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Upcoming Exhibitions

Please add these events to your calendar. We look forward to seeing you!

All events are free and open to the public.
For general inquiries, contact ewing@utk.edu.

A vertical painting depicts a curly-haired engraved figure wearing a reddish garment. The figure holds an outlined animal-like form while orange-red paint surrounds the eyes. Above the figure, the word “school” appears in uneven handwritten text. Layered cloud shapes across the torso contain fragments of letters and words. Small blue geometric marks float in the pale background, while rough painted passages in burgundy, yellow, teal, and white overlap the engraved image.

ART, MOVEMENT, AND DISABILITY: TRANSCENDING THE BEAUTY PARADIGM

August 26 – October 18, 2026

Art, Movement, and Disability: Transcending the Beauty Paradigm is a 2026 book authored by University of Tennessee Associate Professor Emeritus of Art History, Dr. Timothy Hiles. The exhibition brings Hiles’ book into the gallery space, showcasing a selection of the artists featured in his research. These artists’ practices challenge conventional narratives of disability, embodiment, and representation. Art, Movement, and Disability is organized around three central themes: flipping the script—reclamation, invisibility, and the conversation.

Matt Bodett | School (Fool Series), 2025

Learn more about lectures and programming

RASHAUN RUCKER + JAMAAL BARBER | BOUND BY THE SOIL

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.

First Friday Reception
November 6 | 5-9pm

Second Friday Reception
December 13 | 5-9pm
*Due to the WIVK Christmas Parade, the UT Downtown Gallery will have the “First Friday” reception on the second Friday of the month.

Rashaun Rucker | Sending Up My Timber

Vintage photograph of a child embellished with colorful sequins and seed beads.

NICK DEFORD | A VAGUE UNEASINESS

January 2 – February 20, 2027

Curated by Mike Berry

Featuring a new series in embroidery and repetitive embellishment on found objects, the exhibition examines contemporary anxiety through the tradition of the uncanny and weird tales.

Second Friday Receptions
January 8 | 5-9pm
*Due to the New Year’s Day Holiday, the UT Downtown Gallery will have the “First Friday” reception on the second Friday of the month.

First Friday Receptions
February 5, 2027 | 5-9pm

Nick DeFord | Starchild Chrysalis

Big Ears Collaborative Exhibition

March 5 – April 5, 2027

First Friday Receptions
March 5 + April 2, 2026 | 5-9pm

Big Ears Festival Special Hours
April 1 – 4, 2027
Thursday, Friday, + Saturday | 12-9pm
Sunday | 12-6pm