Join us in NIAD’s Galleries for our new June exhibitions! Artists and exhibition organizers will be on hand for a lively discussion in the galleries, and light refreshments will be served. Come browse the exhibitions and check out NIAD’s art-filled studios.

Main Gallery

Championship Belt

This one’s for the fans!

From the high-energy performance of wrestling to the camaraderie of teams banding together, artists find inspiration in the world of sports.

Featuring an all-star lineup of local favorites alongside friends from the Arts of Life studio in Chicago, this exhibition highlights studio art-making as a form of entering the ring. Artists actively engage with their practice; paint brushes flow over canvas, clay is pushed together to build new forms. These works are a celebration of team spirit and performance.

participating artists: Deatra Colbert, Guy Conners, Julio Del Rio, Luis Estrada, Samantha Kershnar, Michael Nuñez, Ann Meade, Rosita Pardo, Jason Powell-Smith, Andrew Sloan

Annex Gallery

Exploring Arts Through Sound

“Art comes in different sounds…”

Music, sound and performance have long been at the center of the NIAD community. 

I know art and music. It’s my favorite. Making music together like my poetry, family; I put my family first. – NIAD artist Kiesha White

Only recently, however, has it become an official, facilitated offering in the NIAD Sound Recordings area.

Art comes in different sounds whether its poetry or instruments. I was thinking art also comes in the form of personal experiences, it comes from the heart. Showing, listening and verbally telling about art is very good for everyone. When we were talking about the show, it’s about everyone’s pieces coming together. Art is a lived experience. -NIAD artist Rebecca Jantzen

The wellspring of dance, poetry, weather forecasts, and song which sustain and bring joy to our everyday studio practice is now, at last, bursting out of our studio doors and available to the public! 

A lot of working in my head. The weather is changing fast (snap!). Back on zoom again after talk, talk, talk. The weather’s be a crazy day outside now. Thursday morning be back at work. This leg and this leg – first leg is dancing. This leg: no dancing. -NIAD artist Luis Estrada

Curated by three of NIAD’s sound enthusiasts – Rebecca Jantzen, Luis Estrada, and Kiesha White – Exploring Arts Through Sound provides NIAD artists’ perspective of this burgeoning studio practice. 

participating artists: Rebecca Jantzen, Kiesha White, Eddie Braught, Heather Copus, Sara Malpass, Luis Estrada

Accessibility: There are no stairs to enter the NIAD Art Center building. The building is one level. The sidewalk has multiple curb cut-outs and is wide enough for a wheelchair. The building does not have automatic doors. Our restrooms are accessible to people using mobility devices. We do not have gender neutral restrooms.

Please send accessibility requests to gallery@niadart.org