As Boise’s population continues to grow, so does the city’s art scene.
The art scene in Boise and nearby Idaho cities is expanding and diversifying, creating a community of artists that value the support of one another. Boise reflects these recent changes, presenting a city that is glittered with this artistic movement.
Candy Canning — founder and director of Catalyst Arts Collaborative and Art Project Boise, and co-founder and arts director of the Gem Center for the Arts — moved to Boise in 2010 with the goal of connecting with artists and building a community.
Canning shared that the increased collaboration among different artists in Boise plays a crucial role in creating a booming and cooperative art community.
“There’s lots of little pockets of art, and so now we’re starting to learn to kind of collaborate, and it seems more like city wide now … Everybody kind of knows everybody,” Canning said. “And we’re all kind of like, ‘Oh, hey, I see what you’re doing. That’s awesome. And I’m doing this. And maybe we could do that together.’ It’s kind of fun to see those possible collaborations that are coming.”
Painting by Beth Trott
“Fresh” and “vibrant” are the words Canning used to describe Boise’s art scene to those who have yet to experience it.
“There’s lots of new artists, lots of fresh, younger artists coming out, and I think in society as a whole, we are seeing more art. It’s very prolific in our lives. It’s a … visual age that we’re living in,” Canning said. “And so art has become instead of this kind of thing you do on the side as a hobby. We’re recognizing it as this really cool, intrinsic part of who we are as humans.”
Canning referenced the increase of people moving to Boise from other states and those coming from other countries as a huge influence on the art community’s diverse perspectives and fresh ideas.
“We’re constantly shifting and morphing as things change in the city,” Canning said.
Canning also highlighted the new, unforeseen support of the arts in Boise.
“I think there’s more support for it, which I think in turn, just translates into more opportunities for artists. If there are people who are willing to buy the arts, then there’s more artists who can survive,” Canning said. “I think the supporters really have a lot to do with that too … I think that’s a big part of it, the support is there that maybe wasn’t there before.”
Canning believes the performing arts in the area are experiencing a cultural reformation, referencing new events such as The Flipside Fest, a music and mural festival that made its debut in the fall 2022.
After a few years of planning and researching the needs of local artists, Canning opened the Gem Center for the Arts, a local art center in Boise dedicated solely to supporting artists.
The center provides artist studios throughout mediums, artist mentorship programs, scholarship programs, art classes, exhibitions and more.
Gina Cole, a local figurative artist originally from Bangkok, Thailand, moved to Boise around 20 years ago.
Cole shared that she did not discover the arts until after she graduated college, and at first it started as a passion that was merely a hobby.
Painting by Gina Cole
“It just helped me go through life during those periods where I feel that I don’t belong in this society or this, you know, in this country, basically I feel kind of alienated,” Cole said. “So art gave me that outlet, you know, to express myself.”
As a figurative artist, most of Cole’s art subjects are humans or animals, and she is currently working on portraits for a project inspired by the Netflix documentary “Tales by Light” in an effort to create more awareness for child labor and child exploitation around the world.
Although the project is still in the works, Cole hopes the final exhibition will take place in Boise. As one of many local artists, Cole’s work is an example of the diversity of projects, mediums and inspirations in the local arts community.
“I think it’s become more diverse. I believe, you know, we are seeing more minority artists coming up in the scene,” Cole said. “I’m hoping that there will be more collectors, more galleries, you know, that support artists (and) give the artists a chance to show their works.”
Beth Trott, a local illustrator originally from Baltimore, Maryland, moved to Boise in 2019.
Trott was drawn to Idaho due to her newfound love of the Mountain West after briefly living in California, Washington and Utah. She shared that she has been anything but disappointed by the art community in Boise.
Painting by Beth Trott
“The Boise art scene has been incredibly inviting, is very friendly and very supportive. I’ve been in art communities before where … artists are each trying to gain their own ground,” Trott said. “Whereas here, it feels like artists are trying to lift each other up, which I really, really like about the Boise art scene.”
Trott has been an artist all her life, doing illustrations for “Dungeons and Dragons,” “Wizards of the Coast” and a number of other fantasy publications, and shared that she was shocked as to how big the Boise art scene is.
“I’m just kind of blown away. You think of Boise as a small town, but the art community is not a small town art community,” Trott said. “You have a lot of artists here that are really skilled, and really passionate and really out there making their artwork.”
Trott also noted how the nature and beauty of the Mountain West found in Idaho is an inspiring aspect for artists.
“There’s really something about … being surrounded by beautiful things that makes you want to add to that, like you want to contribute more to the beauty that’s surrounding you,” Trott said. “I know it sounds really cheesy, but as an artist, I think it’s really true.”
From the street art presented in Freak Alley to the curated exhibitions at The Boise Art Museum and other local galleries, Boise does not fall short in the art category. The art community will continue to make new strides promoting positive change that the public will have the opportunity to enjoy as well.
