Main Street Arts Festival in downtown Forth Worth features Local Art Graduate Students

Each year, parts of downtown Fort Worth are blocked off for the Main Street Arts Festival, a 4 day outdoor walkable gallery, with artists, vendors, and visitors filling the street for the annual arts festival.

Police estimate that thousands of people attend each year, highlighting not only how much the event has grown over the past two decades, but how deeply art is valued and embraced by the community.

In addition to food stands and live musical performances, visitors can make their way through long rows of booths showcasing various types of artwork, creating chances for artists and patrons to connect with one another.

Hundreds of artists apply for a limited number of spots each year.

For emerging artists, like the graduate art students from Texas Christian University (“TCU”), being here means sharing their pieces alongside established artisans, gaining exposure and experience in a professional setting

Inside the TCU exhibit, photographer Colby Edward Kohn presents “Work in Progress,” a 4 picture series shaped from his cross-country drive spanning from Fort Worth to Minnesota to Maine, using images of construction sites to think about America’s constant state of change.

Portrait of photographer Colby Edward Kohn standing in front of his pictures

In the same space, sculpture artist Sam Sheath guides visitors through the porcelain casting process behind a single cup, demonstrating how even a small thumb indent can turn a functional object into something more personal and memorable.

Sculpture artist Sam Sheath discussing artwork with a visitor