What’s Ahead
We’re running into 2026 with three new exhibitions and our annual Breakfast Fundraiser; each reflecting our commitment to contemporary creativity, student voices, and community support on Oregon’s South Coast.
Coos Bay, Oregon — Coos Art Museum announces three exhibitions opening in early 2026, along with its Breakfast Fundraiser, which supports student exhibitions, youth art education, and community access throughout the year.
VISION 2026 Opened January 24, Vision 2026 is the Museum’s annual juried exhibition for high school students from across southern Oregon.
The exhibition highlights emerging artistic voices and top award recipients receive full-tuition scholarships to Southwestern Oregon Community College, sponsored by the Southwestern Foundation.
Best of Show: Porter by Hali’aka Ledesma-Locklear, Phoenix High School
2nd place overall: City Streets by Rin Kiewert, Marshfield High School
3rd place overall: Punishment of Theseus by Laighnney Barzee, Sutherlin High School
A complete list of winners is available at VISION 2026 – Coos Art Museum.
Student Biennial 2026
The Student Biennial 2026 returns as a biennial exhibition featuring artwork by students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade across Coos, Curry, and western Douglas counties. The exhibition showcases a wide range of media and approaches, offering insight into the creative development of the region’s youngest artists.
This year’s Student Biennial also includes a special international exchange with Coos Bay’s sister city, Choshi, Japan. Fourth-grade students in Choshi decorated traditional fans that are featured in the exhibition, alongside fan designs by students from Ms. Hanlon’s fourth-grade class at Sunset School, inspired by Coos Bay and sent in return.
Kelly Bartlett: Brick Designs
A Lego exhibit features sculptural work by artist Kelly Bartlett, who uses LEGO bricks to construct forms that emphasize organic movement and visual softness. By working against the rigidity of the material, Bartlett explores the intersection of structure, repetition, and play, blurring the boundary between fine art and design.
Kelly Bartlett Brick Design | As seen on LEGO® Masters
Breakfast Fundraiser
The Museum’s Breakfast Fundraiser will be held Tuesday, March 17, 2026, from 7:30–8:30am. The event supports the Museum’s Art Education Department, which provides youth programming throughout the South Coast.
With limited access to formal art education in many local schools, particularly before high school, funds raised help sustain museum-based programs, expand outreach, and provide scholarships to offset participation costs. Typical contributions range from $150–$200, with multiple giving options available.
Additional details, dates, and event information are available at coosartmuseum.org.
Contact:
Lydia Heins
Executive Director
Coos Art Museum
lheins@coosartmuseum.org | 541-267-3901
About Coos Art Museum
Coos Art Museum, located in the coastal town of Coos Bay, Oregon, is a cultural institution dedicated to celebrating the arts and nurturing creativity within our community. As the sole art museum along the Oregon Coast and the state’s third-oldest art museum, we take pride in being a welcoming community gathering place that lowers conceptual and physical barriers to the arts and enhances the museum’s relevance for local residents. Our museum hosts a rotating selection of up to 20 exhibitions each year, sourced from local and regional artists and institutions. We offer a wide range of educational programs, including classes, workshops, and outreach initiatives, along with frequent public events, designed to engage artists of all ages. With a mission to enrich lives through art, Coos Art Museum serves as a cultural resource on the Oregon Coast, igniting inspiration and fostering connections through the transformative power of visual arts. For additional information, please visit www.coosartmuseum.org.