First Friday Art Walk

NexLynx Gallery is the “must see” art gallery on the First Friday Art Walk located in the historic Bates Building in the heart of Downtown Topeka. Beginning in 2010, we have shown hundreds of original photographs, paintings, carvings and sculptures from dozens of local and regional artists. The First Friday Art Walk is our “Opening Reception“ for each new monthly exhibit at NexLynx Gallery of Arts. The First Friday Art Walk is a program of ArtsConnect.

First Friday Art Walk – April 2024

Barbara Schilling

A licensed Kansas architect and personal longtime friend of NexLynx owner, has grown up with art and crafts always being a part of her family activities. She began selling her creations in 2004 under the company name of Details Jewelry. After taking a metalsmithing class at the Lawrence Arts Center, Barbara is exploring new techniques and styles. It has evolved from mostly beaded pieces and now includes intricate wire, metal and bead pieces as well as etched metal, enameled pieces and resin.

She will have several pieces on display for sale at the artist reception. For more information, visit Barbara’s blog at www.detailsbybarbara.com or contact her at details.bs@gmail.com.

Artist Image Gallery

Diane Wurzer

Born in Kanas, Diane returned to Topeka after her retirement in 2018. She is passionate about her photography, and believes that her subjects – most often found in nature – have so much more to show us than what may appear to the naked eye. She has always carefully crafted her photographs into works of art that please the eye and show other ways of looking at nature. Her photos are typically printed on either canvas or metal.

Diane has been a featured artist for First Friday at several local galleries, has shown at the Aaron Douglas Art Fair, and her name is inscribed on the Brown vs. Board of Education mural for her photographs during the mural’s creation, many of which were included in the video shown at the dedication of the mural in 2018, and for which she received an Arty Award.

She is also an actress who has appeared locally in productions at Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy, Helen Hocker Theatre, and Theatre Lawrence, as well as productions by the Lady Shakes Theatre Company at Redbud Park and the Jayhawk Theatre. She is also an organizer of the ARTS, Inc. 24 Hour Plays, and she dabbles in stand-up comedy.

Artist Image Gallery

  • Our History

  • NexLynx Gallery of Arts started in 2010, after being selected as one of the venues for the ReThink Topeka Exhibition and Art Walk that same year and each year after. The Re-Think Topeka Art Walk was a movement to spur re-building community awareness through art and cultural events. NexLynx continues to be a proud supporter of the art community with our monthly exhibits and opening receptions. We worked with the former Arts Council of Topeka, and now ArtsConnect to promote art in the community as a premier downtown gallery on the Downtown Topeka Art Walk.

    The Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the historic downtown Bates Building. Walter L. Bates' (1859-1903) last business enterprise was the building of the structures on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Jackson Streets, known as the Bates Block, which includes the I.O.O.F. Hall (117 W. 6th - c. 1910) and 123 W. 6th (c. 1902).

    NexLynx Gallery was voted a Finalist for both 2016 and 2017 People's Choice Awards, nominated by people in the Topeka Community as their favorite stop on the First Friday Art Walk, a program of ArtsConnect.

    • NexLynx Gallery of Arts