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.
The Julia C. Butridge Gallery has extended the deadline to submit exhibit proposals for the 2026 gallery season! Located at the Dougherty Arts Center, the Julia C. Butridge Gallery is well known for its diverse exhibitions of artists and their work. There is no fee to submit an exhibit proposal, and all related exhibits and events are free and open to the public.
Applications are open now through March 16, 2025.
To submit please visit: doughertyartscenter.submittable.com/submit
On Display
Taste of Imagination
Colton Matocha
January 25 – March 8, 2025
Artist Reception: Saturday, February 8, 2025, 1-3pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 7-9pm
“Taste of Imagination” provides familiar images of colorful candy, exploring forgotten dreams and cherished memories. Through these playful and captivating images, Colton Matocha offers a moment to escape the weight of adulthood and rediscover the joy of drifting into a colorful, imaginative world where everything feels new.
I Am, and We as Energy, Rising
Bibi Flores
January 25 – March 8, 2025
Artist Reception: Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 7-9pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 7-9pm
Energy Healing Workshop with Bibi Flores: March 5, 2025, 7-8:30pm
“I Am, and We as Energy, Rising” is a collection of abstract paintings and mixed media works with themes of healing, empowerment, and transformation. Vibrant colors, dynamic shapes, and intuitive forms represent a personal and collective journey of resilience and growth, embodying the power to overcome trauma. The artwork invites viewers to connect with a shared vision of renewal, rising together toward peace, love, and harmony.
Glitter and Tears
Hailey Gearo
January 25 – March 8, 2025
Artist Reception: Saturday, February 8, 2025, 1-3pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 7-9pm
“Glitter and Tears” by Hailey Gearo invites viewers into dreamscapes that transform personal struggles into vibrant otherworldly experiences. Through unmapped dimensions and imaginative realities, Gearo documents an ever-changing mental state, creating a unique opportunity for exploration and connection. This exhibition offers a glimpse into the artist's personal lore, enveloping audiences in a transformative, one-of-a-kind journey.
Upcoming Exhibits
Sara Jane Parsons, Winter Delights, 2024, oil on canvas, 12x12”
Project Pollination
Sara Jane Parsons
March 15 – April 19, 2025
Artist Reception: Wednesday, March 19, 7-9pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday, April 16, 7-9pm
Sara Jane Parsons' Project Pollination features still life paintings of foods she eats regularly, paired with portraits of their essential pollinators. Inspired by her love of food and concern for the environment, Parsons highlights the beauty of everyday ingredients while raising awareness of the crucial role of pollinators. Due to a car accident that left Parsons paralyzed from the neck down, she uses a mouth painting technique to create compositions that celebrate color, form, and sustainability.
Tara Eales, Ssshhhmoookin’, 2022
Perfect Proportions
Tara Eales
March 15 – April 19, 2025
Artist Reception: Wednesday, March 19, 7-9pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday, April 16, 7-9pm
Tara Eales’ textile sculptures explore self-acceptance, body positivity, and the joy of creative play. Using upcycled materials, including designer fabric offcuts, deconstructed garments, and found objects, she creates colorful, whimsical forms that embrace imperfection and individuality. Her work invites viewers to reflect on transformation, both in materials and in themselves, while reconnecting with the carefree nature of childhood.
Molly Mansfield, Flower Quilt, 2023, Oil on canvas, 36x48”
Frequented Dreams
Molly Mansfield
March 15 – April 19, 2025
Artist Reception: Wednesday, March 19, 7-9pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday, April 16, 7-9pm
Molly Mansfield’s work examines the richness of women’s narratives through themes of domestic labor, heritage, and community. Inspired by heirloom objects and personal history, her paintings blend realism with imagined elements to represent gaps in memory and generational storytelling. Through florals, patterns, and quilting traditions, she celebrates women’s craft and the interwoven nature of care, labor, and identity.
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