People gather in the Block Gallery for an artist reception. A musician plays the guitar for them.

Block Gallery

Raleigh Arts


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Current Exhibition Past Exhibitions Gallery History

Located on the first and second floors of the Raleigh Municipal Building, Block Gallery offers five to six exhibitions each year featuring works by artists who live or work in Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Orange, or Wake County. Exhibitions are scheduled through a call for artists selected by a panel of visual arts professionals, Raleigh Arts Commissioners, and City staff.

Plan Your Visit

Use the information below to plan your visit.

Details

Hours

  • Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. 
  • Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Parking

Visitors can park in the Municipal Building Deck at 201 W Morgan St., Raleigh, NC 27601. Use our interactive map to find other parking.

Contact

 

Stacy Bloom Rexrode
Curator of Exhibitions and Collections, Raleigh Arts
stacy.bloom-rexrode@raleighnc.gov
919-996-4687

Address

Raleigh Municipal Building
222 W. Hargett St.
Raleigh, NC 27601

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Current Exhibition

Julia Einstein, Flower Icon: Chrysanthemum, oil on canvas, 36” x 36”

plants, and birds, and rocks (and things)
April 15 through Aug. 23, 2024

plants and birds, and rock (and things) is an exhibition of artworks curated by Scott Hazard, a North Carolina-based artist and City of Raleigh Artist in Residence for Nature Preserves.

Learn more about plants and birds, and rocks (and things)

Past Exhibitions

Below are some of Block Gallery's past exhibitions. You can also view a list of past exhibited artists.

Black and white photography by Cornell Watson

It Ain't All Black and White
October 4, 2023, through March 22, 2024

It Ain’t All Black and White was a photography exhibition curated by North Carolina-based photographer Leticia Clementina that encouraged viewers to consider emotions such as serenity, apprehension, yearning, and more. 

Learn more about It Ain't All Black and White

A grid of 6 Oberlin community member portraits by Derrick Beasley

Voices of Oberlin

June 14 through September 22, 2023

Through portraits and oral histories from elders and community members, the Voices of Oberlin exhibition emphasized how special the Oberlin community was and still is.

Learn more about the Voices of Oberlin exhibition

 

Colorful fish swimming blue water

Art Unblocked 2021

Arts Access, in partnership with the City of Raleigh's Block Gallery, hosted an exhibition titled Art Unblocked 2021, featuring works of art created by emerging and established artists with disabilities.

Learn more about Art Unblocked 2021

a grid of stills and artwork from Joshua Steadman, Robyn Scott, Lakeshia Reid, Joyce Watkins King, Amy Flynn, and Geddes Levenson.

Creative Quarantine

In April 2020, Raleigh Arts released an artist call asking artists how they stayed creative during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. Over 150 submissions were received. Eighteen artists were selected, each receiving a $200 artist honorarium.

Learn more about Creative Quarantine

Gallery History

Managed by Raleigh Arts, Block Gallery was designed to serve as one of the City's premier exhibition spaces. Established in 1984 and dedicated in 2006 to honor community leader Miriam Preston Block, its marble walls and impressive staircase provide an ideal setting for art.

In accordance with the mission "to connect local artists to community through ongoing exhibitions and public outreach," Block Gallery fosters artists and artwork.