Park West Gallery partners with First Friday Foundation for new Artist in Residency Program

 Park West Gallery and First Friday Foundation have announced a new partnership aimed at shining a light on the overall quality, variety, and distinctiveness of the Las Vegas fine art scene. The new Artist In Residency Program will help bring Las Vegas artists to the world with monthly live painting events at Park West Gallery at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. The program will also work to supplement and promote the work of local artists with art supply donations and the opportunity to display their original work alongside masterworks by Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Salvador Dali, and more.

Kicking off Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the new Artist In Residency Program will feature a live painting with local oil painter Amanda Kettler. Kettler will be at the gallery from Thursday, March 27 through Sunday, March 30 and again from Thursday, April 3 through Sunday, April 6, where guests can watch her work, interact, and learn the ins and outs of her artistic process.

A graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2001, Kettler paints memories from her travels, while exploring landscapes and seascapes through oils, acrylic gouache, chalk pastel, and sculpture. Her studies of Zen meditative painting have transformed her art from a hobby into a spiritual practice. By celebrating the beauty of sacred and important places through her art, she hopes to bring peace and joy to people. She also enjoys inspiring others to tap into their own creativity so they can find happiness.

“One of the founding principles of Park West Gallery is making fine art available to everybody through art awareness, education, and the promotion of a wide spectrum of artists,” said John Block, Chief Operating Officer, Park West Gallery. “It is with these principles in mind that we’re thrilled to announce the creation of the Artist in Residency Program, alongside our long-time partners at First Friday Foundation. As we have learned through our previous Made in Vegas artist competitions, Las Vegas is a hotbed for incredibly talented and unique artists. We are honored to help bring these artists and their voices to the world.”

“First Friday is honored to partner with Park West Gallery in this new program that supports our local art community,” said Corey Fagan, Executive Director of First Friday Las Vegas. “Our city is developing in so many ways and the arts are no different. We are grateful to the Park West Gallery team, who have been wonderful supporters over the years to our local artists and believe that through these types of partnerships we can continue to foster a healthy art community together. Our artists are excited for this opportunity and ready to connect with Park West Gallery visitors.”

The new Artist In Residency Program will showcase the work of a new, Las Vegas-based artist each month at Park West Gallery at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. For more information on upcoming artists, Park West Gallery, and First Friday Las Vegas, please visit please visit parkwestvegas.com or ffflv.org.

Park West Gallery is located at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace on the famed Las Vegas Strip. Current hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information on Park West Gallery, please visit ParkWestVegas.com or call 702-630-1037.

Mere steps from the famed Las Vegas Strip, guests have the opportunity to enjoy early masterworks by some of the greatest artists in history, including Salvador Dali, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Marc Chagall, and Pablo Picasso. In 2024, Park West Gallery introduced The Unknown Picasso: Treasures From the Family Collection, featuring many exceptionally rare, limited-edition lithographs from the legendary artist’s private estate. In the gallery collection, guests can browse Park West Gallery’s vast selection of art for sale and even take home original works by famed artists Melanie Stimmell, Peter Max, Mark Kostabi, Anatoly Metlan, Tim Yanke, Neal Portnoy, Nano Lopez, and of course, the rock star of the art world, Las Vegas native Michael Godard.

Keep up with Park West Gallery on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube at @ParkWestGallery.

Keep up with First Friday on Instagram at @firstfridaylv.

About Park West Gallery
Park West Gallery is the world’s largest art dealer, bringing the experience of collecting fine art to more than 3 million customers since 1969. Whether it’s masterpieces from history’s greatest artists or the latest artwork from leading contemporary icons, Park West offers something for everyone through its accessible art exhibitions and auctions all over the world. You can learn more about Park West Gallery at ParkWestGallery.com. Park West also hosts live-streaming online art auctions every weekend. To learn more about Park West’s online collecting events, visit ParkWestGallery.com.

About First Friday Foundation
First Friday Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing local arts and culture in Las Vegas. We also believe in collaborating with other organizations to help raise awareness in the arts and linking these partnerships to benefit local artists and community members. First Friday Foundation produces the monthly event known as First Friday Las Vegas, which has been a mainstay of arts and culture in Las Vegas since 2002 and has become the leader for family-friendly activities, art, cultural enrichment, educational efforts, imagination, community and more; activities are mostly low cost or free of cost, for every age. While the First Friday Foundation is best known for its monthly event, it is also beginning to be known for its additional community programs that support local artists, small business, and nonprofits throughout the year. For more information on the First Friday Foundation, please visit Facebook page, Instagram or follow on Twitter or visit ffflv.org.