BAM Thursdays 2025

Thursdays, 5:00–10:00 PM
May 29–September 25
Columbus Museum of Art
 
Kick off your weekend early with BAM Thursdays (Bar, Art, and Music) at the Columbus Museum of Art.
 
Every Thursday, May 29 through September 25, enjoy live music, great art, delicious bites, creative experiences, and fresh libations in our Patricia M. Jurgensen Sculpture Garden.

Whether you’re winding down after work, meeting up with friends, or planning a spontaneous night out, BAM is your go-to summer evening. Explore the galleries after hours with free general admission from 5:00–10:00 PM, and extended museum hours until 10:00 PM every Thursday. Limited indoor seating is available at Schokko Café.

See what’s on view here.
 
New this year! Members save 25% on food and non-alcoholic beverages at BAM Thursdays. Not a member yet? Join today.
 
No reservation or ticket is needed to attend BAM Thursdays! If you’d like to explore the galleries during your visit, timed museum tickets are available to reserve in advance here, but walk-ins are always welcome. Dining tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. In case of bad weather, BAM Thursdays will move indoors to the atrium.

BAM Schedule

Each BAM Thursday will feature a local artist from 6:00–8:00 PM and DJ(s) from 5:00–10:00 PM. Plus, enjoy performances throughout the season, including pop-up and roaming experiences.

July 2025

July 3
No BAM Thursday.
The museum is closing at 3:00 PM for the holiday.

July 10
Artist Abby Kamagate with music by DJ Pastel. Plus, enjoy a performance by Flux Flow Dance at 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
 
July 17
Artist Briseus Smith with music by theCOMINGHOME (tCH). Plus, enjoy roaming fashion shows by designer Lynn Heatherington Becker between 7:00 and 9:00 PM.
 
July 24
Artist Joshua Schottenstein with music by J.Testarossa. Plus, enjoy entertainment by stilt walkers from Megababe Entertainment from 6:30–8:30 PM.
 
July 31
Halfway to Wonderball celebration featuring artist Lance Johnson with music by Candy Rain. Plus, enjoy a performance by Anna and The Annadroids from 7:00–7:30 PM.

Mark your calendar: Wonderball returns on January 31!
At 6:00 PM, we invite all BAM attendees to join us in the Schottenstein Property Group Pavilion for an exciting sneak peek of the unique experiences that await you at Wonderball 2026.

K–12 Teachers: Show your teacher ID for a complimentary treat from 6:00–7:00 PM.

Meet the July Participating Artists

Abby Kamagate is an artist based in Columbus, Ohio. Rooted in her identity as a Mother artist, observing and collaborating with the natural world are foundational to her creative process. Play, mistakes, and wonder inform her practice, which bridges multiple disciplines and mediums. Check out her Instagram.

DJ Pastel, a Columbus, OH native, began her journey in 2010, fueled by a deep love for music and inspired by local DJ talent. With over 12 years of experience, she has developed a unique style centered on diversity, inclusion, and unconventional sounds, paired with high-energy performances. Known for staying ahead of industry trends, Pastel’s sets provide audiences with a fresh and pure approach to music. Her creative energy has made her one of the most sought-after local artists, and she credits the support of the Columbus music scene for her ongoing success. Check out her Instagram.

Russell Lepley is a queer interdisciplinary dance artist and community builder. He spent a decade dancing in professional ballet and contemporary companies before co-founding Flux Flow Dance Center, a body positive and joy-centered movement space for adults of all levels, with his partner Fili Pelacchi in 2017. He creates work with an intergenerational community of performers with varied, rich identities. His commitment to maintaining an expansive view of who can be an artist enriches the work as each performer brings their own emotional landscape and intellectual curiosity to the creative process. He considers his work most valuable when it is has an impact on his collaborators that extends beyond the act of making: he wants performers to feel they’ve gotten to know themselves better in the process and created connections that are enduring networks of support after the experience is over. So, the more art they make, the stronger they become as a coalition of people creating the world they want to live in. Check out his Instagram.

Briseus “WXVVY” Smith is an abstract artist born and raised in Columbus he’s worked with several of the amazing galleries of Columbus including but not limited to Wild Goose Creative 934 Gallery, 83 Gallery, and HalfBaked with aspirations for appearing in Hammond Harkins Gallery, and Brandt Gallery.

Briseus’ work is inspired by his love for the energy that comes from his inspirations such as Pro wrestling, early 2000s skate tapes, and Hip-Hop. For Briseus, art is like an explosion bringing together his inspirations for what is known as the “Pastel Nightmare.” The bright colors used collide like a burning hammer against the bold, black contrast often stopping them in their place setting up the vivid, yet unknown world. Check out his Instagram.

theCOMINGHOME (tCH) is a creative collective whose namesake harkens back to a near east side day parade located off of historical Mt. Vernon Avenue. A parade where community is celebrated and people convened in appreciation of the creators, makers, and architects that shaped Columbus’ early artistic heritage. In that spirit tCH is a multi-hyphenate creative studio that reaches across culture, business, art, and media to delight audiences and imprint the social zeitgeist. Check out their Instagram.

Lynn Heatherington Becker is a self-taught artist from Cleveland, Ohio now residing in Columbus, known for her expertise in wearable art, body art and customized artwork.

Lynn’s passion for art is evident in her unique and creative pieces. Her creations often involve the human form. She enjoys creating whimsical mixed media pieces that combine found objects and interesting materials used in non-traditional methods that often implement elements of fashion. Lynn enjoys regularly experimenting with new materials and techniques which is evident in her constantly evolving art. Her style is characterized by bold color palettes and eccentric themes. Check out her Instagram.

Joshua Schottenstein is a Columbus-based ceramicist who primarily creates wheel-thrown decorative pottery. His studio is based out of ADAMAH, a gallery and studio located in the Short North Arts District. Joshua is self-taught and currently is focused on the relationship between form and crystalline glaze finishes. Therapeutic and immersive, working with clay has given Joshua much passion and purpose. You can find his work at ADAMAH and various arts festivals in the region. Check out his Instagram.

J.Testarossa is a DJ and a curator. Check out his Instagram.

MegaBabe Entertainment is an entertainment company based out of Akron, Ohio providing top tier entertainment for your events. We specialize in circus acts, fire flow arts, stilt walking, character acting, costuming and more. We love to create an immersive experience with guest while adding a little creativity and fun to your event. Check out their Instagram.

Lance Johnson is a visual artist who is inspired by words. The foundation of each piece he creates is the layering of words throughout each canvas. He feels that words of inspiration are the soul of his work. Words have power and his goal as an artist is to create art that will resonate positively and evolve with each viewing. Check out his Instagram.

Candy Rain is the sexiest dance party in Columbus, with DJ’s spinning all vinyl sets of R’n’B, hip hop and sexy pop from the 80’s to the early 2000’s. Check out their Instagram.

Anna and The Annadroids are a multi-media dance and aerial troupe based in Columbus, Ohio. They are celebrating their 20th anniversary of dance and performance this year! Check out their Instagram.

Artistic Director Anna Sullivan recently opened a Pilates, barre, and yoga studio in Worthington called Body Intuit.

 
View Past BAM 2025 Artists