First Friday: Art Walk

The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office is hosting a special exhibition presented by Youth for Human Rights DC Chapter and Art Impact® International to celebrate Science Month and human rights! Come and enjoy the artwork. The exhibit features three artists with unique styles. They will be present and ready to discuss their art with you. The artists are: Carolyn Goodridge • Encaustic Painter, Patrick Smith • Modern Art Portraitist, and J. Thomas Wells • Assemblage Artist. The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office is in the Fraser Mansion, 1701 20th Street, NW.

Dupont Underground is proud to participate in the Dupont Circle First Friday Art Walk alongside our neighborhood art spaces. Make DU the very first stop on your circuit—while the neighborhood gallery walk runs from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, our doors close early at 7:30 PM to prepare for evening programming. Stop by early to explore our current exhibitions for free before continuing your night around Dupont Circle. (All ages welcome). Dupont Underground is located at 19 Dupont Circle, NW.

The Embassy of Peru is showcasing Emotional Territory. This exhibition brings together the practices of Olinda Reshinjabe Silvano, Graciela Arias Salazar, and Natalia Revilla, three Peruvian artists whose works establish a profound dialogue between territory, memory, spirituality, and ancestral knowledge. Through diverse visual languages and materials, the artists explore forms of connection between human beings, nature, and the cultural structures that shape identity and collective experience. The Embassy of Peru is located at 1700 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

Come join the Heurich House Museum for the final night of A [New] American Dream, an . Doors open at 6pm for a live music performance in the historic music room featuring Lee Drutman & Matthew Chervenak. The entire first floor will be open, free of charge, for guests to enjoy the sounds of local artists and explore the exhibit. What do you dream for America over the next 250 years? A [New] American Dream won't give you the answers. Every gathering in this project will put you in the room with others who care about what comes next. Immediately following, grab a local craft beer or glass of wine in the biergarten while enjoying a live DJ. The Heurich House Museum is located at 1307 New Hampshire Avenue, NW.

IA&A at Hillyer is pleased to announce “Auction on the Alley,” an art auction, fundraiser, and exhibition at the Hillyer Contemporary Art Space. The exhibition and auction will feature 42 works of art by past and present artists—many who reside in the DMV area. This special opening event will include a live performance by DC-based jazz vocalist Akua Allrich and her Tribe Trio. Admission is free but a $10 donation and/or auction bid is suggested. IA&A at Hillyer is located at 9 Hillyer Court NW (behind The Phillips Collection).

The Museum of the Palestinian People is highlighting our new exhibit titled From Lily's View: The Life and Photography of Lily Bandak (1948 - 2021). Lily Bandak, a Palestinian photographer born in Jordan, developed multiple sclerosis in her later years. This exhibition aims to highlight the steadfastness of the Palestinian people amid the difficulties and challenges they face. Palestinians continue to build lives, communities, and preserve culture amidst the Israeli occupation's efforts of displacement and fragmentation. Similarly, Bandak refused to allow her physical limitations to determine her ability to educate others and preserve her Palestinian culture.The Museum of the Palestinian People is located at 1900 18th St. NW.

Join us this First Friday in the heart of Dupont Circle as the National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW) opens its historic doors to the public from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. They are presenting An Evening of Art & Music at NLAPW, featuring a Live Performance by Amy K Bormet! Step inside one of Washington, DC’s most inspiring cultural landmarks and discover the rich history of an organization that has championed excellence in the arts, letters, and music for more than a century. Whether you’re an artist, writer, musician, or simply someone who appreciates creativity and culture, this is a wonderful opportunity to explore all that NLAPW has to offer. The NLAPW is located at 1300 17th Street NW.

Q Street Fine Art will host a reception and special showing of the gallery's more recent paintings, many of which are those of the gallery founding artist Rafael Gallardo who will be present. Please join us from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Q Street Fine Art is nestled behind Saint Matthew's Cathedral in an alley behind an iron gate opening to the courtyard... Please call 202 255 2893 for further directions.

Studio Gallery presents multiple all new exhibitions as they return from their Summer Break. Studio Gallery is located at 2108 R Street, NW.

Vika Gallery presents the closing reception of Metamorphosis, an exhibition that explores the beauty and complexity of transition, growth, and the courage required to embrace life’s inevitable evolution. Through this body of work, Bran Cherie reflects on resilience, transformation, and the continual pursuit of balance, inviting viewers to consider the deeply personal intersections of change, healing, and mental and emotional well-being. Grounded in the four stages of the butterfly's life cycle, Metamorphosis draws thoughtful parallels to the four elements, the four seasons, and the four pillars of resilience, revealing the interconnected rhythms that shape both nature and the human experience. Each stage represents a distinct phase of becoming, illustrating that transformation is neither linear nor instantaneous, but an ongoing process of adaptation, renewal, and self-discovery. Vika’s artist talk begins at 7pm. Vika is located at 1700 Connectuct Ave. NW, on the lower level.

Dial 100# on the buzzer to enter the building and make your way to the lower level.

Come out for the 1st Friday Art Walk in Dupont: Washington Center of ADA Art Gallery is presenting Views of Color, a group exhibition featuring 5 artists, each with their unique perspectives. The Washington Center of ADA University is a non-profit organization located near Dupont Circle at 1627 21st Street NW.

Washington Studio School presents the exhibition opening of Art Is Not Decoration a juried exhibition, featuring works by over 40 Washington Studio School students created over the past couple of years. Guided by the core belief that "drawing is thinking," WSS equips artists with the tools to push beyond fixed styles into uncharted creative territory. Experience a dynamic collection spanning collage, drawing, printmaking, painting, and design that showcases rigorous research, intentional experimentation, and authentic artistic growth. This show is juried by WSS Faculty members Marie B. Gauthiez and Paul Pietsch. Washington Studio School is located at 2129 S Street NW.

Wise and Partners are displaying their new show: Translations by Meghan Moody. Meghan Moody’s first solo show highlights the theme of synesthesia, bringing the colors of music onto the canvas in a series of paintings and mixed media compositions. In this body of work, Meghan’s pieces demonstrate varying moods, textures and themes that strike with color and overlapping layers of visual rhythm. The show will be available for viewing on first Fridays, and by appointment through September 2026. Wise and Partners is located at 1740 N St NW Suite One.