Art All Night
Courtesy of Art All Night.

97 40th Street (Lawrenceville)

April 25 & 26
4 p.m. – 2 p.m.

In Lawrenceville, the last weekend of April is synonymous with Art All Night. Staunchly unjuried and uncensored, the 22-hour art happening returns to Pittsburgh’s art and design hub for its 18th annual installment.

What hatched in 1998 with 101 works of art and 200 all-nighters has enthusiastically evolved into a cult showcase of 850-plus artists and some 12,000 attendees who flock to the quirky event from all over the city and region.

Transforming a sprawling warehouse at the corner of Willow and 40th Street into an eclectic showcase for both local art and community development, Art All Night features original artwork in every size, shape and genre imaginable. If you’re looking for a conversation piece for that dare living room wall, or you’re a local maker looking for a venue to share your work with the public, Art All Night is your go-to spot.

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Spanning 4 p.m. on Saturday through 2 p.m. on Sunday, highlights include a hands-on children’s area, live art auctions, participatory collaborative art projects and live music and performances. In between perusing the art, attendees can relax on comfy couches, play games in the video lounge and snap a keepsake with creative props in the photo booth. Children’s arts and crafts activities will be offered on Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

So whether you’re swinging by as you make the rounds on Saturday night, are looking for a laid-back family vibe (such as on Sunday) or want to experience a culture happening at three in the morning, there’s a vibe for you.

Embodying an authentic populist aesthetic, the visual cornucopia on display includes work by veteran artists, senior citizens, long-term Lawrencevillians, youth, emerging artists, educators and students. And it’s always free to submit and attend.

Have a piece of ready-to-hang artwork to submit? Bring your artwork to 97 40th Street in Lawrenceville between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 25th. All artists must show a photo ID during both registration and pickup.

Art All Night is heroically run by a dedicated committee of volunteers. If you’re inspired to help make the event happen, sign up here.

Jennifer has worked at the Mattress Factory, Brooklyn Museum of Art and Dahesh Museum of Art and is co-author of Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania. She also is co-coordinator of Handmade Arcade. Musically, she is in a band called The Garment District and is a founding member of Brooklyn's The Ladybug Transistor.