Urban Art Village (2025)
A public art and community activation creating space for cultural exchange and creative entrepreneurship.
East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN

Urban Art Village was conceived, designed, and led by Luis Fitch as an artist-led outdoor marketplace and cultural gathering space developed to support and uplift BIPOC, Latinx, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, immigrant, disabled, and emerging artists. Located at 730 East Lake Street, the site sits at a major transit hub, making it a highly visible and accessible point of connection for the surrounding community.

The project featured a series of ten public events, combining art markets, workshops, and exhibitions within a flexible outdoor environment. At its core were five custom-painted shipping containers, repurposed as pop-up galleries, creative workspaces, and vendor stalls, forming a modular system that brought art directly into the public realm.

A visual language shaped by identity and place connects the space, creating a cohesive identity that reflects the cultural richness of the surrounding community. The project emphasized accessibility and economic opportunity by offering free participation for artists, allowing them to retain 100% of their sales.

Urban Art Village built on a long-term commitment to East Lake Street as a site of cultural production and community resilience. The project contributed to the ongoing revitalization of the corridor, creating a space where art, culture, and community intersected through shared experience and creative expression.

Partners and support: Lake Street LIFT, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs, Lake Street Council, Graves Foundation, and Minnesota State Arts Board.