Ten days to create it. Less than two weeks to admire it. One night to make it yours. That’s the idea behind the art at Behringer-Crawford Museum’s 34th annual freshART party, returning Saturday, Sept. 12.
Beginning Saturday, local artists will bring their blank canvases to BCM to be officially stamped before heading out to create. With just 10 days to complete their work, the stamp ensures that every piece in the live auction truly is freshART, created especially for this year’s event.
Artists may find inspiration throughout Devou Park and the surrounding community, which means a walk through the park could turn into a chance to meet an artist and see a future freshART piece in progress.
But freshART has always been about more than what goes home with the highest bidder. For 34 years, the event has brought artists, art lovers and the community together to support Behringer-Crawford Museum and the educational experiences it provides for young people throughout the region. Whether BCM educators are visiting area schools or students are stepping off a bus for a museum field trip, freshART helps give young people opportunities to experience the history and stories of the community around them.
Guests will enjoy a dinner buffet from Chef Barone’s Catering, music and a specialty drink tasting with William “Tre” Porzel of Wiseguys Lounge in Covington, along with the excitement of the live auction and an evening spent with local artists and friends of the museum.
One of the works up for bid that evening comes with a story all its own. The late Wolfgang Ritschel, the artist behind the museum’s beautiful third-floor stained-glass windows, was a longtime supporter of freshART. In addition to other works by Ritschel in the museum’s collection, he donated a special group of paintings specifically to be auctioned one at a time at freshART each year. Through this generous gift, his art continues to support the museum and help sustain an event that meant so much to him.
This year, that tradition continues with Mighty Grand Canyon, the 2026 Art From The Heart selection. The sweeping American landscape feels especially fitting as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.
And the opportunities to discover art at freshART don’t end with the live auction. Artists are already bringing previously created works to BCM for silentART, the online portion of freshART. The pieces will be displayed in the museum galleries and added online as they arrive, giving everyone a chance to browse the growing collection.
Online bidding for silentART opens Sunday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. Even those who can’t attend the Sept. 12 party can bid from anywhere, support local artists and help make a difference through the museum.
A $100 donation per person reserves admission to freshART. Table sponsorships are also available for those who would like to attend as a group or support the event even if they cannot be there that evening.
Tickets, table sponsorships and auction previews are available at freshart2026.givesmart.com, where silentART bidding will also take place beginning Aug. 30. New works will continue to be added as freshART approaches.
Behringer-Crawford Museum is located at 1600 Montague Road in Covington’s Devou Park.
For more information, call 859-491-4003 or email freshart@gmail.com.
Behringer-Crawford Museum