You are reading

LIC Arts Open Has Kicked Off, Studios Will be Open to the Public This Weekend

LIC Arts Open

May 16, 2019 By Shane O’Brien

This weekend the Long Island City Arts Open will be in full swing for the ninth successive year in celebration of the neighborhood’s most talented artists.

Taking place across multiple venues, scores of galleries will be open to the public this weekend, where residents can view art, converse with dozens of artists and get a feel for their lifestyle.

This year’s LIC Arts Open is organized by a group of volunteers whose aim is to shine a light on those who keep the cultural heart of the area alive and vibrant.

The four-day festival began on May 15, but most artist studios will only be open this weekend starting at noon.

Kicking off the “open studios” segment of the festival will be ‘Ars Longa, Vita Brevis’ at 43-01 21st St., featuring artists from multiple mediums including painting, photography, sculpture and installations. This exhibition takes place on Friday, May 17 from 6 p.m. -9 p.m. and will be open to visitors this weekend.

This year’s festival will see the continued relationship between Long Island City-based artists and the plastics manufacturing company Plaxall. Works of art, which will be showcased at the Plaxall Gallery, will include items created using a process called thermoforming, a process invented by the company’s found Louis Pfohl.

The Plaxall Gallery, located at 5-25 46th Ave., will also play host to an event Saturday night which will be accompanied by live music and performances on the main stage. The event will take place from 9.30-11 p.m. and there will be food and drinks on offer.

For more information on the festival, visit the LIC Arts Open website.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

10 Comments

Click for Comments 
your_neighbor

Lots of talented people working in LIC/Astoria. It will be a great weekend to come out and support our local artists.

6
7
Reply
OAR

MRLIC, that was not made by an LIC artist but one from Brooklyn. There are many very talented artists that work in LIC, so before you judge, why don’t you go and support the local art scene by going to the open studios. It’s a battle for these artists to stay in neighborhood since many of the spaces are being lost to over development and escalating prices for studio space.

8
2
Reply
Careful with that cynicism

We have nothing to do with that. That was a Brooklyn artist that was foisted upon us. Most lic artists have no love for the piece

Reply
Anonymous

It’s not that fact that he was from Brooklyn that is objectionable, it’s that the city in an opaque process paid way too much for some nasty piece of garbage from a connected insider.

10
Reply
Merman

Rumor has it the artist behind the pink bubble gum sculpture is a close friend of JVB.

6
24
Reply
MRLIC

absolutely. JVB, bike lanes, immigrants, socialists all were to blame for the sculpture. The only people I trust are real estate developers.

15
Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Finding Room to Grow: NYC Apartment Buildings Designed with Families in Mind

Jul. 29, 2025 By Tara Lustberg

Finding family-friendly housing in NYC can be a challenge, especially with the average rent of a two-bedroom apartment in NYC averaging over $5,400 per month, according to apartments.com. According to reports, this is significantly higher (148%) than the national average and has increased by 7% since December 2023. But some properties offer thoughtful amenities for families, making city living seem more manageable.

Borough President recommends approval of One LIC Neighborhood Plan with conditions

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced on Monday a long list of recommendations to approve the city’s One LIC Neighborhood Plan with conditions.

The sweeping proposal entered the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) in April, following certification by the City Planning Commission, and aims to transform a large portion of Long Island City with new zoning rules that would create nearly 14,700 housing units—including 4,300 affordable homes—alongside 14,400 jobs, over 3.5 million square feet of commercial and industrial space and expanded access to the East River waterfront.

Cool off this summer with margaritas in Queens

Jul. 25, 2025 By Paulina Albarracin

The summer season ushers in outdoor adventures, extended daylight hours and sweltering heat, making it the perfect time to kick back at a local restaurant or bar and order a refreshing margarita. Sipping on this tequila-infused cocktail is one of the best ways to beat the heat and revel with margarita connoisseurs in your neighborhood.