Ceres Gallery

Ceres Gallery is a unique feminist, not-for-profit alternative gallery located in the heart of New York City’s Chelsea art district. Dedicated to promoting contemporary women artists, Ceres has been an influential force in the NYC art scene for nearly 40 years.

History and Mission

Ceres Gallery was founded in 1984 by artists Rhonda Schaller, Polly Lai and Darla Bjork, in conversation with Nancy Azara, the director of the New York Feminist Art Institute (NYFAI)[4]. The gallery’s mission from the beginning has been to provide an exhibition space that enhances public awareness of women artists and helps remediate their limited access to commercial galleries[2].

Over the years, Ceres has served as a supportive base for a diversity of artistic and political views. The gallery encourages artists to take risks with their work that might not be possible in a commercial setting. In addition to visual artists, Ceres has welcomed writers, musicians, dancers, poets and storytellers to perform in the gallery space[2].

Early members who remain part of Ceres today include Joan Arbeiter, Carol Goebel, Phyllis Rosser and Vivian Tsao[4]. The gallery was first located in Tribeca before moving to SoHo in 1993. Since 2003, Ceres has occupied a 2000+ square foot space in Chelsea’s premier Landmark Arts Building on West 27th Street[4].

Exhibitions and Programming

Ceres provides a showcase for women artists regardless of age, artistic style or commercial viability to exhibit their work in New York City, many for the first time. All work meets professional standards of excellence but is not restricted in style, medium or theme[2].

The gallery presents a mix of solo exhibitions by member artists as well as curated group shows and invitational exhibitions open to outside artists. Membership cycles range from 24-36 months, with each member guaranteed a 4-week solo show during that period[6].

Some notable past exhibitions and events include:

• “Reflections: Women in Their Own Image” and “Heroic Female: Images of Power” in the gallery’s early years[4]
• A 1998 cultural exchange exhibition at the Kunstlerforum in Bonn, Germany, which led to four Ceres artists being invited to the 2004 Bonn Biennale[4]
• “Out and Out”, challenging perceptions of identity through photography (2015)[4]
• “Why a #War on Women”, a dialogue on women’s reproductive rights (2013)[4]
• “Poets for Choice”, a long-running series of poetry readings benefiting Planned Parenthood NYC (1992-2015)[4]
• “Rooftop Farms: Greening the Concrete Jungle”, presenting an inspiring vision for urban agriculture (2017)[1][4]

The gallery is also known for prioritizing a focus on women’s issues through its Ceres Project Room, which from 2000-2002 offered artists a free space to experiment and push creative boundaries[4]. Other yearly events include the “Exposure” exhibition showcasing emerging artists of all genders, and the “Friends’ Show” featuring artists who support the gallery[4].

Membership and Organizational Structure

Ceres operates as a democratic organization, with showing artist members voting on all major decisions, reviewing applications for new members, and participating in monthly meetings to plan the gallery’s overall direction[2]. A professional Director facilitates the smooth running of programs and exhibitions.

There are several categories of membership with different privileges and obligations[6]:

• Full Members pay $250 in monthly dues plus a $600 initiation fee. They exhibit in the main gallery and have full voting rights but must attend meetings, perform a gallery task, and gallery sit 12 times per year.
• National Full Members pay $340 in monthly dues and a $600 initiation fee. They have the same exhibition privileges as Full Members but their dues cover the costs of gallery sitting.
• Affiliate Members pay $150 in monthly dues and a $400 initiation fee. They exhibit in the second gallery and vote but have reduced gallery sitting and task requirements.
• National Affiliate Members pay $200 in monthly dues and a $400 initiation fee for the same benefits as Affiliates but with gallery sitting costs included.

Currently, Ceres has a roster of artists from the New York metropolitan area, across the country, and a small number from outside the U.S.[2] Interested artists can apply for membership by submitting an application with 10 images of their work, an artist statement and CV, and other supporting materials[6].

Feminist and Political Focus

Since its founding, Ceres has been dedicated to promoting the importance and prominence of political art by women. The gallery regularly presents exhibitions and events with an activist and educational focus.

Some recent examples of this feminist programming include:

• “Our Bodies, Our Freedom” (2023), curated by Kyra Belan, using visual messages to advocate for women’s equality and reproductive rights[4]
• “Hysterical” (2022), curated by Christine Mottau, examining how women may be viewed in a male-dominated society[4]
• “What We Print About When We Print About Love” (2015), exploring love through the lens of women printmakers, curated by Katherine Dolgy Ludwig[4]

Through exhibitions like these, Ceres aims to harness the power of art to educate the public about the concerns of women artists and feminists. The gallery has long served as a gathering place for community dialogue on these issues, hosting events like a Women’s Caucus for Art chapter and an ongoing partnership with Planned Parenthood[4].

Conclusion

For nearly four decades, Ceres Gallery has been a pillar of the New York City arts community and a trailblazing supporter of women in the arts. Through its innovative exhibitions, feminist focus, and democratic artist-run structure, Ceres continues to provide a vital alternative space for women artists to take risks, build community, and have their voices heard.

As summarized on the gallery’s website: “The members of Ceres Gallery believe the arts provide an important social service – that art has the power to educate, enhance and enrich the quality and depth of people’s lives.”[2] By staying true to this founding vision, Ceres has impacted countless artists and art lovers, playing an essential role in the ongoing struggle for gender equity in the art world.

To learn more about Ceres Gallery, view current and upcoming exhibitions, or apply for membership, visit ceresgallery.org. The gallery is located at 547 West 27th Street, Suite 201, in New York City and is open Tuesday-Saturday 12-6pm[2].

Citations: [1] https://www.elizabethdownerriker.com/events [2] https://ceresgallery.org/?page_id=15 [3] https://www.ceresgallery.net/about [4] https://ceresgallery.org/?page_id=2457 [5] https://www.artsy.net/partner/ceres-gallery [6] https://ceresgallery.org/?page_id=1367 [7] https://ceresgallery.org [8] https://www.amazon.com/Ceres-Hagelslag-Chocolate-Sprinkle-Classic/dp/B0BNKFCCJB [9] https://solarballs.fandom.com/wiki/Ceres/Gallery [10] https://www.ceresgallery.net/links [11] https://www.arcgallery.org/exhibitions-archive/ceres-gallery [12] https://yelp.com/biz/ceres-colaborative-burlington [13] https://ceresgallery.org/?page_id=1434 [14] https://www.ceresgallery.net [15] https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/840219-ceres-c-color-camera-vs-ceres-m-mono-camera/ [16] https://renee-phillips.com/ceres-gallery-presents-dontshutup/ [17] https://ceresgallery.org/?page_id=1113 [18] https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/869689-dwarf-planet-ceres-crosses-m100/ [19] https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/349948/ceres