Iowa City, IA
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The City of Iowa City is proud to host the Historic Post Office Gallery at the Iowa City Senior Center (ICSC)! This exhibition program, which opens in January 2026, will feature rotating displays of local artwork in two public galleries inside the ICSC.
The program is a partnership between the Iowa City Public Art Program and the ICSC, which aims to make art more accessible to all residents. Exhibitions will rotate every two months and include a mix of solo shows, themed exhibits, and community collaborations.
Location & Hours
Located at 28 S. Linn Street in downtown Iowa City, the ICSC's new galleries include the Assembly Room Gallery and the Top Floor Gallery. Both spaces attract significant foot traffic through general programming and community events.
Artwork is generally viewable during the Senior Center’s regular operating hours, seven days a week, with occasional limits due to programs or room rentals. Guaranteed gallery hours:
- Monday–Thursday: 5 –7 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Sunday: noon – 3 p.m.
For questions about the gallery, including organizing special group visits, tours, or field trips, can be arranged in advance by contacting the Senior Center at 319-356-5220. Any questions about exhibiting in the gallery can be sent to Rachal Kilburg Varley, Iowa City Public Arts Coordinator, at rkilburg@iowa-city.org.
Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
Parables of the Future – Black Future Fest
The gallery will debut with “Parables of the Future,” part of a community-wide Black Future Fest celebrating Black creativity, imagination, and resilience.
The exhibition will feature a variety of works by local Black artists exploring themes of Afrofuturism within science fiction, history, technology, and cultural imagination. A community mural project will engage residents across all ages in contributing to a collaborative art installation revealed at the Senior Center during Black History Month.
The “Parables of the Future” exhibit will be on display from Jan. 19, 2026, until Feb. 27, 2026, with the Grand Opening to be held Feb. 14, 2025.
How to display at the Historic Post Office Gallery
The City of Iowa City Public Art Program and the Iowa City Senior Center invite Iowa-based artists to submit artwork for exhibition at the Historic Post Office Gallery, located inside the historic Iowa City Senior Center at 28 S. Linn Street.
This newly formalized gallery program features two exhibition spaces, the Main Gallery in the Assembly Room and the Top Floor Gallery, a bright corridor connecting the parking garage to program rooms. Exhibitions rotate approximately every two months, providing ongoing opportunities for artists to share their work with a diverse, intergenerational audience.
The City is seeking artists for two exhibition periods in 2026:
- July – August 2026
- September – October 2026
The deadline to apply for the July-August display is 8 a.m. Monday, March 16, 2026.
A separate call for artists will be issued later in the year for a special two-month New & Emerging Artist Mentorship Exhibition, designed for first-time or early-career exhibitors. Artists may choose to apply to one or both calls.
Artists must submit an online application, along with the following items:
- Current CV
- Digital Images – One image per artwork
- Artwork Information – Title, year, medium, and dimensions for each piece
- Artist Statement – Your process, themes, and inspirations