Join us for Second Friday in the Arts District. Water Street Studios will host a gallery opening reception. Visit our neighbors at Kiss the Sky, and Warehouse 55. This event is open to all and free to attend! Visit the exhibitions page for details on the exhibiting artists.

This event is free to attend. Donations are greatly appreciated and go to support or mission.

Join us for the unveiling of the America 250 Mural — a permanent public artwork by artist Marty Gniech, celebrating 250 years of American life through the lens of our own community. Featuring live performances by the Batavia Community Band, meet and greet with the artist, family friendly activities, pop-ups, and more.

This is Batavia's story, painted on the wall for generations to come. We can't wait to share it with you.

Water Street Studios turns 17, and there's no better way to celebrate than by celebrating all of you — our community of artists. Between our galleries, resident studios, and clay lab, you'll find the work of over 140 local artists under one roof.

Join us Friday, September 11 | 6–9pm

Here's what's happening:

17th Anniversary Members Show: Opening reception in the Dempsey Family and Kane County Magazine Galleries, featuring 70+ artists from our Annual Members, Resident Artists, Clay Makers, Instructors, and Artist Collective.

"HOME" in the Community Gallery: A juried group show with 24 artists exploring what "home" means, each from their own perspective.

Resident Artist Open Studios: Visit with Lisa Dienst-Thomas, Beth Gollan, Louise Miller, Jennifer Schroeder, Caitlin Palagi Sharon Feller, Rosalie White, Maggie Capettini, Dorothy Bury Shaw and Emy Krauspe in their studios. See what they're working on, shop what's for sale, or just chat.

Clay Maker Pop-Up Sale: Shop handmade ceramics created and fired in-house, and meet the makers.

Ceramics Demos: with clay makers Liza Mitchem and Kyle Sowa, and instructor Megan Ryan.

Yayoi's Playhouse: with Emy Krauspe in studio 23.

Raffle Basket: grab a ticket for your shot to win

Food Truck: Mr Hibachi Express

WSS Bar: Beer, wine, and a signature cocktail

Live Music from Kiss the Sky: a local music institution going strong for 30 years, performance by Matt Keen combining the gritty intensity of rock with the heartfelt melodies of folk music.

Warehouse 55: A curated collection of vintage and antique home goods and wares

Seventeen years of art, community, and everything in between — come help us celebrate. See you next Friday!

This event is free to attend. If you are able, a suggested donation of $5 is appreciated to help us continue to provide this event and others like it to the community.

Brought to you in part by the Illinois Arts Council.

Join us for Second Friday in the Arts District. Water Street Studios will host a gallery opening reception. Visit our neighbors at Kiss the Sky, and Warehouse 55. This event is open to all and free to attend! Visit the exhibitions page for details on the exhibiting artists.

This event is free to attend. Donations are greatly appreciated and go to support or mission.

Join us for Second Friday in the Arts District. Water Street Studios will host a gallery opening reception. Visit our neighbors at Kiss the Sky, and Warehouse 55. This event is open to all and free to attend! Visit the exhibitions page for details on the exhibiting artists.

This event is free to attend. Donations are greatly appreciated and go to support or mission.

We're raising a glass to our friends and supporters at Brother Chimp Brewing, and we want YOU there to celebrate with us!

Their North Aurora location is closing at the end of July, and we're sending them off in style. Join us June 22nd at 6pm for a night of great beer, great art, and great company.

We're also thrilled to unveil our final exhibition in their space, showcasing the incredible talents of Water Street Studios Resident Artists Sharon Feller and Caitlin Palagi.

And don't worry, you can still find their award-winning brews and legendary good vibes at their St. Charles location. The hops live on!

Join us for Second Friday in the Arts District. Water Street Studios will host a gallery opening reception. Visit our neighbors at Kiss the Sky, and Warehouse 55. This event is open to all and free to attend! Visit the exhibitions page for details on the exhibiting artists.

This event is free to attend. Donations are greatly appreciated and go to support or mission.

Step inside the exhibition with artists Jeanine Hill-Soldner and Maureen Gasek for a guided tour of their work. Hear directly from the artists as they share the stories, ideas, and perspectives behind the exhibition.

"Resilience and Transformation" by Jeanine Hill-Soldner is a body of work inspired by the quiet endurance of trees and the ever-changing relationship between humans and the natural world. Through layered color, shifting light, and moments of discovery, Hill-Soldner invites us to slow down, look closer, and reconnect. Come experience the strength, stillness, and transformation within the work.

"Crossroads" by Maureen Gasek is a powerful body of work exploring disruption, reinvention, and the courage to move forward through uncertainty. Her paintings hold memory, tension, and transformation — layered, broken open, and rebuilt. Come listen. Reflect. And ask yourself: what path are you choosing?

Sunday, May 31st, 1-3pm.

Join us for Second Friday in the Arts District. Water Street Studios will host a gallery opening reception. Visit our neighbors at Kiss the Sky, and Warehouse 55. This event is open to all and free to attend! Visit the exhibitions page for details on the exhibiting artists.

This event is free to attend. Donations are greatly appreciated and go to support or mission.

Water Street Writers is a curated reading series featuring local authors from the Chicagoland area. Events are held quarterly in the Dempsey Family gallery. Doors open at 5pm, event begins at 5:30pm. Copies of the authors books are available for sale as well as a cash bar. Open mic at the end of the night!

