I cannot thank you all enough!! And if you didn’t get to be a part of the setup, don’t worry friends, we are going to have so much fun creating together in this space!!

It has been the honor of my life to build this with my favorite people. And tonight you get to see the love that went into a space that will hopefully inspire our community to create!

I am SO thankful and SO excited for you to see it tonight during Ottawa’s Third Friday, 5–9pm, 722 LaSalle Street. Come see what love (and a lot of power tools) can build. 💛

08/20/2026

We just can’t wait for you to see this space!! Join us for the soft opening this Friday, Aug 21, 5-9pm as part of Ottawa’s Third Friday.

Come see the space, say hi, and be part of the very first night.

See you there 🎨

📍722 LaSalle St, Ottawa

08/19/2026

Well friends, the time has come! We’ve been working SO hard, and even though I feel like a walking zombie, it’s been amazing getting to work with my parents and friends creating a magical space for you all!!

Soft opening: Friday, August 21st, 5-9pm during Ottawa’s Third Friday Come see the cozy creative space we’ve built, and discover your new favorite place to be bad at new things. ✨

📍722 LaSalle St. Ottawa, Illinois