BmoreArt’s Picks: February 17-23
This Week: Claire Bishop will deliver a lecture at MICA, the GBCA Arts Happy Hour and Panel will take place at The Peale, there’s a virtual gathering for Tom Miller Day, Brandon Woody will perform at Keystone Korner, and the Inviting Light event will occur at the Neighborhood Design Center. Additionally, Bria Edwards’ opening reception at Julio Fine Arts is scheduled, along with a film screening of Black Printmakers of Washington DC at Creative Alliance. The American Craft Marketplace is running all weekend, there will be a naming ceremony at Area 405 gallery, and The Stoop celebrates its 20th anniversary over two days. Other noteworthy events include Wilderness Suite at The Voxel, a Lunar New Year Celebration at The Walters, a soft opening of the Art of the Collectors XI at Galerie Myrtis, the MICA Bicentennial Celebration Fete of Lights, karaoke and a closing reception for Julia Kim at Waller Gallery, plus a Black History Month performance at Eubie Blake. Artist Grants are also available through the MD State Arts Council, among other opportunities!
BmoreArt’s Picks highlights the finest weekly art openings, events, and performances taking place in and around Baltimore. For a complete overview, check out the BmoreArt Calendar page, which lists ongoing exhibits and activities and is updated daily.
If you would like to submit your own calendar event, please email us at events@bmoreart.com!
Events
(Image Credit: Sarah Blesener)
Claire Bishop: Ancestral Avant-Gardes
Tuesday, February 17 :: 4:30-6pm
@ MICA Lazarus Auditorium
Join us for a lecture by renowned guest speaker Claire Bishop on February 17, 2026, at the Lazarus Auditorium located in the MICA Fred Lazarus IV Center.
This event is part of MICA’s Graduate Studies Interdisciplinary Speaker Series and the Bicentennial Celebration.
A reception will follow the lecture.
Claire Bishop is a distinguished art critic and historian working out of the CUNY Graduate Center in New York. She is known for several influential publications, including Artificial Hells: Participatory Art and the Politics of Spectatorship (Verso, 2012), which won the Frank Jewett Mather Award for Art Criticism. Her recent works feature conversations with Cuban artist Tania Bruguera (Cisneros, 2020), and Disordered Attention: How We Look at Art and Performance Today (Verso, 2024), which has been shortlisted for the 2024 National Book Critics Circle Award. Bishop also serves as a Contributing Editor for Artforum and is a 2024 Guggenheim Fellow; her essays have been translated into multiple languages.
Tuesday, February 17 :: 6-8pm
@ The Peale
The New at the Helm 2026 event is a GBCA Arts Happy Hour and Panel dedicated to highlighting the new leaders who are shaping Baltimore’s artistic landscape and the exciting directions they are pursuing.
Join us for an engaging conversation moderated by GBCA Executive Director, Jeannie Howe, where prominent leaders will share their insights, visions, and ambitions for the future. This panel will be followed by a laid-back happy hour featuring music, beverages, and light snacks, providing a welcoming atmosphere for community members to connect and reflect.
We’re thrilled to celebrate and welcome:
- Tom Bailey, Chief Executive Officer & General Manager, Lyric Baltimore
- Ken‑Matt Martin, Producing Director, Baltimore Center Stage
- Robyn Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Create Baltimore
- Ellen Owens, Director, American Visionary Art Museum
- Nancy Proctor, Executive Director, SNF Parkway Theatre
- John Suau, Executive Director, The Peale
Regardless of whether you’re an artist, an administrator, a supporter, or an engaged member of the community, New at the Helm 2026 offers a unique chance to connect with arts leaders, share ideas, and enjoy an evening of enriching discussions with colleagues and fellow enthusiasts from across the field.
Restore the Source: A Community Call to Preserve Tom Miller’s Murals
Wednesday, February 18 :: 6-7pm
(Virtual) hosted by Blackives, LLC, Friends of Tom Miller, & Black Art Today Foundation
Join the Friends of Tom Miller for a special virtual gathering in honor of Tom Miller Day, where we will announce a significant restoration effort for However Far the Stream Flows, It Never Forgets Its Source (1991)—the inaugural public mural created in Baltimore by artist Tom Miller.
After being exposed to the elements for over three decades, this iconic mural located at North Avenue and Harford Road is now in critical condition, facing serious threats from paint loss, cracking, moisture damage, and structural issues.
During this event, we will discuss:
Ways the community can contribute by signing the petition and making donations
The historical significance of Tom Miller’s first Baltimore mural
The mural’s current condition and the urgent need for restoration
The phased restoration plan led by Project Manager Chris Brooks and the Friends of Tom Miller
You will also hear from Miller’s family, art collectors, community members, and local leaders.
