See examples from the 2022 Regional Photo Biennial, including all the category winners!

REGIONAL BIENNIAL

As part of our efforts to support Nebraska artists, Gallery 1516 developed an exhibition called the Nebraska Biennial in 2017. The goal of the Nebraska Biennial, which is held in odd-numbered years, is to create a showcase of the best artwork being created in the state.

After several years, Gallery 1516 decided to widen the scope of this project by creating a complimentary exhibition: the Regional Photography Biennial. In keeping with our mission to celebrate both Nebraska and regional artists, the Regional Biennial offers an opportunity for artists from the Midwest to exhibit their work. This exhibition, held in even-numbered years, focuses exclusively on photography.

The 2024 Regional Photo Biennial is a juried exhibition. The exhibition will highlight the best photographic artwork being created in Nebraska and the states it touches, including Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota. The photographs accepted for this exhibition will be eligible for a variety of awards determined by the exhibition judge.

EXHIBITION JUDGE

This year’s exhibition judge is Keith F. Davis, a photographer and former senior curator of photography at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City.

Davis began photographing in 1969, in high school, working in both black-and-white and color. He has photographed continuously since then, with a primary focus on various aspects of the cultural landscape. He received a B.S. in cinema and photography (1974) and an M.A. in the history of photography (1979).

He began his curatorial career with a year’s internship at the George Eastman House, Rochester, NY, and then took charge of the Hallmark Photographic Collection, in Kansas City, in 1979. Davis grew this collection from 650 to 6500 works. He became founding curator of photography at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in 2006 and guided that program until his retirement in 2020. During his tenure, the museum’s collection grew to over 16,000 works, spanning the medium’s entire history. Davis has curated over 100 exhibitions, written or contributed to more than 50 books and catalogues, and lectured widely in the U.S. and abroad.

IMPORTANT DATES

Applications are now closed!

Results: Announced via email no later than August 16

Accepted Artwork Received by Gallery 1516: Sept. 10 – 22

Awards Announced: October 2

Exhibition Dates: October 4 – December 15

Artwork Returned to Artists: No later than December 31