12 Atlanta arts events to look forward to this week

From visual arts to music to theater, the Atlanta metro area has an active arts scene offering something for nearly everyone. This upcoming week, happenings include an Atlanta Shakespeare Company Threepeat of a trio of the Bard’s comedies, performances of “Tesla vs. Edison” at the Center for Puppetry Arts and the annual Piedmont Park Arts Festival.

The following 12 events will help you explore Atlanta’s arts and culture in the upcoming week.

‘Tesla vs. Edison’

With large-scale puppetry and special effects — including a live Tesla coil on stage — the Center for Puppetry Arts brings the Thomas Edison-Nikola Tesla rivalry to the stage in this Suzi Bass Award-winning production.

Continuing through Sunday, Aug. 23. $30. Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. (at 18th Street), Atlanta. 404-873-3391, puppet.org.

A Shakespeare Threepeat

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company presents a repertory of three of the Bard’s comedies — “The Comedy of Errors,” “The Taming of the Shrew” and “Twelfth Night” — from the troupe’s last year of performances.

Continuing Saturday, Aug. 15; Friday, Aug. 21; Thursday, Aug. 27; Sunday, Aug. 30; and Saturday, Sept. 5: “The Comedy of Errors.” Thursday, Aug. 13; Sunday, Aug. 16; Saturday, Aug. 22; Friday, Aug. 28; and Thursday, Sept. 3: “The Taming of the Shrew.” Friday, Aug. 14; Thursday, Aug. 20; Sunday, Aug. 23; Saturday, Aug. 29; and Thursday, Sept. 4: “Twelfth Night.” $26-$49. Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse, 499 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 404-874-5299, shakespearetavern.com.

Vanna Black: ‘Grace for Ebb’ exhibition

Atlanta native Vanna Black’s solo exhibition will be displayed at Cat Eye Creative with works that bridge the gap between fine art and graphic design. Her art is defined by vibrancy, motion-filled patterns and stimulating titles.

Continuing through Sunday, Sept. 13. Cat Eye Creative, 1173 Commerce Drive, Decatur. 404-547-8638, cateye-creative.com.

‘Paper Trees’

This High Museum of Art exhibition explores artists’ ways of seeing the natural world as it investigates the idea of tree study in American art. Pieces range from practice sketches to finished works in a variety of media.

Continuing through Sunday, Feb. 21. $23.50. High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 404-733-4400, high.org.

Sunset Sips: GSO Jazz!

The Georgia Symphony Orchestra team of jazz players performs outdoors at the Chattahoochee Nature Center under the direction of Sam Skelton.

6-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13. Included with general admission of $21.55. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. 770-992-2055, chattnaturecenter.org.

“Ancestry of Belonging,” featuring works from Rose M. Barron, Colleen Maria Casey and Dayna Thacker, will be on view at Spruill Gallery from Thursday, Aug. 13 to Friday, Sept. 11. Pictured is Thacker's "Unstill Life #16" (2026). (Courtesy of Spruill Gallery/Dayna Thacker)

‘Ancestry of Belonging’

Featuring works from Rose M. Barron, Colleen Maria Casey and Dayna Thacker, “Ancestry of Belonging” investigates the insights of tradition in a modern world as the artists merge the traditional practices of their media with contemporary aesthetic practices.

On view Thursday, Aug. 13, through Friday, Sept. 11, with public reception from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, and 2 p.m. artists’ talk Sunday, Aug. 23. Spruill Center for the Arts Gallery, 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. 770-394-3447, spruillarts.org.

Jenny Tian: Ripe

A regular on the Sydney comedy circuit, Jenny Tian has been named by Deadline as a stand-up to keep an eye on in 2026. Her YouTube special “Picture This” has nearly a million views.

Friday, Aug. 14, through Sunday, Aug. 16. $20 and up. Helium Comedy Club, 3070 Windward Plaza, Alpharetta. 470-508-7068, atlanta.heliumcomedy.com.

‘Quilters’

Featuring a bluegrass-inspired score, “Quilters,” produced by Roswell Cultural Arts as part of the city’s America250 Celebration, is a tribute to the women who helped build early American communities. The ensemble production is led by Terry Burrell, whose Broadway credits include “Dreamgirls,” “Into the Woods” and more.

Select dates from Friday, Aug. 14, to Sunday, Aug. 23. $36.75 and up. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. 770-594-6120, roswell365.com.

An Evening of Jazz

Jazz musicians Will Downing, Jonathan Butler and Eric Darius perform at Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre.

7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. $73 and up. Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre, 5239 Floyd Road SW, Mableton. 770-819-7765, ticketmaster.com.

The annual Piedmont Park Arts Festival, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15, and Sunday, Aug. 16, features some 250 artists, including painters, photographers, sculptors and more. (Courtesy of Ben Dashwood)

Piedmont Park Arts Festival

The annual Piedmont Park Arts Festival features some 250 artists, including painters, photographers, sculptors and glass blowers as well as artist demonstrations, acoustic music, a children’s play area and more.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16. Free admission. Piedmont Park, 1071 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta. affps.com.