To artists like Josh Audiss, Omaha’s annual Rockbrook Village Art Fair is far more than an art fair. Returning for its 54th year on Sept. 6 and 7, the yearly juried showcase brings together about 120 artists from across the country, and it is a chance for local creators like Audiss to present their work on a national stage.
“The fair features everything from fine art painting and drawings to pottery and photography to items like handmade leather shoes, lamps and jewelry — the whole gamut of creative expression,” Audiss said.
Besides amazing art, the Art Fair offers free admission, live music, free parking, delicious food and art activities for all ages.
“It’s been a staple in the community that’s always had a really good reputation for excellent art vendors,” he said.
Raised in Omaha, Audiss spent years watching Rockbrook Village transform each fall as more than 40,000 visitors from across the Midwest came to admire the nationally recognized artists.
Last year, Audiss himself became a vendor at the art fair. After displaying his oil and acrylic paintings alongside architectural accents, lighting features and other decorative pieces, he came to see the event as a rare platform for his art and a place for local creators to connect with kindred spirits — trading ideas, techniques and inspiration.
“It is a network of like-minded people — kind of like a family — who understand each other on a certain level,” he said. “Every time you run into them, everybody’s a resource for each other.”
Audiss remembers fellow vendors stepping in to praise his work and spark sales — a quiet camaraderie among artists who share a passion for the work behind each piece. This year, he is highlighting his popular high quality paper prints and canvas prints of various sizes that hit an affordable price range. His pieces draw on nature, historic objects and old structures, often layered with mythic undertones that he describes as carrying a “surreal, dreamlike vibe.”
“Nature is a big inspiration, but so are different kinds of stories and mythologies,” he said. Still, most of his sketches come straight from his imagination, as images emerge the moment the pencil meets the paper. That spontaneity, he noted, may be his strongest motivation for sharing his work at the Rockbrook Village Art Fair.
The fair gives visitors a valuable opportunity to meet with creators and discuss their work. The artists benefit from this contact, too. “It really opens up doors to potential clients who might want to commission me to do custom pieces for their home or business,” he said.
Rockbrook Village also features unique locally owned shops, dining options and services. It’s located just off the Interstate at 108th and West Center Road. For more information about the Rockbrook Village 54th Annual Art Fair, visit rockbrookvillage.com/art-fair. To learn more about Josh Audiss and his work, visit joshaudissart.com.
