Anyone coming to Artscape 2025 would be wise to arrive hungry, given the lineup of culinary talent set to appear in the Flavor Lab.
The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) also released the list of Artisan Market participants. The festival takes place on Memorial Day weekend, May 24 – May 25 in Downtown Baltimore.
“With the energy of our food scene and the talent of our artist community, Artscape 2025 is more than a festival — it’s an invitation to explore the soul of Baltimore,” said Robyn Murphy, BOPA’s interim CEO. “Whether you’re sipping on fresh pressed juices, sampling global flavors, or discovering one-of-a-kind artwork, every corner of the festival offers something to savor.”
This year’s Artscape will be filled with new public art, live performances, creative expression galore, and a walkable footprint. The Flavor Lab and Artisan Market are central to the experience.
The Flavor Lab is a festival within a festival, an array of local culinary talent ready to offer festivalgoers tastes from around the world. Live cooking demos (new this year), curated food and drink pairings, and restaurant-style seating created by Raunjiba from repurposed wood will provide visitors with more than their fill of food, drink, and entertainment.
Chef Heather Smith of Swill Apothecafe kicks off the live cooking demonstrations Saturday morning with her brown sugar french toast at 11:15, a.m. Join Mona Poblete of Barkada Breads for Filipino pandesal sliders at noon if you have room for lunch. Watch Food Network champion Amber Croom of Beye Beignets whip up tropical plantain beignets with passion fruit caramel at 1 p.m. or see David and Tonya Thomas of H3irloom create their Maryland crab rice with crab fat gravy in the early afternoon.
Saturday’s mid-afternoon lineup includes Chef Rosalyn Vera of Cocina Luchadoras giving a hands-on molcajete salsa demo at 3 p.m., complete with take-home recipe cards. At 4 p.m., Cat Smith, from Our Time Kitchen creates a Thai watermelon salad with grilled salmon and lime vinaigrette. After that, Shahasia Harris of Black Baltimore Vegan will show how vegans have amazing comfort food, too, making her cabbage rolls. Serving up the dinner-time demo will be True Chesapeake’s Zack Mills, named Maryland Chef of the Year, with a lesson on snakehead, potato leek fritter, and smoked trout caviar at 6 p.m. Fancy!
Sunday’s demos pick up with Elisa Melan of The Empanada Lady, who will be grilling and rolling lamb chop empanadas at 11:15 a.m. At noon, chef Cyrus Keefer of Midlina will get visitors’ mouths watering with global fusion, and at 1 p.m., Andy Thammasathiti of Mayuree Thai will invite onlookers to “sip and fold” with him as he prepares handmaid dumplings paired with a lychee cocktail.
There are over 30 chefs and restauranteurs set to bring festivalgoers a celebration of the world’s cuisines, be they sweet or savory. The lineup was curated by Marisa Dobson of Scintillate and Simone Phillips of CharmCityTable.
The Artisan Market shows similar range and creativity, with 65 artists and makers from across the region showcasing their imagination and craftsmanship, whether they are emerging artists or seasoned artisans. Visitors will find contemporary crafts, fine art, handmade jewelry, textiles, ceramics, and upcycled home goods. Anything from traditional woodworking and the ancient art of glassblowing to digital art and Afrofuturist fashion can be found, a testament to Artscape’s mission to showcase the diversity of talent and inclusive spirit that thrives in Baltimore.
“Supporting these local and regional artists not only nurtures the creative economy but also helps preserve the unique cultural identity of Baltimore and its surrounding communities,” reads BOPA’s press release. “Each purchase is a direct investment in the artists’ stories, their livelihoods, and the vibrant arts ecosystem that makes Artscape a cornerstone of the city’s creative scene.”
FLAVOR LAB VENDORS
Zone 1:
- 3 Chefs LLC (Seafood)
- DMV Empanadas (Latin American)
- Icy Concessions (Dessert)
- Master Grill (Asian)
- Miya Snowballs (Dessert)
- Tarin Thai Cuisine (Asian)
- The Empanada Lady (Latin American)
Zone 4:
- Beye Beignets (Dessert)
- Black Baltimore Vegan (Vegan)
- BLK Swan (American)
- Curly Coily Cafe (American)
- Ekiben (Asian)
- Elevated Kitchen (American)
- Island Quizine (Caribbean)
- Judy Makes Juices (Beverages)
- Juiced by Juanita (Beverages)
- Mayuree Thai Tavern (Asian)
- Nothing Bundt Cakes (Dessert)
- Posi’s Kitchen (African)
- Rasberry Moments (Dessert)
- Siama Juicebar & Sweets (Smoothies)
- SoniaD’s Grubb Delites (Seafood)
- Swill Apothecafé by Blacksmiths (American)
- The Empanada Lady (Latin American)
- The Equitea Co. (Beverages)
- The Veggie Table (Vegan & Vegetarian)
- Tia’s Italian Ice (Dessert)
- Tortuga Kombucha & Deli (Sandwiches)
Food Truck Alley:
- Bird Box Express (American)
- Bmore Mochichi (Dessert)
- Deli-ish (American)
- Hue Café & Apothecary (Vegan & Vegetarian)
- Islington Kitchen (Caribbean)
- Rich Juice Bar (Beverages & Acai Bowls)
- Soul to Soul (American)
- Taharka Brothers Ice Cream (Dessert)
- The Tender Rib (Barbeque)
- Waiting to Oxtail (Caribbean)
ARTISAN MARKET VENDORS
- Alec Parsons
- Altargokart
- AMNI BLACK
- Anthony Pittman – Jeweler Tools
- Artist Jacob Goldsmith
- Artologica
- Because Science
- Brian’s Dots
- Candice Carnival Creations
- Charcuterie Heaven
- Daniel Bondroff
- Deadwax Art
- Drawn Metal Studios
- Dream Topography
- Dust Comics
- Eli Helman Ink
- Femme Prints
- Found Objects
- Four Fields Jewelry
- Fulliaa
- Gipp
- Goodloe Byron
- Gourd Lanterns
- Gwendolyn Redfern Artist
- iDrum Art & Craft
- Italy in Color
- Jett
- JFA Studio LLC
- Josef Kardell Art
- Kouzi Crafts
- Kyri Jewelry
- LaToya Peoples
- Laura K. Murdoch Fine Art
- LEE MEE Art & Design
- MADXpressions
- Marirosa Fine Art
- Matt Muirhead
- Max Weso Art
- Maxi Cif Designs
- MC Studios Arts
- MIGDALIA
- Miles Johnson – Mjonthewall
- Mistura Woodworks
- Momma Rain Art
- Nikki Ucheya
- Obibini Creation
- Omaricha’s Art
- Outta Our Minds
- Pinkkiss Pottery
- Saz Factory Inc
- Solace MD
- Spaghetti Kiss
- The Asaka Gallery
- The Black Genius Art Show
- The Female Power Project
- The Graphite Club
- The MoJazz Collection
- Thread Bliss Designs
- WE ADORN WOOD
- Wild Wallflowers
- Williams Fine Art
- Windsong Laser Studios
- You Are Not Fiction
