Young Artists Showcase at EOU Nightingale Gallery Exhibition Feb. 20 to March 13

High school artists from across eastern Oregon will take over the Nightingale Gallery at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande when the Eastern Oregon Regional High School Exhibition runs Feb. 20 to Mar. 13, 2026. The annual show brings student work into a university gallery, offering a rare public platform and recognition for young creators across Baker, Grant, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties.

An opening reception is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 20 from 5 to 7 p.m., with awards presented at 5:30 p.m. EOU Art Faculty will select best-of-show winners for grades 9-12 and name honorable mentions, while local art centers in the five counties will award cash prizes to promising artists. The Nightingale Gallery exhibition is positioned as a first major exhibition opportunity for many students and a chance to exhibit alongside regional peers.

“Bringing high school art into the University’s Nightingale Gallery is such an enriching event,” says Jaime Gustavson, Art Teacher at Union High School. “Union students look forward to the exhibition every year.” Educators and organizers note the exhibition also serves as a pipeline: many students who participate later enroll at Eastern Oregon University and some pursue art studies, becoming familiar with the campus and its Art Department throughout high school.

Past editions provide context for the scale and community reach of the event. When the show ran in 2020 it hosted works from 15 high schools and, under the usual submission policy that allows students to submit up to two pieces, the gallery has displayed roughly 300 artworks in some years when all submissions were accepted. Those historical figures are offered as context for the exhibition’s typical breadth; 2026 participation totals have not been confirmed.

For Union County residents the exhibition is a local cultural moment as well as an educational opportunity. It spotlights student talent from small and rural schools, channels county-level arts support into direct awards, and gives families and neighbors a chance to celebrate young creators in a university setting. The involvement of county art centers signals sustained local investment in arts education across Baker, Grant, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties.

Visitors planning to attend should note the opening reception timing and the awards presentation at 5:30 p.m. Attending the show offers a close look at developing artistic voices from eastern Oregon and a way for community members to support arts pathways that often lead students to further study at EOU. The exhibition will remain on view through Mar. 13, giving multiple weeks for schools, families and the public to see the work and track the next generation of regional artists.