The Contemporary Dayton - Dayton
The Contemporary Dayton
25 W 4th Street
Dayton, OH, 45402
The Contemporary Dayton is a non-profit gallery and artist resource that provides art for the community and a community for artists. (Formerly Dayton Visual Arts Center / DVAC).
From gallery talks and exhibit openings to professional development workshops, The Contemporary Dayton provides opportunities to meet others who share an interest in art and to learn about and support contemporary visual art.
Upcoming Events: The Contemporary Dayton
Member's Spotlight Exhibition: Lori Daugherty: Bold Whispers
12/17/2025
Dayton based, self taught abstract artist, Lori Daugherty, enjoys exploring and experimenting with the elusive encaustic medium. She finds that the encaustic medium provides a wealth of depth, breath, and texture.
Xaviera Simmons: Figure Eleven
12/17/2025
The Contemporary Dayton is proud to present Xaviera Simmons: Figure Eleven, a major solo exhibition bringing together recent works in photography, painting, video, and the world premiere of a new body of bronze sculptures.
Open Studio Sessions
12/18/2025
Come get creative in a relaxed, welcome space–no experience necessary! We’ll provide materials, or feel free to bring your own. Whether you’re an experienced artist or just looking to unwind and try something new.
Closing Reception: Lori Daugherty: Bold Whispers
12/27/2025
Enjoy this final opportunity to see new work by Lori Daugherty. Lori Daugherty: Bold Whispers brings together a series of intimate encaustic works in which color, wax, and heat converge to form small but potent moments.
Member's Spotlight Exhibition: Dan Cleary: Five Views of Ohio
1/07/2026
Dan Cleary is a professional and fine art photographer based in Dayton, Ohio, who has been creating images for many years. He has an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art, and is known for his thoughtful, evocative photography.
Members' Appreciation Happy Hour
1/08/2026
As a special perk of membership, The Contemporary Dayton invites you to our Quarterly Members’ Happy Hour—an exclusive opportunity to unwind with fellow art enthusiasts in a vibrant, creative setting.
Guided Tours
1/10/2026
Join us for an inside look at the exhibition, with fresh insights into the artist and her work. FREE and open to all.
Photowalk
1/10/2026
Explore downtown Dayton through your lens, using anything from a camera phone to a box camera, and anything in between. Join fellow artists and photography enthusiasts for a guided walk inspired by Xaviera Simmons.
Closing Reception: Xaviera Simmons: Figure Eleven
1/24/2026
Light Refreshments and a final chance to view the exhibition. 4-6 pm
In Small Measure
2/13/2026
Join the Live Sale Event for $35 or come early to the $135-per-duo Preview Party for first access to a wall-to-wall installation of original 4×6 works created by artists from Dayton and across the country—$100 each.
Related news & company posts for The Contemporary Dayton
Call for Entry: In Small Measure
11/06/2025: Dayton, OH - In Small Measure is our inaugural fundraising exhibition where we ask participants to create a postcard sized work of art, donate it to us, and in exchange, it will be included in an exhibition on February 13-14, 2026.
