Passageway Gallery, Omaha

Passageway Gallery is a cooperative gallery established in 1981 and devoted to original work by artists from Nebraska and Iowa. Rather than maintaining a permanent museum collection, it displays artwork created by participating members, with featured artists changing regularly. Located within the historic Old Market, the gallery offers visitors an opportunity to explore locally produced art alongside the district’s other galleries, shops, restaurants, and historic commercial buildings.

The gallery represents about 21 local and regional artists working across a broad range of media. Displays include oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings, photography, pottery, sculpture, fused and lampworked glass, jewelry, metalsmithing, woodcarving, and other handmade pieces. Because Passageway Gallery is artist-operated, a participating artist is typically present during opening hours. Visitors can ask about individual works, materials, techniques, and creative processes. Much of the artwork is available for purchase directly through the gallery, and displays change as members introduce new pieces. Passageway Gallery also participates in the First Friday Downtown Omaha Art Walk. On the first Friday of each month, the gallery features an artist and hosts an evening opening, giving visitors opportunities to meet artists and explore recent work.

Rather than functioning as a conventional museum, it operates as an active cooperative where visitors can browse paintings, ceramics, photography, glass, sculpture, jewelry, and other original pieces. Its changing displays, artist staffing, and regular openings provide direct contact with members of the regional arts community and offer insight into contemporary artistic work produced in Nebraska and Iowa.