Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour Returns This Fall
- Gig Harbor Living Local
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Meet the artists. Explore the studios. Experience the art.
By Like Media Team
Each fall, the Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour invites the community to step inside the creative process. Now in its third decade, this beloved local art event continues to grow in both size and scope—showcasing 54 artists across 23 working studios throughout Gig Harbor, Fox Island, and Port Orchard. Taking place from September 19 to 21, 2025, this year’s tour promises hands-on discovery, one-on-one conversations with artists, and an up-close look at the creative process behind art.
Since 1993, the Open Studio Tour has opened the doors to Gig Harbor’s most talented artists—offering rare, behind-the-scenes access to their working studios. What began as a grassroots effort to connect artists with the public has become one of the most anticipated local art events in the region.
Visitors can expect to encounter an extraordinary variety of media: oil, acrylic, watercolor, encaustic painting, monotype, linocut, stone sculpture, paper cutting, woodburning, fiber arts, metalwork, and glassblowing. This isn’t your typical gallery stroll—these artists' open studios offer an immersive, up-close experience that brings the creative process to life.
“Art isn’t just about the finished piece—it’s about the story behind it,” says Dana Harris Seeger, a mixed media artist and first-time participant. Dana will be demonstrating her encaustic and mixed media techniques at Studio #12, blending realism and translucent layers to explore themes of memory and time.
Another new face on the tour, Alixandra Mullins (Studio #21), brings a family-friendly energy with her playful illustrations and in-progress designs for children’s picture books and puzzles.
Brad Powers will be demonstrating a striking process called Lichtenberg wood burning, which uses high-voltage electricity to etch lightning-like patterns into wood. His live demo, safely conducted at Beth Owen’s studio, gives visitors a dramatic look at this unique technique.
Also joining the tour this year is Ray, an industrial artist who creates expressive sculptures from recycled and repurposed materials, such as metal and glass. By transforming discarded objects into bold, story-driven pieces, Ray gives new life—and purpose—to the forgotten and overlooked.
Returning guests often treat the tour as an annual tradition, revisiting their favorite studios, seeing what’s new, and supporting the artists they’ve come to know. Whether it’s your first time or a weekend you look forward to every fall, each stop offers something memorable.
The tour also plays a meaningful role in the Gig Harbor community. It draws visitors to the area, gives artists a chance to connect with new audiences, and creates an approachable way to learn about and purchase original work. Stepping into a studio adds depth to the experience—offering a firsthand look at how each piece is made and what inspires it.
Before you set out, dive into the interactive map at GigHarborOpenStudioTour.org to chart your own creative adventure—each stop is a chance to discover something unexpected. With 23 studio locations to explore, the weekend offers something for everyone. Studios are open from 10 am to 5 pm Friday through Sunday.
Bringing this experience to life each year is a dedicated group of community sponsors who believe in the power of art to connect and inspire. The 2025 event is made possible by the City of Gig Harbor, Land Use and Property Law, Schulte and Company, Julia Runyan Re/Max, Harbor Family Law, Andersen Homes, Zen Business, Windermere Real Estate, Print Solutions, Peninsula Art League, Bloom, and Gessel Painting and Finishing.
As one of the region’s most vibrant artist open studios weekends, the Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour reminds us that creativity thrives in every corner of our community. It’s an invitation to slow down, explore, and connect with the people behind the art—and to see not just what they make, but how and why they make it.
Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour
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