First Friday Art Walk

NexLynx Gallery is the “must see” art gallery on the First Friday Art Walk located in the historic Bates Building in the heart of Downtown Topeka. Beginning in 2010, we have shown hundreds of original photographs, paintings, carvings and sculptures from dozens of local and regional artists. The First Friday Art Walk is our “Opening Reception“ for each new monthly exhibit at NexLynx Gallery of Arts. The First Friday Art Walk is a program of ArtsConnect.

First Friday Art Walk – January 2025

Jen’s collection invites you to experience the calming yet dynamic landscapes of Kansas as she sees them. Each photograph captures a moment of serenity, revealing the beauty and diversity of a state often overlooked. Join us and allow Jen’s images to transport you to a Kansas you’ve never imagined, one filled with peace, vibrancy, and life.

Born and raised in Kansas, Jen has always seen her home state as a hidden gem—vibrant, diverse, and full of unexpected beauty, despite its reputation for being flat and mundane. By day, Jen is a dedicated Registered Veterinary Technician at K-State’s Large Animal ICU, where she balances the demands of her profession with the joy of being a grandma to two lively grandsons and caring for a variety of animals her and her husband have.

It wasn’t until recently that Jen delved deeper into photography, discovering it as not only a passion but a form of creative expression that brings her peace and fulfillment. For her, photography is an escape—a way to capture the magic in the everyday, from Kansas’ sweeping prairies to its hidden wildlife.

Artist Image Gallery

  • Our History

  • NexLynx Gallery of Arts started in 2010, after being selected as one of the venues for the ReThink Topeka Exhibition and Art Walk that same year and each year after. The Re-Think Topeka Art Walk was a movement to spur re-building community awareness through art and cultural events. NexLynx continues to be a proud supporter of the art community with our monthly exhibits and opening receptions. We worked with the former Arts Council of Topeka, and now ArtsConnect to promote art in the community as a premier downtown gallery on the Downtown Topeka Art Walk.

    The Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the historic downtown Bates Building. Walter L. Bates' (1859-1903) last business enterprise was the building of the structures on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Jackson Streets, known as the Bates Block, which includes the I.O.O.F. Hall (117 W. 6th - c. 1910) and 123 W. 6th (c. 1902).

    NexLynx Gallery was voted a Finalist for both 2016 and 2017 People's Choice Awards, nominated by people in the Topeka Community as their favorite stop on the First Friday Art Walk, a program of ArtsConnect.

    • NexLynx Gallery of Arts