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
"Natural Perspectives: Light, Landscape & Season" is an exhibition showcases photography and painting by Iowa artists Tyler Baird, Chip Ross, and Theresa Wink. Together, their works explore the natural environment through shifting light, expansive skies, seasonal landscapes, and details that are often overlooked in everyday life.
Baird’s photography considers the relationship between the natural and constructed worlds, encouraging viewers to notice familiar surroundings from a different perspective. Ross captures the colors, patterns, and ever-changing character of the sky, while Wink’s oil paintings interpret the beauty and emotional qualities of landscapes across the seasons.
"Natural Perspectives" invites visitors to pause, look closer, and consider the ways we see and connect with the environment around us. The exhibit will be on display through August.
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