The Mission of The Annex Gallery

The mission of The Annex Gallery is to provide both a space and a community that support artists and cultural organizations in presenting works that engage with contemporary social inequalities—here and in other contexts. Since 2015, when we launched Bridges Not Walls as an exchange between Cuban and American artists with exhibitions in Havana, Cincinnati, and New York, we have sought a permanent home for future exhibitions and for a growing collection of Cuban art. Today, we operate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, enabling us to receive tax-deductible donations and fund new projects.

The gallery opened in December 2018 in the Pendleton Art Center district and, following a full renovation of the space, debuted with the group photography exhibition Take Your Best Shot!. In 2020, amid the pandemic, the gallery expanded—doubling its footprint—to sustain a more ambitious program open to collaboration.

Within this ecosystem—best known for its Final Fridays, when dozens of studios open their doors to the public—the gallery has become a gathering place for community-based projects and guest curatorial initiatives.

We have hosted exhibitions in partnership with institutions such as the Contemporary Arts Center and the Taft Museum, and collaborated with CCAC, Tiger Lily Press, SOS ART, and the FotoFocus biennial. These efforts continue the spirit of Bridges Not Walls, intertwining Cuban and U.S. artistic trajectories and reaffirming a civic commitment through art.

Founded by artists Jens Rosenkrantz Jr. and M. Katherine Hurley—both deeply rooted in the local art scene (Hurley, a nationally recognized landscape painter with decades at Pendleton; Rosenkrantz, a photographer and arts advocate serving on cultural boards)—The Annex Gallery continues to view exhibition-making as a form of public service: a place for noncommercial works that deserve to be seen and discussed.

We are open Wednesday through Saturday, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, with appointments available at other times as needed. The gallery also participates in Final Fridays with extended hours.

The Annex Gallery
Contact: jens.annexgallery@gmail.com

Phone: 513-407-7077