Graduate Ambassador Blog Posts
Exploring the Rochester Art Community
There are so many galleries, studios, and museums across Rochester. With a quick search you’ll find some of the most popular spots like the Memorial Art Gallery and The Yards Collective.
If you’re into art and looking for places to go out with your friends and meet more people from Rochester, then I suggest checking out a few of these Rochester galleries. Most of the art is from local Rochester residents!
Gallery receptions are the best time to go mingle and even meet some of the artists! Check out their calendars for dates and times.
I really enjoy the following galleries for the array of styles that they display from street art to history-like paintings, and mediums from photography to sculpture. Most of the art is for sale, so you can buy an artwork that speaks to you and take it home when the exhibition is changed at the end of the month. How cool is that?!!
RIT City Art Space located at: 280 Main ST. in Downtown Rochester.
Open Fridays to Sundays 1pm-5pm; First Fridays 1pm-9pm.
FREE entry!
RIT City Art Space Events Calendar
Many RIT students showcase their work here. When you go to the gallery openings, you have the opportunity to get to meet people from RIT!
Frank’s Chop Shop located at 127 East Ave. near the Eastman School of Music.
Open Mondays to Saturdays 11am-6pm.
FREE entry!
IG: frankschopshoproc for Event Updates
Frank’s is a barbershop that caters to adults and children, has four galleries, and has a clothing and shoe store in the back room that sells Nike, vintage apparel, and Pokemon cards.
The galleries are spread throughout the four spaces in the shop and are open to walk through during their open hours. Don’t feel shy walking around while they work! Everyone who works there is super friendly and helpful! You can also ask about having your artwork show here.
Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo), 137 East Ave, right next to Frank’s Chop Shop!
Wednesdays to Sundays 12pm-5pm, Fridays 12-9pm.
$2 entry
A cool way to get involved and support the Rochester art scene is to submit your art to RoCo’s fundraiser. Every summer RoCo hosts a 6x6 fundraiser in which YOU can donate a 6” x 6” artwork for RoCo to sell to raise funds that help support the art center.
Image City Photography Gallery, 722 University Ave, in the Neighborhood of the Arts near the Memorial Art Gallery.
Open Tuesdays to Saturdays 12pm-6pm, Sundays 12-4pm.
FREE entry.
There is a new exhibition every month, and you can also inquire about submitting your art to be exhibited here. You can see photography artwork by local high school students, college students, professors, and other artists!
Rochester’s art scene permeates through the entire town. There are art walks you can take to check out the murals on the sides of buildings and on electric boxes. You can join The Free Art Collective during a craft night and learn a new craft. And you can take up art classes here in several mediums. Enjoy building your art community!