Riverside Arts Center + Freeark Gallery

Riverside Arts Center + Freeark Gallery RAC hosts art exhibitions, classes, and special events. Exhibitions are free and open to the public

We offer over thirty art classes each term (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall) for children and adults in mediums including clay, painting, fused glass jewelry, and printmaking. RAC also offers tours, field trips, and curricula-based workshops for public and private schools and professional development opportunities for teachers. Executive Director: Camille Silverman
Freeark Gallery + Sculpture Gar

den Director: Claudine Ise
Exhibition Committee: Anne Harris, Troy Klyber, Joanne Aono, Paul D'Amato
School Manager: Shawn Vincent

For information regarding classes, please contact School Manager Shawn Vincent at [email protected]

For information or questions regarding exhibitions, please contact Exhibitions Director Claudine Ise at [email protected]

Catherine Jacobi - Gravity, 2025, Children's life preservers from 1955, rocks, string, 42 x 64 x 6 inchesThis is your la...
06/05/2026

Catherine Jacobi - Gravity, 2025, Children's life preservers from 1955, rocks, string, 42 x 64 x 6 inches

This is your last chance to view Good Trouble: Ben Blount and Catherine Jacobi. On view 1-5pm through June 6th in the Riverside Arts Center’s Freeark Gallery.

Catherine Jacobi is a Chicago artist whose work explores transformation and value through the use of found materials. By recontextualizing discarded and everyday objects, her practice gives new meaning to materials that might otherwise be overlooked, inviting viewers to reconsider notions of worth, use, and permanence. She holds an MFA in sculpture from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, a BFA in Graphic Design from Drake University in Iowa, and certificates from the University of Chicago's Basics and Asian Studies Programs. Her work is held in several private collections and has been exhibited nationally including T. Mari Gallery and Aron Packer Projects in Chicago and Context Art Miami.
https://www.catherinejacobi.com

Last days to view Good Trouble: Ben Blount and Catherine Jacobi exhibition curated by Joanne Aono in the Riverside Arts ...
06/04/2026

Last days to view Good Trouble: Ben Blount and Catherine Jacobi exhibition curated by Joanne Aono in the Riverside Arts Center’s Freeark Gallery. Open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 1-5pm.

1) Black Women's Wisdom: Misty Copeland, Letterpress on paper, 19 x 12 inches
2) Black Women's Wisdom: Amelia Boynton, Letterpress on paper, 19 x 12 inches
3) Black Women's Wisdom: Jane Bolin, Letterpress on paper, 19 x 12 inches

Ben Blount is a Detroit born artist, designer and letterpress printer best known for work that explores ideas of race, identity and the stories we tell ourselves about living in America. He uses typography and language to create printed work that moves through the realms of graphic design, print culture and activism. Blount earned an MFA in Interdisciplinary Book and Paper Arts from Columbia College Chicago and a BFA in Graphic Design from Washington University in St. Louis. He has been a visiting artist at Colorado College, Columbia College Chicago, Indiana University, Rutgers University–Newark and Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His work is widely exhibited and included in the collections of the Newberry Library, the Chicago Field Museum, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Blount lives and works just north of Chicago in Evanston, Illinois.
http://www.benblount.com

Opening Reception Sunday, June 14th 3-6pm - The Riverside Arts Center’s Freeark Gallery is pleased to present What’s The...
06/04/2026

Opening Reception Sunday, June 14th 3-6pm - The Riverside Arts Center’s Freeark Gallery is pleased to present What’s The Story, guest curated by William Eckhardt Kohler. This group exhibition of paintings will feature the art of Cindy Bernhard, Larissa Borteh, Mark Ottens, Tom Torluemke, and Frank Trankina.
Larissa Borteh - Shifters, 2025, Oil on canvas, 40 × 30 inches

Living Room“4 x 11”CeramicBy Fatimah FarooqiLast week to view the Hearth exhibition! The Riverside Arts Center is please...
06/03/2026

Living Room

“4 x 11”

Ceramic

By Fatimah Farooqi

Last week to view the Hearth exhibition!

The Riverside Arts Center is pleased to present in the Flexspace Gallery: Hearth, a group exhibition guest curated by RAC's gallery Assistant, Madelyn Roldan.
Hearth, a group exhibition of Beck L**h, Carmen Casillas, Fatimah Farooqi, Kai Boone, and Maddalena Piazza.

