Our mission
We are a multi-disciplinary collective of Iowa artists, born and raised or transplanted to the state. We aim to create new, low-barrier platforms for artists to promote and show their work, because quite frankly, it's hard in the state of Iowa for artists, especially those that don’t conform to the art establishment’s definition of an “artist”. Simply put, we bring together cool people who are passionate about making cool stuff. We are Iowa Pop Art.
Our values
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Equality
No one person is valued more over another because of who they are. Everyone gets a fair shake.
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Transparency
No shadowy committee of out-of-touch investors pulls the strings behind closed doors.
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Community
Every person who is respectful of our values and each other is welcome, regardless of their identity or ability.
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Good vibes & good art
We want to bring together cool people who love making art.
Our story
In the spring of 2021, fueled by a year of lockdowns and a stagnant local scene, a group of creatives from across the state capitalized on an opportunity to put on a different kind of art showcase. A confluence of events led to a friendly staff at the National Czech and Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids offering to provide space for an art market during an upcoming day at their facility. The day was set to feature the unveiling of a student-painted mural as well as screenings of student films focused on environmentalism.
From the outset, the goal was to curate a lineup of artists that would truly highlight the depth and breadth of talent currently residing in the state. In some cases, this meant reaching out to individuals that had never shown their publicly before. Additionally, to echo the themes of conservation and sustainability in the student films, a group of local vintage and thrift vendors were invited to join what at the time was planned to be a one-off experimental pop-up market. As a tie to the host venue and a nod to artist Andy Warhol, who’s parents immigrated from Czechoslovakia, the “Iowa Pop Art Market” was announced for May 15th, 2021.
Overcoming the fear of looming bad weather and working within the constraints of “social distancing”, the inaugural gathering saw an unexpected turnout. Almost from the moment the doors opened, visitors began pouring into the museum. The advertising budget for the market was non-existent, with awareness created solely through social media, but it was clear the word had gotten out, and these Iowa Pop Artists who took a chance were able to find a community hungry for a fresh art market vibe.
Humble beginnings
Could that vibe be recreated? We would see. Just a few months later, we would run it back with the “Iowa Pop Art: First Thursday Pop Up” on September 2nd, 2021, at NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids. A mostly new lineup of pop stars continued the tradition and drew in another eager crowd, filling the void left by a defunct “First Thursday Art Walk” in the neighborhood.
With a proof of concept illustrating that artist-run and artist-focused market showcases can thrive with low overhead, provided there is a community willing to offer support, the question became - what next?. After assessing the landscape, it became clear that many established avenues in the state for platforming local artists weren’t doing enough when it came to supporting LOCAL artists. So Iowa Pop Art grew to be about more than simply putting on the occasional pop-up. The goal became to help promote Iowa artists all year long through social media and community building.
The growing stages
Everything considered, we definitely know how to throw a party. And the best way to make the party better is by making it bigger so you can invite more friends. The freshly titled “Iowa Pop Art Festival” was announced for May 21st, 2022. To make way for the “The Greatest Lineup of Artists Ever Assembled”, the art market at NewBo City Market was expanded with even more space for vendors. An art walk was hosted by local small businesses that spread throughout the adjacent neighborhoods. And the entire experience was enhanced as the historic CSPS Gallery across the street hosted “Factory: An Iowa Pop Art Exhibition”, a month-long showcase of cutting edge work from 20 more artists from across the state.
All told, the first Iowa Pop Art Festival showcased the creative output of more than 100 individuals in one shape or another.
A new era
But there was still something missing. As preparation began, it was clear that we could no longer have a party without music!
On May 6th, 2023, the Iowa Pop Art Festival squeezed even more art onto the grounds of NewBo City Market and CSPS Hall - but this time added FREE LIVE MUSIC! An incredibly dope lineup from across genres provided the soundtrack for the day. More than 7000 visitors made their way through the Festival for, not just 120 pop star booths, but experiences, like an interactive installation by artist Nix Slater Scott and a printmaking demonstration from the Iowa City Press Co-Op. Together this collective of stars announced to the state that there isn’t any party quite like an Iowa Pop Art party - and an Iowa Pop Art party, as it turns out, don’t stop.
