New Invitational Art Fair to showcase Iowa artists

11/4/2026

The Invitational Art Fair, a new indoor arts festival featuring all Iowa artists, is debuting this fall.

The fair will take place at Val Air Ballroom on Nov. 6 and 7. It is sponsored by the Des Moines Arts Festival and the ARTSwork organization. The fair also includes live music along with food and drink options.

Approximately 50 artists will be displaying their work. One feature of the Invitational Art Fair is the VIP Showcase night, where artists invite their clients or their best fans of their artwork ahead of the public on Friday, Nov. 6. The art fair is then open to the public on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Colleen Murphy, who is an organizer for the Des Moines Arts Festival, says there was a need for a fine art show in the fall. 

“There are a lot of craft shows, but crafts are not always a good fit for some artists. We’re trying to fill that gap and give a place for artists to display their work,” she said. 

The festival aims to keep booth prices low, as it is based on square footage size. All Iowa artists are invited to display at the fair. Some artists have participated in the Des Moines Arts Festival, while others haven’t. 

“We wanted to focus on Iowa artists only for this show,” Murphy said. 

Murphy said the artists are excited for the new indoor show. 

“It’s helped artists to come up with some original artwork and get excited to display it at the fair,” she said. 

The November date is ideal, as it’s not too late into the holiday season when numerous events often take place. The indoor element is reassuring to artists. 

“Artists don’t have to deal with the weather, high heat or wind,” she said. “It’s nice and cozy inside.”

In addition, artists are excited to avoid travel costs. 

“A lot of artists travel to the southern states in the fall or winter for shows. There’s not a lot of opportunities here in the Midwest for art shows. We want to fill that gap,” Murphy said.

Artworks represent all types of mediums, including fine art, clay, printmaking, photography, sculptures, jewelry and more.

Murphy says the art scene in Des Moines is vibrant. ARTSwork is an organization created for the art community to support artists’ creative endeavors. ARTSwork offers networking, hosts speakers and provides an Iowa Artist Directory for artists seeking paid opportunities.

Murphy is enthused about the new opportunity. 

“We’re trying it out this year. So far, we have a lot of great vibes and good feedback,” she said. 

Admission is $5 in advance or $8 at the door. For more information on participating artists, visit www.artswork.art/the-invitational. ♦

Jackie Wilson has written hundreds of articles for CITYVIEW and the Iowa Living magazines. She covers ordinary people living extraordinary lives.