Suggested donations of $5. All proceeds go to the featured authors, your support is much appreciated!

Want to be a reader? Learn how here. Submissions are open to any genre and all kinds of performance.

Sponsored by the Republic of Letters,

Join us for a FREE community make-and-take activity, Create where you’re Planted. During this community day we will be decorating plant pots and garden decorations to add your own unique touches to your spring gardens.

This event is free to attend and open to all ages. Supplies are provided, just bring yourself, your friends and family and let your creativity blossom!

Made possible by a grant from the Batavia United Way.

Join us for Second Friday in the Arts District. Water Street Studios will host a gallery opening reception. Visit our neighbors at Kiss the Sky, and Warehouse 55. This event is open to all and free to attend! Visit the exhibitions page for details on the exhibiting artists.

This event is free to attend. Donations are greatly appreciated and go to support or mission.

We are closed today due to the holiday.

Join us for Second Friday in the Arts District. Water Street Studios will host a gallery opening reception. Visit our neighbors at Kiss the Sky, and Warehouse 55. This event is open to all and free to attend! Visit the exhibitions page for details on the exhibiting artists.

This event is free to attend. Donations are greatly appreciated and go to support or mission.

We had so much fun at All in for Art that we're bringing it back in 2026! Keep an eye on the All in for Art page for updates. See you there!

Join us for a FREE community crafting day at Water Street Studios. In this edition of Community Day we will have make-and-take stations for Mardi Gras mask making, bead-stringing, mini king cake ornaments, wands and scepters. Some of our School of Art instructors will be onsite to help guide the activities.

This event is free and open to all ages, made possible by a grant from Batavia United Way.

Join us for Second Friday in the Arts District. Water Street Studios will host a gallery opening reception. Visit our neighbors at Kiss the Sky, Soul Studio, and Warehouse 55. This event is open to all and free to attend! Visit the exhibitions page for details on the exhibiting artists.

This event is free to attend. Donations are greatly appreciated and go to support or mission.

Water Street Writers is a curated reading series featuring local authors from the Chicagoland area. Events are held quarterly in the Dempsey Family gallery. Doors open at 5pm, event begins at 5:30pm. Copies of the authors books are available for sale as well as a cash bar. Open mic at the end of the night!

Suggested donations of $5. All proceeds go to the featured authors, your support is much appreciated!

Want to be a reader? Learn how here. Submissions are open to any genre and all kinds of performance.

Sponsored by the Republic of Letters,

Join us for Second Friday in the Arts District. Water Street Studios will host a gallery opening reception. Visit our neighbors at Kiss the Sky, Soul Studio, and Warehouse 55. This event is open to all and free to attend! Visit the exhibitions page for details on the exhibiting artists.

This event is free to attend. Donations are greatly appreciated and go to support or mission.

We are closed to the public today for a private event. The clay lab will remain accessible to students for open studio from 12pm-4pm.

Join us on Monday, December 15th from 6-7pm in the Dempsey Family Gallery for our holiday town hall. We’ll have some snacks, a chance to decorate an ornament for our WSS holiday tree and visit. We’ll talk about what’s going on with Water Street and hear from some of our local community members about things they are “5 min experts” on. If you want to present a 5 minute topic on something you love (art related or not!) please email president@waterstreetstudios.org. Thanks! RSVP here. 

Join us for Second Friday in the Arts District. Water Street Studios will host a gallery opening reception. Visit our neighbors at Kiss the Sky for live music. This event is open to all and free to attend! Visit the exhibitions page for details on the exhibiting artists.

This event is free to attend. Donations are greatly appreciated and go to support or mission.

Kick off your holiday shopping at this three day market, featuring hand crafted art and goods created by local artists and makers, brought to you by two local non-profits Batavia MainStreet & Water Street Studios.

This year the event will span the entire northwest corner of the building, including the Dock at 150 1st Street, Kiss the Sky, and of course, Water Street Studios! Food, drinks and live entertainment available throughout the weekend!

Visit the Winterfest page for more details.

Friday, Nov 14th: 6-9pm
Saturday, Nov 15th: 10am-5pm
Sunday, Nov 16th: 10am-5pm

Kick off your holiday shopping at this three day market, featuring hand crafted art and goods created by local artists and makers, brought to you by two local non-profits Batavia MainStreet & Water Street Studios.

This year the event will span the entire northwest corner of the building, including the Dock at 150 1st Street, Kiss the Sky, and of course, Water Street Studios! Food, drinks and live entertainment available throughout the weekend!

Visit the Winterfest page for more details.

Friday, Nov 14th: 6-9pm
Saturday, Nov 15th: 10am-5pm
Sunday, Nov 16th: 10am-5pm

Kick off your holiday shopping at this three day market, featuring hand crafted art and goods created by local artists and makers, brought to you by two local non-profits Batavia MainStreet & Water Street Studios.

This year the event will span the entire northwest corner of the building, including the Dock at 150 1st Street, Kiss the Sky, and of course, Water Street Studios! Food, drinks and live entertainment available throughout the weekend!

Visit the Winterfest page for more details.

Friday, Nov 14th: 6-9pm
Saturday, Nov 15th: 10am-5pm
Sunday, Nov 16th: 10am-5pm