Studios, galleries, and places where creativity meets the coast
Washington’s Evergreen Coast is shaped by artists who draw inspiration from wide-open landscapes, working waterfronts, and small coastal towns. Creativity here is active and visible — found in studios, galleries, coffee shops, and outdoor spaces. Visitors can take a class, attend an artist talk, browse locally made work, or encounter art in everyday places, all while connecting with the communities that define the region.
From clay studios and visiting artist residencies to peninsula galleries and public murals, here’s how to experience the creative side of the Evergreen Coast.
Hands-On Art Experiences
Ilwaco Artworks – Ilwaco
Ilwaco Artworks is a dedicated ceramics studio centered entirely on working with clay. The space offers classes and workshops for all experience levels, including wheel throwing and hand-building, along with kids’ clay classes that make creativity accessible for younger artists.
Throughout the year, Ilwaco Artworks also hosts outdoor pit firings and raku firings, offering visitors a chance to see traditional firing techniques shaped by fire, weather, and coastal conditions.
Why it stands out:
By focusing exclusively on ceramics, Ilwaco Artworks allows for deep exploration of the medium while maintaining a strong connection to place and process.
Sou’wester Arts – Seaview & Ilwaco
Creative opportunities at the Sou’wester change throughout the year, shaped by visiting artists and residencies. Depending on the season, experiences may include printmaking, fiber arts, writing workshops, and other interdisciplinary practices.
When artists are in residence, the Sou’wester hosts free public receptions and artist talks, where artists share insight into their creative approach, process, and ideas.
Why it’s unique:
The Sou’wester operates as a living creative space. Each visit offers something different, making it an approachable entry point into contemporary art and creative dialogue.
Galleries on the Long Beach Peninsula
The Long Beach Peninsula is home to a diverse collection of galleries showcasing artists inspired by coastal landscapes, maritime culture, and life by the water. These spaces range from intimate studios to galleries featuring nationally recognized artists.
Bold Coffee, Art, & Framing – Long Beach
Bold Coffee, Art, & Framing blends café culture with creative expression. In addition to serving coffee, the space functions as a rotating gallery showcasing work by local and regional artists.
The framing studio supports artists and collectors alike, offering professional presentation services that help sustain the local arts community.
Bay Avenue Gallery – Ocean Park
Bay Avenue Gallery features rotating exhibitions by regional artists, highlighting painting, photography, and mixed-media work influenced by Pacific Northwest landscapes and coastal themes.
Don Nisbett Art Gallery – Ilwaco
This gallery showcases the work of Don Nisbett, whose bold, expressive style captures wildlife, coastal environments, and maritime life through painting and printmaking.
Marie Powell Gallery – Ilwaco
Marie Powell Gallery presents fine art paintings inspired by coastal light, movement, and natural forms, offering visitors a refined and contemplative gallery experience.
Wiegardt Studio Gallery – Ocean Park
Dedicated to the legacy of internationally recognized artist Eric Wiegardt, this studio gallery features contemporary work grounded in strong draftsmanship and Pacific Northwest influences, and also serves as a place where Eric teaches classes and shares his artistic practice with students.
Luisa Mack Jewelry & Art – Ilwaco
Luisa Mack Jewelry & Art blends fine art with wearable design, featuring handcrafted jewelry and visual art inspired by organic forms, texture, and coastal materials.
Why these galleries matter:
Together, these peninsula galleries offer a rich cross-section of artistic voices and styles. They provide an intimate viewing experience and a direct connection to artists who live and work on the coast.
Regional Galleries & Artist Showcases
Riverside Gallery – South Bend
Located in downtown South Bend, Riverside Gallery features rotating exhibitions by regional artists working in painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media.
Why visit:
The gallery highlights the creative diversity of Pacific County and offers broader context for how artists interpret the landscapes, industries, and stories of the Evergreen Coast.
Public Art & Murals
Public murals across Washington’s Evergreen Coast transform streets and buildings into open-air galleries. Found in Ilwaco, Long Beach, Raymond, South Bend, and Tokeland, these works celebrate local history, culture, and community identity.
Why they stand out:
These murals are accessible to everyone and invite visitors to explore towns through a creative, place-based lens.
Why Creativity Thrives on the Evergreen Coast
Art on Washington’s Evergreen Coast is shaped by collaboration, environment, and community. From clay fired outdoors to artist talks open to the public, creativity here is meant to be experienced and shared.
Whether you’re taking a class, browsing a gallery, attending a reception, or discovering art in a café or on a city wall, the Evergreen Coast offers creative experiences that connect people to place through art.
