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Pittsburgh Art Events: January 15-21
Explore Pittsburgh’s incredible arts and culture scene with this week’s event recommendations, featuring MLK Day celebrations, local artists working with AI, a family-friendly theatrical performance showcasing the compelling story of Rosa Parks, and more!
Monday, January 15
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Open House. A free celebration featuring a spoken word poetry reading, a pop-up exhibit and conversation with Marlon Gist, a vocal performance by Sharmane Davis, and more. The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. 221 N. Main St., Greensburg. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. thewestmoreland.org
A Celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This family-friendly event, hosted by Jacquea Mae, features performances by Pittsburgh artists including Hill Dance Academy Theatre, K-Theatre Dance Complex, and Alumni Theater Company. Kelly Strayhorn Theater. 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. 12-3 p.m. kelly-strayhorn.org
Let Freedom Sing. Celebrate the social justice legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with The Heritage Gospel Chorale and MLK Festival Choir, directed by Dr. Herbert Jones and Nikki Porter with vocal soloist Anqwenique. Dr. Alton Merrell will also be featured in a solo piano performance of a gospel classic. Kelly Strayhorn Theater. 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. 7 p.m. kelly-strayhorn.org
Celebrating Allegheny County’s Youth Poet Laureate. A special evening exploring the arts from the perspective of teen artists featuring poetry readings from 2023–2024 Allegheny County Youth Poet Laureate Hallie Dong and 2023–2024 Allegheny County Youth Poet Ambassadors Lilah George, Madeline Ng, Casey Vallecorsa, and Oluwatobiloba Olaore. City of Asylum @ Alphabet City. 40 W. North Ave., North Side. 7-8:30 p.m. cityofasylum.org
Tuesday, January 16
Souls Shot: Portraits of Victims of Gun Violence Art Exhibition. A Pennsylvania traveling exhibition pairing fine artists with families and friends of victims of gun violence. Shadyside Presbyterian Church. 5121 Westminster Place, Shadyside. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Continues through February 11. shadysidepres.org
Art & Algorithms: PIttsburgh Artists Respond to AI. An exhibition in partnership with the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh showcasing the ways in which AI has transformed the art-making process, challenged traditional concepts of creativity, and opened new avenues for artistic expression. Media Arts Gallery at Robert Morris University. 6001 University Blvd., Moon Township. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Continues through March 7. aapgh.org
Crafting Abolition. A weekly virtual drop-in space to "crate, craft, imagine, and relate," hosted by Let's Get Free & Black Unicorn Library. Zoom event. 7-9 p.m. Continues every Tuesday through March 12. instagram.com/blackunicornlibraryproject
Wednesday, January 17
Allegheny Arts Launch Party. A celebration of a new arts organization dedicated to transforming the North Side's Allegheny Arts District. Featuring live music, a performance experience, and more. Comfort Inn & Arc House. 800-820 East Ohio St., North Side. 5-7 p.m. mlkmural.com
Broadway Trivia. Lin-Manuel Miranda super fan? Pride yourself on knowing every line in Les Mis? Show your skills off at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Buzz Worthy Pub Trivia night! Lounge at the Greer Cabaret. 655 Penn Ave., Downtown. 6:30 p.m. trustarts.org
Thursday, January 18
Blank Tape, curated by Lena Hansen. Brew House Arts presents an exhibition featuring artists working in video, animation, projection, photography, installation, and game art. Exhibiting artists include Ajunie Virk, Azzah Sultan, Caroline Yoo, Jamie McArthur, Jonathan Ellis, Lena Chen, Negin Mahzoun, Or Zubalsky, Shori Sims, and Tooraj Khamenehzadeh. The Brew House. 711 S. 21st St., South Side. 6-8:30 p.m. Continues through March 9. brewhousearts.org
New & Noted with Alex Michaelides. Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures presents a conversation with the bestselling author of The Silent Patient as he discusses The Fury, his latest thriller. Carnegie Library Lecture Hall 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. 6 p.m. pittsburghlectures.org
ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (We Will Speak). Silver Eye Center for Photography presents a film screening of ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (We Will Speak), followed by a discussion/Q&A with the film team moderated by Silver Eye director Leo Hsu. Point Park University's GRW Theatre 414 Wood St., Downtown. 7-9 p.m. silvereye.org
Democracy in Focus: Preserving Self-Care as an Advocate. Join artist Morgan Overton and 1Hood Media's Jasiri X for a conversation on how art and activism intersect, with advice on protecting your peace. Presented by the Frederick Honors College in partnership with the Center on Race and Social Problems, Center for Creativity, and PittServes. Cathedral of Learning, B-50, the Understory. Fifth Ave at Bigelow, Oakland. 7 p.m. calendar.pitt.edu
Friday, January 19
Bad Art Night. Perfection is overrated. Remake Learning's Maker Learning Collaborative invites you to a "fun evening of creative chaos" where you can create without judgment. Making materials provided! Assemble. 4824 Penn Ave., East Liberty. 5-8 p.m. eventbrite.com
City Limits: Process, Observations & Explorations: Work by Marcè Nixon Washington. The opening reception for PCA&M's 2023-24 ceramic artist in residence. Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media. 1047 Shady Ave., Shadyside. 6-8 p.m. pghartsmedia.org
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Prime Stage Theatre brings literature to life for elementary students with Prime Stage Sprouts, featuring the compelling story of Rosa Parks' role in the civil rights movement. The show is appropriate for audiences as young as third grade through high school, families, and adults. New Hazlett Center for Performing Arts. 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side. 7:30 p.m. Continues through January 28. primestage.com
Hooks & Phonics Festival. A weekend celebration of hip-hop culture and the art of spoken word poetry. August Wilson African American Cultural Center. 980 Liberty Ave., Downtown. 8 p.m. Continues through January 21. awaacc.org
Winter Heat. After-hours dance party in the Hall of Sculpture featuring Arie Cole, Blakk Steel, and special guest High GNX. Carnegie Museum of Art. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. 8 p.m.-12 a.m. carnegieart.org
Sunburst School of Music Winter Concert. Performances from Squirrel Hill music lessons studio Sunburst, featuring a mix of student bands and adult groups including Aurora, Sunburnt, Bathtub Symphony, Thunder Shark, and more. The Government Center. 715 East St., North Side. 8 p.m. thegovernmentcenter.com
Saturday, January 20
By Any Means with Michael Findlay. ALMA | LEWIS and The Frick Pittsburgh present a speaker series with poet, essayist, and author Michael Findlay. The Frick Pittsburgh. 7227 Reynolds St., Point Breeze. 4-6 p.m. almalewis.org
Iphigénie en Tauride. Pittsburgh Opera reimagines Euripides’ great Greek drama and reignites it in operatic form. CAPA School Theater. 119 Ninth St., Downtown. 8 p.m. Continues through January 28. pittsburghopera.org
Doom Scroll. Interactive comedy performance where the audience's DMs influence the set. Arcade Comedy Theater. 943 Liberty Ave., Downtown. 7 p.m. arcadecomedytheater.com
Sunday, January 21
Chopin & Schumann On the Bluff - Concert VIII: Folk Style. A concert organized by Mary Pappert School of Music, featuring a range of performances including four members of Duquesne's voice and musicianship faculties, cellist Clancy Newman, and pianists Nathália Kato Giordano, Kevin Lee Sun, and David Allen Wehr. PNC Recital Hall. 408 Magee St., Oakland. 3 p.m. duq.edu
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