Mainframe Studios

10/23/2026

Every photograph tells a story. What can you discover by looking closer?

Join the State Historical Society of Iowa and Mainframe Studios for a special Historical Photo Interpretation Lab in Des Moines! During this one-hour program, you’ll work with others to examine historical photographs, uncover clues about Iowa’s past and learn how photos help us understand the people and places that came before us. You’ll also get a look at historical photo collections and Mainframe Studios’ new Photo Voices project.

Tuesday, November 10, at 6 p.m.

Mainframe Studios, 900 Keosauqua Way, Des Moines

Space is limited! Reserve your spot through the link or QR code. https://history.iowa.gov/events/historical-photo-interpretation-lab

All photos are from the Historical Society of Iowa's Archive.

Please read the caption of each photo for more context.

10/22/2026

Mainframe Studios is proud to present BIG & SMALL, a special exhibition exploring size and scale. Juried by Chris Vance.

How do dimensions change the way we experience and connect with art? Big & Small brings together works that command a room and those that draw viewers in for a closer look.

Seeking artists who play with proportion and the relationship between size and subject matter, considering how scale influences a work’s presence, meaning, and impact.

Preferred sizes for 2D works include: 48"x48" and 8"x8"

All submissions are due by Sunday, January 3rd, 2027 at 11:59 PM (CST), and late submissions will not be accepted.

There is no entry fee to apply.

Accepted Works will be on display in multiple public gallery spaces at Mainframe Studios February 2027, with a special reception held during First Friday, February 5th, 2027 5-8pm. All participating artists are encouraged to attend.

Use this link to access the application: https://form.jotform.com/262914542590157

10/19/2026

Vending Machine Update!

The mini art at Raygun and Black Cat Ice Cream were sold out. The vending machines are now refilled.

We are so happy for all the love on the Mini Art! Stay turned - new art will be in the all the vending machines before the end of the year.

10/17/2026

Exhale… the heaviness.

Inhale… the love.

Today, we mourn the loss of former Mainframe Studios board member and extraordinary arts supporter Walter Lauridsen II.

Walter had a remarkable ability to see potential, not only in Mainframe, but in the artists who create here every day. He believed artists deserve the space, resources, and freedom to make their work. Through his generosity, he helped remove barriers so artists could dream bigger, create boldly, and take risks.

One of Walter's lasting gifts to our community is INHALE… EXHALE…, the rooftop installation by artist Jordan Weber. Walter was instrumental in bringing this work to life, recognizing its power as a reminder that even in uncertain moments, we can return to our breath.

Today, that message feels especially meaningful.

Please pause for a moment.
Inhale….
Exhale….

Art cannot erase loss, but it can help us grieve, remember, and heal. As the words of this landmark continue to shine over Des Moines, they carry forward a small part of Walter's vision for a city where artists are supported and creativity is valued.

Thank you, Walter, for all you gave to Mainframe, to artists, and to our community. Your generosity, belief in others, and lasting impact will not be forgotten. May you rest in peace.

INHALE….EXHALE…. by Jordan Weber. Photo by Aaron Graves.

10/14/2026

Meet the Artist!

Charles Borowicz is an interdisciplinary artist working in photography, video, and installation since 2002. His practice explores ideas of perception, modern myth, and the precarious balance between the spectacle and the mundane.

He finds deep satisfaction exploring chance, the beautiful awkwardness of our shared reality, and the power of the simple while incorporating unique technical and creative methods to achieve ambitious work.

Charlie is also a 2026-2027 Iowa Artist Fellow! Keep an eye out for his upcoming video art "Garage Piece" in Des Moines.

To read more about the Iowa Artist Fellowship check out the Iowa Economic Development Authority: https://opportunityiowa.gov/community/arts-culture/grants-programs/artist-fellowship-program.

Charlie's Info
on instagram
Studio #324 @ Mainframe Studios
Website: https://cbruv.com/

10/12/2026

10/09/2026

Call for Exhibition Proposals!

Mainframe Studios invites artists to submit proposals for solo, duo, and small group exhibitions in our gallery spaces for 2027-2028. We are interested in exhibitions that bring fresh perspectives to our community, introduce audiences to new ideas and creative practices, and showcase a diverse range of artists and artistic approaches.

Available exhibition spaces are located in the 2nd and 3rd floor galleries.

Proposals will be reviewed on a quarterly basis on the following dates: January 15, April 15, July 15, October 15.

All submissions are due by 11:59 PM (CST) on the dates listed.

More info & access to application is linked in the comments.

10/08/2026

Join us at Mainframe Studios' First Friday on Friday, November 2nd from 5-8pm! Explore five floors of open artist studios, discover new exhibitions, enjoy live music, interactive art activities, local food and drinks, and experience one of Des Moines' favorite monthly arts events.

Featured this month is WE ANSWER TO EACH OTHER, juried by: Abena Imhotep and Dr. Negus Rudison-Imhotep. Celebrating Black artistic practice as an evolving conversation across the African diaspora, We Answer to Each Other explores cultural inheritance, identity, community, migration, spirituality, liberation, and political imagination. Welcoming diverse perspectives rooted in both lived experience and creative vision, the exhibition highlights the many ways Black artists preserve history, shape culture, and imagine new futures - from joy and ritual to resistance and resilience.

Guests can also visit hundreds of open art studios, enjoy live entertainment, and participate in interactive art activities. First Friday events at Mainframe Studios are family-friendly, free, and open to the public.

Expanded overflow parking at 8th & Center St. and a complimentary shuttle make getting here easy!

We look forward to welcoming you to Mainframe Studios for an evening of art, creativity, and community.



Graphic designed by a human artist Jami Milne.
Abena Sankofa Imhotep - Author

10/06/2026

Mark your calendar for Small Business Saturday!

Join us Saturday, November 28 from 11 AM–3 PM for Small Business Saturday at Mainframe Studios.

-Explore 60+ open studios packed with art, handmade gifts, and holiday cheer.
-Find something special for your loved ones—or treat yourself (you deserve it!)

Shop small, shop local, shop joyfully. Let’s celebrate creativity, community together this season!

Small Business Saturday Holiday Art Market
Saturday, November 28 from 11 AM–3 PM
Mainframe Studios 900 Keo Way, Des Moines, IA

Stayed tuned for a sneak peak of what you will find at Small Business Saturday and at Last Call on Saturday, December 12 from 11am-3pm!

Designed by a human artist Rich Michels. Mainframe Studios #247

10/01/2026

Meet the Artist Cassandra Tant!

Cassandra Tant is a painter, printmaker, & naturalist based in Des Moines, Iowa. Her work celebrates first-hand observations of the natural world & explores the link between curiosity, recognition, appreciation, & conservation. She is inspired by what can be witnessed in parks, gardens, prairies, & forests, both locally & globally. She invites the viewer to consider what may be transpiring in their environment & better connect with the organic world around us.

Check out Cassandra's new installation "Data Center".

Did you know? Mainframe’s building was originally built in the 1970s to house mainframe computers, literally a center to house data. Today Mainframe Studios is a nonprofit creative workspace for over 200 artists.

Cassandra's installation in the 1st Floor Elevator Lobby offers a new take & invites us to slow down & consider our relationships to technology, our environment, & each other.

Her cabinet of curiosities holds a mix of fact & fiction making it a direct reference to the credibility of information that we receive from AI sources. Ponder these objects & connect it back to our space where over 200 artists observe, process, & reflect the world around us on a human level.

Cassandra's Info
Instagram: .Tant
Studio 337
Website: https://www.cassandratant.com/