The Lens

This juried outdoor exhibition invites photographers to go beyond the surface to capture hidden stories that lie behind photographs. Behind the Lens: Unveiling the Unseen Narratives challenges artists to explore the untold stories that shape moments frozen in time. Whether it's the hidden history, the scene just outside the frame, or the untapped depths of a series, this exhibition seeks to shed light on the narratives that breathe life into still images.

The diverse collection of photographs presented in Behind the Lens enrich our understanding of the world beyond what meets the eye... Continue reading Behind the Lens: Unveiling the Unseen Narratives

A flower that grows in a sidewalk proudly exists despite the world’s best efforts to delineate separate spaces. It represents a failure to contain and control “nature.” The obstinate flower symbolizes the resilience, survival, and agency of those who resist conformity.

Flowers in the Sidewalk is a group exhibition celebrating individuals who have persevered through unique circumstances, and recognizes those who have lost their agency within the confines of larger societal systems. Each exhibiting artist tells their story, balancing aspects of shared humanity with forces like institutionalization, immigration, and globalization.

As comedian George Carlin... Continue reading Flowers in the Sidewalk

Posing Beauty in African American Culture traces the relationship between African American beauty and visual culture from the 1890s to the present through documentary, commercial, and fine art photography. Documentary photographs and portraits of famous and middle-class people alike present the public face of African American beauty, while commercial photographs demonstrate how fashion and advertising construct beauty standards. Contemporary photographers—some of whom use themselves as subjects—encourage consideration of how images of beauty impact mass culture and individuals.

Organized by Curatorial Assistance Traveling Exhibitions and curated by Deborah Willis, Ph.D., one of the nation’s leading... Continue reading Posing Beauty in African American Culture

Duality refers to having two opposing parts, such as light and dark, up and down, love and hate, fear and courage, or good and evil. Within each person, there can exist multiple dualities shaped by personal backstories. These dualities inform both what and how artists create.

Whether expressed through compositional elements, theme, or both, the photographs in this exhibition explore contradiction and paradox. Each artist approaches their chosen subject matter looking at how duality informs how they document the world and how they bring ideas to fruition. These images look at opposites and ask,... Continue reading Duality

The open call for Undercurrents asks Ohio artists to bring their perspectives to the forefront as they delve into their unique experiences as lens-based creatives. Responding to three questions—Why do you use lens-based media? What is hidden within your work? What are the undercurrents that unite Ohio lens-based artists?—the artists are asked to unearth the histories that helped shape them. Through this group exhibition, ROY G BIV continues to champion emerging artists by providing a platform to increase the public's awareness of their work and creating a space to celebrate and highlight lens-based artwork.