Wallowa Valley Art Festival returns to Joseph with Plein Air Competition and Quick Draw Event
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, August 20th, 2026 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
JOSEPH – (Press release from the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture) The Josephy Center for Arts & Culture is pleased to present the 43rd Annual Wallowa Valley Art Festival, September 18–20, 2026, in Joseph, Oregon. One of Eastern Oregon’s premier art events, the festival brings together artists, collectors, and community members for a weekend celebrating exceptional art, music, creativity, and the beauty of the Wallowa Valley.
The Wallowa Valley Art Festival is the largest juried fine art exhibition in Eastern Oregon and showcases representational, traditional, and contemporary artwork from artists throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. This year’s festival juror is artist Owen Premore, the Directing Curator at Oregon State University and Curator of the Hatfield Marine Science Center.
More than $7,500 in awards will be presented during the festival.
The festivities begin Friday evening, September 18, with the Opening Night Reception and Awards Ceremony from 7–10 PM at the Josephy Center. Guests will enjoy an evening of art, live music, wine, and hors d’oeuvres while being among the first to view the juried exhibition and works created during the En Plein Air Competition. Awards for both the festival and plein air competition will be announced during the evening. The opening reception is ticketed, and early ticket purchase is recommended. For those who’d like to join in a bit of creative fun, this year we’re also offering an optional Paint Palette Party theme! Feel free to wear a monochromatic outfit in a color you love!
En Plein Air Competition
The festival’s signature 2026 En Plein Air Competition begins Saturday, September 12, and brings artists outdoors to paint throughout Wallowa County. Limited to the first 50 registered artists, the competition invites participants to capture the region’s dramatic landscapes, historic towns, and rural beauty through fresh, original artwork created during the event.
Artists will check in and have their painting surfaces stamped before spending the week working throughout the Wallowa Valley. Completed paintings will be framed and hung at the Josephy Center before judging begins on Friday, September 18. The competition offers more than $3,500 in awards, including a $1,000 Best of Show award.
The public will have the opportunity to view the plein air exhibition during the festival weekend, alongside the Wallowa Valley Art Festival’s juried show and Small Works Sale. Public gallery hours will be held Saturday, September 19, from 10 AM–5 PM and Sunday, September 20, from 10 AM–2 PM.
A Fast-Paced Afternoon at the Quick Draw
One of the weekend’s most lively events, the 43rd Annual Quick Draw, takes place Saturday, September 19, from 1–4 PM at the Mt. Joseph Lodge Gardens.
Selected artists from the Wallowa Valley Art Festival and En Plein Air Competition will take part in a fast-paced, 90-minute painting challenge. After setting up, artists will have just 90 minutes to create a finished work before the artwork is framed and offered for sale through a silent auction.
The afternoon will also feature live local music, art, and creativity in one of Joseph’s beautiful outdoor settings. Visitors can watch the artists at work, bid on their favorite paintings, and take their artwork home that same afternoon. The event also includes a $200 Best Quick Draw Painting Award.
The Wallowa Valley Art Festival offers something for artists, collectors, and anyone who enjoys spending time surrounded by creativity. From watching painters capture the landscape in real time to discovering new artwork in the galleries, the festival is a celebration of the artists and landscapes that make the Wallowa Valley such a special place.
For more information about the 43rd Annual Wallowa Valley Art Festival, the 2026 En Plein Air Competition, Opening Night Reception tickets, and the Quick Draw, visit the Josephy Center for Arts & Culture website: www.josephy.org.
Wallowa Valley Art Festival
September 18–20, 2026
Wallowa Valley Art Festival Exhibit Opening
Friday, September 18 – 7pm – 10pm(ticketed event)
Extended Exhibit Hours
Saturday, September 19 – 10am – 5pm
Quick Draw (across the street at Mt. Joseph Lodge Gardens)
Saturday, September 19 – 1pm – 4pm
Extended Exhibit Hours
Sunday, September 20 10am – 2pm
Josephy Center for Arts & Culture
403 N. Main Street
Joseph, OR 97846
About the Josephy Center for Arts & Culture
The Josephy Center for Arts & Culture is a gathering place for the arts in Wallowa County, offering exhibits, classes, events, and programs that connect artists and the community.
