With 2012 officially behind us — along with its Cadillac Ranch sex scandals and Picasso spray-painting — the Houston gallery scene ushers in the new year with a barrage of openings Friday and Saturday.

Judging from the fliers and e-blasts circulating the past month, this weekend marks the start of some strong exhibits, with new paintings by Scandinavian artists Mie Olise and Sigrid Sandström at Barbara Davis and Inman, respectively, as well as vintage prints from late Scottish artist Ian Hamilton Finlay at Hiram Butler.

Other highlights include a new solo show from Devon Britt-Darby, the Houston art critic who made waves with his 2011 performance piece opposing the Art Guys' tree marriage. The two-week exhibit sure to make a splash when it opens Saturday evening at PG Contemporary, which closes at the end of the month as gallerist Zoya Tommy relocates to 4411 Montrose building.

To help all you gallery-hoppers through this maze of openings, here's a full rundown of the weekend's event. Feel free to add anything we missed in the comments below.

FRIDAY

Starting at 6 p.m., the Isabella Court galleries on Main will host photographer Ted Kincaid at Devin Borden, performance artists The Bridge Club at Art Palace and the aforementioned Sandström at Inman. The David Shelton Gallery offers Common Objects, a three-artist show exploring various aspects of daily life.

Also starting at 6 p.m., 4411 Montrose galleries welcome Houston-based installationist Adela Andea at Anya Tish, Mie Olise at Barbara Davis and a show for Japanese neo-dadaist Ushio Shinohara at the new Zoya Tommy Gallery. Wade Wilson will launch a show of abstract works from Mark Williams, Todd Williamson and the legendary Robert Ryman.

SATURDAY

Start the day at Hiram Butler with a brunch-time opening for Ian Michael Finlay . . . breakfast tacos and margaritas will be provided by Armando's food truck from 11 to 1 p.m.

Later in the day, the Colquitt galleries kick off a slew of fresh exhibits Saturday with openings for painter Marci Crawford Harnden at d.m. allison from 6 to 9 p.m. and a Moody Gallery group show from 4 to 6 p.m. With receptions from 6 to 8 p.m., McMurtrey opens shows for painters Robert Kinsell and Howard Sherman while Catherine Courtier launches new work from trippy fine art photographer Maggie Taylor.

On the east side, Box 13 opens the third installment of it juried show Disturbance of Distance from 7:30 to 9 p.m. while Hardy & Nance Studios starts its apocalypse-themed exhibit We're All Dead Nowwith a St. Arnold-sponsored reception from 6 p.m.

In the Museum District, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston has a performance piece by Clifford Owens at 2 p.m. Then at 3 p.m., the Asia Society presents a talk by artist Kip Fulbeck for his current show part asian, 100% hapa. Judging from Fulbeck's short film included in the exhibit, the presentation should be pretty entertaining.

After catching Devon Britt-Darby at PG Contemporary in Midtown from 6 to 8 p.m., swing up to the Heights to UP Art Studio's pop-up street art show in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.