Edwardsville Art Fair Showcases Local and International Talent
Proceeds from the free September celebration help sustain education, exhibitions and outreach, connecting a popular regional gathering with year-round opportunities for artists and art appreciation.
EDWARDSVILLE — About 100 artists will bring their work to Edwardsville City Park Sept. 25-27, 2026, for the 2026 Edwardsville Art Fair, a free outdoor celebration that supports the Edwardsville Arts Center’s annual programming.
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Produced by the nonprofit arts center, the three-day juried fair will feature local, regional, national, and international artists, along with local performing arts, live art demonstrations, a children’s art gallery and food and drink vendors.
The fair will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. City Park is at 101 S. Buchanan in Edwardsville, about 25 minutes from St. Louis.
The annual event draws 10,000 visitors from around the region and is open to the public at no charge.
Proceeds support the Edwardsville Arts Center’s work to foster opportunities for local artists and encourage appreciation of art through education, exhibitions, outreach, and special events.
Below are some of the artists who will have displays, including Edwardsville's Tana Wallace and Alton's David Bailey.
Artist: Tana Wallace
Medium: Painting
Location: Edwardsville, IL
Artist Statement: "My latest work explores landscapes through a bold, circular format. I begin by cropping photos that I have taken into circles, creating fresh, graphic interpretations of nature. This approach lets me emphasize different elements of the landscape in new ways, creating a sense of importance on an otherwise ordinary landscape."
Artist: David Bailey
Medium: Jewelry
Location: Alton, IL
Website: https://Facebook.com/InspiredJewelryArt.com
Artist Statement: "Using time honored silver smith tools to form Sterling Silver into elegant shapes that I have seen in my minds eye is my process. I compliment the shape and color of a stone with tasteful silver work. I cut, polish and do Intarsia work with some of the stones. My goal is to create heirloom quality jewelry."
Artist: Bradford Pollack
Medium: Photography
Location: East Lansing, MI
Website: https://www.bradfordpollack.com
Artist Statement: "My photographs are a visual description of the special environments and scenes that I have witnessed throughout my travels. My intention with my work is to bring the viewer into these places and beyond as they explore and appreciate the rich detail and interesting subject of each piece."
Artist: Brian Viamontes
Medium: Mixed Media
Location: St. Charles, MO
Website: https://www.draw-u.com
Artist Statement: "My work is a mixed-media exploration of movement and emotion, deeply inspired by a life of full-time travel and the gritty, vibrant energy of the music world. I build each piece on wood panels, beginning with a structural foundation of heavy-body acrylics. I then infuse the wet paint with hand-ground soft pastels, a process that allows for rich, atmospheric textures and a visible layering of marks that mirrors the accumulation of experiences over time."
Artist: Gavin Otteson
Medium: Painting
Location: New Paris, OH
Website: https://www.gavinottesonart.com
Artist Statement: "As a Humanist, optimism and wonder are at the core of every piece I paint. It's the main driver of my life-long obsession with science fiction literature specifically, mid-century science fiction, where humanity's goal was exploration, and there was a sense of anticipation for the future and discovering what was previously unknown. Through the artistic elements of retro-futurism and surrealism, I try to make tangible the wild and strange destinations of Sci-Fi, with their many moons and geological and biological improbabilities."
Artist: Chris Bergstrom
Medium: Photography
Location: Blair, NE
Website: https://www.thechriscosmoscompany.com/
Artist Statement: "My work is created through carefully staged LEGO scenes set outdoors in my backyard. Using macro photography and a remote shutter release, I position the camera at ground level to capture the perspective of the minifigures. To invite wildlife into the frame, I incorporate bird seed and other natural elements, allowing animals to interact authentically with the scenes. This approach relies on patience and timing, as each image is the result of both deliberate setup and spontaneous movement."
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