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
PROPOSALS FOR 2026 DUE ON AUG 4. APPLY HERE.
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
June 2–15
Main-ten-ance by Anthony Brazeau
Opening Reception: Friday 6/6 6–9pm (as part of First Friday)
Paintings and sculptures derived from the everyday materials of the maintenance worker in order to celebrate the nature of the job.
July 11–19
Critical Nostalgia, work by Anna Lobbes and Savannah Calhoun
Opening Reception: Friday 7/11 6–9pm
Two artists alternatively questioning and embracing the promises of nostalgia through photography and painting.
August 1–15
The Only Thing to Consecrate, abstract paintings by Alexa Grambush
Opening Reception: Friday 8/1 6–9pm (as part of First Friday)
September 5 – October 16
The Red Thread, curated by Annamarie Buller
Opening Reception: Friday 9/5 (as part of First Friday)
A group exhibition of work reflecting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and our connections to each other as humans
November 1–15
Avenue for the Arts 20th Anniversary Exhibition
Mid-show Reception: 11/7 6pm (as part of First Friday)
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
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 2022: Dream within a Dream by Catbird Saintly
December 2022: New work by Kae Pershon
September 2022: New work by Ben Boss
August 2022: New work by Victor Fitzsimons
May–July 2022: Lavern on Monday by Kerry Murphy Rolewicz
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Artposts
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
Six Years Since (12 May 2019 03:30:00 PM CST) by Jamie Weinfurter
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
Summer: New sculptures by Gustavo Ayala
Fall: New installations by Gabrielle Egnater
PAST EXHIBITIONS
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.
Winter: Hum by Ivy Laurel Anderson
Spring: Grand Valley State University’s Space Studio Class
2022
Fall: Thunder by Kristin Casaletto
8/18–11/14
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
1/14–4/15
Bridgette McGee and snicka are two Grand Rapids artists exploring the artposts as sites for miniature installations.
2021
Winter: FLUX
11/19–12/5
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
9/16–10/10
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.
