Austin’s creative energy is in full force this week as Almost Real Things Gallery opens Above & Beyond: Upstairs at Canopy—a new group exhibition featuring 10 resident artists from Canopy’s second‑floor studios. Equal parts experimental, textural, and deeply conceptual, this show explores “the intersection of materiality and the spirit,” offering a rare look into how Austin’s working artists are pushing past the limits of their mediums at one of the city’s most active art hubs, Almost Real Things.
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Almost Real Things Gallery
FreeHere’s your complete insider guide before doors open tomorrow.
Essential Details
• Exhibition: Above & Beyond: Upstairs at Canopy
• Location: Almost Real Things Gallery, 916 Springdale Rd, Building 2 #101, Austin, TX 78702 — the same Canopy space that anchors ART’s roaming gallery tours and studio‑driven events.
• Opening Reception: Feb 19, 7–9 PM
• Preview Party: Feb 19, 6–7 PM (early access)
• Runs: Through early March
• Gallery Access: Weekend hours + best experienced during Canopy’s monthly Open Canopy (first Saturdays, 1–4 PM)
If you can only make one time slot, aim for the 6–7 PM preview party—it’s the calmest hour for photos, close‑looking, and chatting with artists before the main crowd hits.
The exhibition takes place directly across the patio from Sa‑Tén Coffee inside the Canopy creative complex—one of East Austin’s most concentrated hubs of makers, visual artists, and small galleries.
Canopy is a multi‑building creative campus; Almost Real Things anchors one side of the courtyard, with Sa‑Tén and several galleries and studios radiating out around the central patio.
Why This Exhibition Matters
Above & Beyond highlights 10 working artists who maintain studios at Canopy, giving visitors a chance to see new work informed by the daily practice of creation inside East Austin’s most active arts ecosystem. As part of Almost Real Things’ broader mission‑driven ART ecosystem supporting working artists, the show sits in conversation with past interactive, tactile exhibitions that invite viewers to engage more deeply with process and material. With themes centered on transformation, materiality, and the unseen forces guiding artistic process, the show is built for viewers who want more than surface‑level aesthetics.
What to Expect When You Go
• Artists will be present during the reception for conversation.
• The preview hour offers an uncrowded chance to photograph work and speak one‑on‑one.
• Sa‑Tén’s coffee and bites make for an ideal pre‑ or post‑visit stop—pair it with a wander through ART’s ongoing event calendar if you want to build out a full art night.
• If you miss opening night, plan to visit during Open Canopy—when over 50+ studios open simultaneously.
Insider Intelligence
• Arrive at 6 PM if you want the most intimate experience—this is the hour most locals overlook.
Make a loop: start with the preview hour, then wander the second‑floor studios before circling back to the gallery once the main reception is in full swing.
• Parking fills quickly in the Canopy lots; the back lot near Springdale General is usually the last to fill.
Parking at Canopy can back up during openings—budget extra time, or consider rideshare/biking to avoid circling the lots.
• Hop between galleries: Ivester and ICOSA are usually open during major events and pair well with Above & Beyond for a full East Austin gallery night, especially if you’re already exploring ART‑connected gallery spaces around town.
• For deeper artist access, studio doors on the second floor often stay cracked during receptions—a low‑key way to peek at works in progress and spot artists who also show in other gallery‑driven projects.
Many second‑floor studios are semi‑open during receptions—step in respectfully, ask questions, and you’ll often get to see works in progress and future exhibition plans.
Keep Exploring Austin’s Culture + Creativity Scene
If you’re building a full East Austin outing, these recent insider guides pair perfectly with a visit to Canopy:
• Inside Strangelove Coffee & Wine: The Insider Guide to East Austin’s Hidden Hybrid Art‑Café‑Wine Bar
• Inside Totally Cool, Totally Art! 2026: The Insider Guide to Austin’s Youth Art Showcase at Mexic-Arte Museum
• Inside Angelina Eberly and the Texas Archives War: The Insider Guide to Austin’s Most Explosive Origin Story
For even more ways to stack your calendar around Above & Beyond, you can also browse city‑wide cultural picks like SXSW Austin 2026 or East Side dining deep dives such as Austin’s 2026 Dining Surge.
Primary Sources & Additional Info
• Canopy Austin: https://canopyaustin.com
• Almost Real Things Gallery: https://almostrealthings.com
• Sa‑Tén Coffee info: https://satencoffee.com
Above & Beyond is the kind of exhibition that reminds you why Austin’s creative community is so compelling: it’s intimate, experimental, and deeply personal. Whether you’re an art collector, a casual gallery‑hopper, or someone who just wants to support local makers, this is the weeknight event worth leaving the house for.
Related Austin Data
Inside Above & Beyond at Canopy: The Insider Guide to Austin’s Newest Artist‑Powered Exhibition
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