Exhibition Dates: April 19, 2026 - June 6, 2026

Gallery Hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 1:00 - 5:00 pm

Save the Date! Sunday, June 14th join us for the opening reception of What’s The Story, guest curated by William Eckhard...
06/02/2026

Save the Date! Sunday, June 14th join us for the opening reception of What’s The Story, guest curated by William Eckhardt Kohler. This group exhibition of paintings will feature the art of Cindy Bernhard, Larissa Borteh, Mark Ottens, Tom Torluemke, and Frank Trankina. Join us in the Freeark Gallery from 3 to 6pm. An artists talk will be held on Saturday, July 11th at 2pm. The exhibition will be on view Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 1 to 5pm through July 25th.
image: Mark Ottens - Olaf Olgusen's Least Last Finest Hour, 2005, Acrylic on canvas, 15 x 15 inches

Catherine Jacobi - Row and Wade, 2025, Wooden boat, lead weight, 20 x 10 x 4 inchesPart of the exhibition, Good Trouble:...
05/30/2026

Catherine Jacobi - Row and Wade, 2025, Wooden boat, lead weight, 20 x 10 x 4 inches

Part of the exhibition, Good Trouble: Ben Blount and Catherine Jacobi, curated by Joanne Aono. On view Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through June 6.

Ben Blount from the exhibition, Good Trouble: Ben Blount and Catherine Jacobi, curated by Joanne Aono. On view Thursdays...
05/29/2026

Ben Blount from the exhibition, Good Trouble: Ben Blount and Catherine Jacobi, curated by Joanne Aono. On view Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through June 6.
1) Installation of Ben Blount’s prints in Good Trouble: Ben Blount and Catherine Jacobi at the Riverside Arts Center
2) I Have A Dream, Letterpress on paper, 19 x 12.5 inches
3) Antiracism, 2019, Monoprint, Letterpress on paper, 20 x 26 inches
4) Colored American 2, 2017, Letterpress on paper, 11 x 30 inches
5) Trench Coat Backpack Marching Shoes 80 Years of Good Trouble John Lewis, Letterpress on paper, 19 x 12.5 inches
6) Reclaiming My Time - Maxine Waters, Letterpress on paper, 11 x 17 inches
7) Unity, Monoprint, Letterpress on paper, 26 x 20 inches
8) The Dip, Letterpress on paper, 22 x 15 inches
9) All Free, 2020, Letterpress on paper, 19 x 12.5 inches
10) All The Rage, 2021, Letterpress on paper, 17 x 14 inches
Ben Blount

Three’s Company “32 x 24”Oil on Canvas By Beck L**hThe Riverside Arts Center is pleased to present in the Flexspace Gall...
05/27/2026

Three’s Company

“32 x 24”
Oil on Canvas

By Beck L**h

The Riverside Arts Center is pleased to present in the Flexspace Gallery: Hearth, a group exhibition guest curated by RAC’s gallery Assistant, Madelyn Roldan. Hearth, a group exhibition of Beck L**h, Carmen Casillas, Fatimah Farooqi, Kai Boone, and Maddalena Piazza. On Saturday, May 16th at 2pm, join Beck L**h, Carmen Casillas, Fatimah Farooqi, Kai Boone, and Maddalena Piazza and the curator for an artist talk. All events are free and open to the public.

Exhibition Dates: April 19, 2026 – June 6, 2026

Gallery Hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 1:00 – 5:00 pm

Catherine Jacobi - USA Charm Bracelet, 2026, Steel chain, vintage wood cross,, Dick Tracy cap gun, dollar sign pendant, ...
05/22/2026

Catherine Jacobi - USA Charm Bracelet, 2026, Steel chain, vintage wood cross,, Dick Tracy cap gun, dollar sign pendant, flattened metal speculum,, 6 x 36 x 1 inches

Part of the exhibition, Good Trouble: Ben Blount and Catherine Jacobi, curated by Joanne Aono. On view Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through June 6.

Ben Blount - 275 Holidays, Digitally printed calendar pages in custom wood boxPart of the exhibition, Good Trouble: Ben ...
05/21/2026

Ben Blount - 275 Holidays, Digitally printed calendar pages in custom wood box
Part of the exhibition, Good Trouble: Ben Blount and Catherine Jacobi, curated by Joanne Aono. On view Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through June 6.
Ben Blount Joanne Aono

Address

32 E Quincy Street
Riverside, IL
60546

Telephone

(708) 442-6400

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