The Midland Gallery at Midland Library and Collins Gallery at Central Library host educational and artistic exhibitions. Admission is free.
Collins Gallery
We Had Jazz: Photographs from the John Wilson Special Collections
February 7 - March 28, 2026
Portland’s golden age of jazz peaked between 1948 and 1956. During those years, national and West Coast jazz tours always stopped in Portland. Local photographer Carl Henniger took pictures of stars like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie for DownBeat magazine. A selection of these images will be presented from the John Wilson Special Collections.
Invite Hope: Marcelo Fontana and Wave Contemporary
April 4 - July 5, 2026
Central Library is transforming into a space for poetic resistance. Marcelo Fontana and Wave Contemporary invite the viewer to see hope as an active power rather than a passive wish. Eighteen artists will create small and shareable acts of hope displayed in the Collins Gallery. The title for the exhibition comes from a Maya Angelou quote: “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.” This exhibit is part of the 2026 Oregon Contemporary Artists’ Biennial: The Price of the Ticket, a survey of works by artists who are defining and advancing Oregon’s contemporary art landscape. Invite Hope is curated by TK Smith.
About Collins Gallery
The Collins Gallery is used for exhibits created by library personnel or by community members in cooperation with library personnel. Use of space by a community organization does not constitute an endorsement of the organization's beliefs by the library.
Currently we are not accepting applications for the Collins Gallery.
Central Library
801 SW 10th Avenue
Portland, OR 97205
503.988.5123
Midland Gallery
About Midland Gallery
The Midland Gallery is used for exhibits created by library personnel or by community members in cooperation with library personnel. Use of space by a community organization does not constitute an endorsement of the organization's beliefs by the library.
Currently we are not accepting applications for the Midland Gallery.
Midland Library
805 SE 122nd Avenue
Portland, OR 97233