Dr. Victoria Gao
- Director
- Bannister Gallery and Exhibitions
Located in Rhode Island College’s Roberts Hall, the Bannister Gallery presents 7 to 8 exhibitions a year by local, regional and international artists.
Closed for the summer
Bannister Gallery was dedicated in November 1978 in honor of Edward Mitchell Bannister, a notable nineteenth-century Black artist and Providence resident.
The gallery aims to present a diverse set of art that ranges from traditional media, like painting and sculpture, to more contemporary formats, including photography, graphic design, and digital media. Exhibitions are selected by the Bannister Gallery Committee, which is made up of the Gallery Director and members of the Art Department Faculty.
The gallery strives to create an inclusive environment for the public with the aim of building relationships between the arts community of Rhode Island and the larger art world. Each exhibition is on display for three to four weeks and usually include a public lecture by the artist(s) or other related programs.
The Bannister Community Art Project and Bannister Gallery at Rhode Island College are seeking professional artists to participate in and create new artwork for an exhibition that responds to Edward Bannister’s life and artwork. We welcome broad interpretations of the theme and a variety of artistic media.
An exhibition in the fall of 2025 will take place in Bannister Gallery and feature existing artworks and at least one new artwork from each participating artist. Artists that are selected will receive an honorarium of $1,000. Finalists will be selected by jurors and members of the Bannister Community Art Project Exhibition Committee.
A native of Rhode Island, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet was one of America’s most elite African American sculptors.
Exhibition on view October 3-25. Join us for an opening reception on Thursday, October 3rd, from 4-7 PM!
Exhibition on view in Bannister Gallery from November 7 through December 6, 2024. Join us for an opening reception on Thursday, November 7, from 4-7 PM!