Avenue for the Arts hosts sixteen local art exhibitions per year in Grand Rapids’ largest community art gallery, the 106 Gallery, and its smallest arts spaces, the Artposts.
106 Gallery
106 Gallery is a large exhibition space owned by Dwelling Place and managed by Avenue for the Arts. It is Located at 106 S Division along the SoDiv commercial corridor in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Formerly the site of Calvin College's art gallery, it is now divided between a Dwelling Place workspace and an exhibition space. It includes gallery amenities like adjustable track lighting and six 10' x 2' x 8' moveable gallery walls, as well as six large street facing windows.
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
November 7–22
Looking Back | Moving Forward: The Avenue Turns 20
Curated by Annamarie Buller, Ethan Ross, and Zachary Trebellas
Opening Reception of Looking Back | Moving Forward
Friday, November 7 • 6–9pm*
Twenty artists whose lives have intertwined with the Avenue over the decades will show their work at the 106 Gallery in a group exhibition you don't want to miss. Plus, we'll have food, music, activities, and community stories from throughout the Avenue's history on display. Share your memories of the Avenue here, and they’ll be included in a display at the exhibition.
*part of the First Friday art walk
Open Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am–4pm, Saturday 11/22 1–5pm, and by appointment.
Arty Party
Saturday, November 15 • 4–7pm
Join us at our biggest bash of the year as we honor Jenn Schaub, the longtime program manager of the Avenue. In addition we will present a first-ever award Arty Awards, honoring eight Grand Rapids artists who’ve made a difference in our city. Nominate an artist who deserves recognition.
PAST EXHIBITIONS
2025
January: My American Dream by Katya Grokhovsky
March: Dialogue of Souls by Mary Jane Pories and Merima Smajlovic
April: Where Horizons Meet, GVSU Illustration Senior Exhibition
May: Double Vision, a GRCC and KCAD Collaborative Student Show
June: Main-ten-ance by Anthony Brazeau
July: Critical Nostalgia by Savannah Calhoun and Anna Lobbes
August: The Only Thing to Consecrate by Alexa Grambush
October: Anything but by Jamie Weinfurter
2024
January: B.O.S.S. — Best of Senior Seminar, a show of work by GVSU seniors.
February: More Than Our Hearts Can Bear curated by Annamarie Buller
March: The World is on Fire curated by Annamarie Buller
April: GVSU Senior Illustration and Graphic Design Exhibition
June: Pharaoh Khalil Art Residency Culmination
August: Funkytown, a group exhibition of abstract, colorful work curated by Melody Hoffer.
September: The Trauma Project by Scoob, Juried Grand Prize winner at ArtPrize
October: Studio Work by Mark Rumsey
October: Hatred for Humanity by Chapel of Ghouls
November: Art Swap & Frame Giveaway.
December: Collateral Damage, a group show of work by seven Grand Valley Senior Seminar students.
2023
December: B.O.S.S. — Best of Senior Seminar, a show of work by GVSU seniors.
October–Nov: Forest Fires: Art and Activism by Son Visual
September: Fresh work by Bryce Saber
January–June: Various programming by Dwelling Place’s new artist-in-residence program.
2022
January: Dream within a Dream by Catbird Saintly
December: New work by Kae Pershon
September: New work by Ben Boss
August: New work by Victor Fitzsimons
May–July: Lavern on Monday by Kerry Murphy Rolewicz
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Artposts
PROPOSALS FOR 2026 HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO AUG 31. APPLY HERE.
Artposts are five outdoor miniature art galleries organized by Avenue for the Arts that provide the public with an opportunity to see small-scale artworks in unconventional settings.
CURRENT EXHIBITION
Participation Trophy by Gustavo Ayala
Art historical wrestling trophies subverting masculine gender roles with a heavy dose of glitter.
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
Fall: Could We Put it in a Jar? by Gabrielle Egnater
PAST EXHIBITIONS
2025
Winter: Hum by Ivy Laurel Anderson
Spring: Six Years Since (12 May 2019 03:30:00 PM CST) by Jamie Weinfurter
2024
Fall: We Could be the Enemy by John Sproul
Summer: Metamorphosis by Robyn Smith
Winter: Winter Lanterns by Matthew Goetzka, Kristin Halladay, Tori Naum, Annabelle Brinks, curated by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.
2023
Fall: Ephemeral Nature by Avenue Art Club for ArtPrize
Summer: Gluttony by Mandy Cano Villalobos
Five installations exploring a personal hoarding obsession, American consumerism, and a desire for belonging.
Spring: Grand Valley State University’s Space Studio Class
2022
Fall: Thunder by Kristin Casaletto
New intaglio prints depicting civil rights leaders by Grand Valley State University professor Kristin Casaletto.
Summer: Secure Fragility by Karen Hain
Opening during the launch of a new downtown event series, Third Thursdays, this exhibition was curated by local artist Craig Merchant and show the work of Detroit-based fiber artist Karen Hain.
Winter—Spring: Two Weeks Notice
Bridgette McGee and snicka are two Grand Rapids artists exploring the artposts as sites for miniature installations.
2021
Winter: FLUX
FLUX was an exhibition of five artists curated by Grand Valley State University’s curatorial studio course. Information on each of its artists can be found at the exhibition website here.
Fall: ArtPrize 2021
The Artposts’ inaugural exhibition was during ArtPrize 11 and featured the work of local art collective Good Manufacturing.
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Artposts were built with the generous support of ArtPrize and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. Their locations are a partnership with Fountain Street Church, Grand Valley State University, and Dwelling Place.
Exhibiting in the Artposts is a paid opportunity for Michigan artists with a preference for artists from West Michigan. Learn more and apply below.
Artpost locations
GVSU Pew Campus: The corner of Mt. Vernon Ave and Front Ave
GVSU Seidman Campus: Across from the main entrance
Fountain Street Church: 24 Fountain St NE
Verne Barry Place: 63 Division Ave S
Ferguson Apartments: Just south of the 52 Sheldon Parking lot LaGrave entrance in the small park.
