Bound By the Soil
Jamaal Barber + Rashaun Rucker
October 30 – December 12, 2026
Jamaal Barber and Rashaun Rucker invite viewers to journey through the rich landscapes of North Carolina, their birthplace, exploring deep-rooted connections to family, sacred spaces, and the poignant memories of the South. The show delves into the complexities of their shared heritage, harnessing the power of nostalgia and the struggle for identity through the lens of personal and communal histories. Both artists draw inspiration from their familial ties and the echoes of the past that resonate within their lives.
Learn more about lectures and programming
Welcome!
The UT Downtown Gallery is a contemporary art gallery, exhibiting professional work through funding and support in-part from The University of Tennessee and generous donations. Financial gifts to the UT Downtown Gallery support the operations, programming, community engagement, and exhibitions of the gallery.
We are located at 106 S. Gay Street in Knoxville, Tennessee next door to the Arts and Cultural Alliance in the Emporium Building.
As part of Knoxville’s First Friday events, the gallery is open from 5-9pm on the first Friday of every month.
All exhibitions and events at the UT Downtown Gallery are free and open to the public.
Planning your visit
There are several free and paid parking options around the UT Downtown Gallery. Street parking on the 100 Block of Gay Street has a two-hour limit, while spaces on the Gay Street Viaduct and surrounding streets have a four-hour time limit for all parking 8am – 8pm. The City of Knoxville utilizes the ParkMobile app for all street parking. Payment can be made downloading the ParkMobile app and scanning the QR code on the sign closest to your parking space.
City garages offer free night and weekend parking with the exception of a $3 flat fee at Market Square Garage on Saturdays from 8 am-6 pm. Daytime garage rates are $1 per hour or $7 per day.
Free parking for the Old City is available at the I-40 West and East lots located off Magnolia Avenue, just a short walk from the UT Downtown Gallery.
