Opening Reception: Pacific Northwest Plein Air in the Columbia River Gorge 2026

Cathleen Rehfeld (American, b. 1958), Horsethief Butte Spring, oil, 8” x 16”; Collection of Maryhill Museum of Art, 2025.5.2

About Pacific Northwest Plein Air in the Columbia River Gorge

Pacific Northwest Plein Air in the Columbia River Gorge, now in its 21st year, is an outdoor painting event that is hosted by Maryhill Museum of Art. During the last full week of April, more than 40 artists will travel to the Gorge for four days of painting en plein air. The 2026 juror is California artist, Ray Roberts, who received Laguna Plein Air Painters Association‘s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. He will assign awards to a dozen works. Completed paintings will be available for purchase in the museum’s M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Education Center from May 3–May 25, 2026.

Opening Reception: Saturday, May 2 from 5–7 pm

Join us for a public reception on Saturday, May 2 from 5–7 pm at Maryhill Museum of Art. Juror Ray Roberts and Maryhill Museum of Art’s Curator of Art Dr. Steven L. Grafe will present awards. All works on view will be available for purchase.

Purchase Plein Air Artworks

Pacific Northwest Plein Air in the Columbia River Gorge is a “wet paint” show and purchased artworks are taken home by buyers when they are sold. A portion of the proceeds support Maryhill Museum of Art.

See a gallery of photos from past years: Pacific Northwest Plein Air website

Pacific Northwest Plein Air in the Columbia River Gorge 2026 is sponsored by Byron & Sue Henry; Kathleen Marquart; Friends of the Columbia Gorge; Tokki Art Supply, Hood River; Scottsdale Artists’ School; Stephen & Laura Muehleck; David Burbach Photography; and Robert Hogfoss.