The Julia C. Butridge Gallery is located in the heart of the arts district adjacent to the Long Center and Butler Park at the Dougherty Arts Center, a multi-cultural community arts center providing opportunities for creative expression to citizens for over 41 years. Visitors enjoy an exceptional 2,000 square feet of exhibit space in the main gallery, and an additional 480 square feet in newly renovated gallery space. The natural collision of creative activity at the arts center contributes to the gallery’s longstanding reputation among the arts community as an accessible and nurturing venue and incubator, ideal for emerging and established artists. The gallery is free and open to the public.
Upcoming Exhibits
What Lingers in Our Bones
Vy Ngo
October 4 - November 15, 2025
Opening Reception: Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 7-9 pm
Artist Talk with Dr Han Ren: Thursday, October 23, 6-8 pm
Austin Studio Tour: November 8-9, 15-16, 12-6pm
Sound Healing Session: Monday, November 10, 6-8 pm
Closing Reception: Sunday, November 16, 4-6 pm
Fifty years after the Fall of Saigon, “What Lingers in Our Bones” reflects on the enduring damage of war, displacement, and intergenerational trauma while opening pathways toward empathy, healing, and collective catharsis. As a first-generation American and child of Vietnamese refugees, Vy Ngo carries the imprint of forced migration, having crossed the Pacific both by boat and by womb. She synthesizes this formative, epigenetic experience into her latest body of work, visualizing the magnitude of a humanitarian crisis that for many is only a vague and impassive section in history textbooks, yet is still relevant today.
Meeting at the Edges
Gary Anderson, Sam Elkins, and Diane Sandlin
October 4 - November 15, 2025
Artist Reception: Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 7-9pm
Austin Studio Tour: November 8-9, 15-16, 12-6pm
“Meeting at the Edges” brings together artists Gary Anderson, Sam Elkins, and Diane Sandlin in a multidisciplinary exploration of physical, emotional, and spiritual boundaries. Through mixed media, weaving, and painting, the artists create a shared dialogue that reflects on change, connection, and the balance between structure and openness. Their collaborative approach invites viewers to linger with the work and consider the beauty found at the edges of experience.
DAC Staff Exhibition
October 4 - November 15, 2025
Artist Reception: Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 7-9pm
Austin Studio Tour: November 8-9, 15-16, 12-6pm
The DAC Staff Exhibition highlights the creativity of the artists and professionals who keep the Dougherty Arts Center thriving. Featuring a range of media and styles, the show offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the personal practices of the talented staff who support the center’s programs year-round.