The debut Friends Fair, an art fair organized by five Austin-based galleries, will open on the evening of Thursday, May 15, 2025, and run through Saturday, May 17, 2025, at The Loren at Lady Bird Lake.

Two floors of the hotel will be transformed, with each participating gallery curating work from their programs in individual rooms, offering an intimate and unique art-viewing experience.

Friends Fair was born from the camaraderie of five Austin galleries: grayDUCK, Ivester Contemporary, Martha’s, McLennon Pen Co., and Northern–Southern. In 2024 they formed a collective to foster collaboration and celebrate the growing arts community in Austin: Friends of Galleries.

Friends Fair is a home-grown art fair with a national perspective. Five galleries from outside Austin will join: 12.26 (Dallas, Los Angeles), Dutton (New York), Half Gallery (New York), Inman Gallery (Houston), and Megan Mulrooney Gallery (Los Angeles).

An eleventh suite will feature an exhibition by an independent curator—this year Taylor Danielle Davis will program the room. In a twelfth suite, the Fair invites a non-profit or collective art organization to exhibit—this year will feature SAGE Studio (Austin).

The Loren at Lady Bird Lake is renowned for its dedication to the arts—a perfect host. The hotel boasts an impressive art collection and has actively supported cultural programming, including exhibitions at the nearby historic Paggi House over the past year.

A number of events will be announced, including performances and a group art run with Austin’s Artist Run Club.

Save the Dates:

• Preview by Invitation: Thursday, May 15, 2025
• Fair Dates: Friday, May 16 – Saturday, May 17, 2025, 12:00 - 6:00 pm daily (Free and Open to the Public)

Location: The Loren at Lady Bird Lake, 1211 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704