Current Exhibits
Step inside the Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance Museum and be inspired by the creativity and history that make our community unique. Our galleries are alive with art, stories, and perspectives that invite you to linger, look closer, and see Olympia in new ways.
It’s The Water
April 24 – December 31
In our largest space, the South Gallery, It’s The Water explores the ways Olympia is shaped by our waters, highlighting the story of Tribal Canoe Journey in partnership with 2026 hosts, the Nisqually Indian Tribe.
Through additional mini-exhibits, visitors will explore Olympia’s shellfishing industry, estuaries, dams, and inlets with interactive elements featuring art, history and local cultures.
Billy Frank Jr. Statue Maquette
April 24 – June 30
In our Lobby Gallery, view the Billy Frank Jr. maquette, a half-scale model of the full-sized statue being installed in the National Statuary Hall in Washington, DC later this year. Sculpted by Pacific Northwest artist Haiying Wu, the statue recognizes Billy Frank Jr., Nisqually Tribal leader, treaty-rights activist, and lifelong advocate for equality, justice, and environmental protections.
The Billy Frank Jr. Statue Project is a collaboration between ArtsWA and the Nisqually Indian Tribe
Paint the town
April 10 – December 31
Come Paint the Town with us! In our North Gallery, explore Olympia’s mural culture through the colorful artwork decorating our streets and alleyways and turning everyday landscapes into sites of color, memory, and connection. This exhibit also investigates the work murals do in Olympia and beyond—from murals that double as solidarity networks to those that serve as memorials.
Paint the Town also features a cardboard city that visitors of all ages are invited to decorate!
you are here
January 23 – December 31
Against the backdrop of hand-painted maps by local muralist Fern Tallos, You Are Here explores Olympia at two scales: From the history at the intersection of State Avenue and Columbia Street to the broader stories of the South Puget Sound which have shaped Olympia over time.