Beeler Gallery updates

Beeler Gallery, the main public exhibition space at Columbus College of Art & Design, has long showcased work by emerging and established artists and designers, including a number of CCAD students, alumni, and faculty.

This summer, the gallery will focus its attention on celebrating the achievements of our most recent alums from the MFA program and BFA in Fine Arts. This will kick off a new direction for the gallery.

When she took the role of CCAD Provost in January 2020, Julie Taggart said she decided to change Beeler Gallery’s organizational structure to align its programming with the college’s curriculum.

“Beeler Gallery has long been a point of pride for CCAD,” says Taggart. “It has served as a launching pad for a number of incredible careers.”

“As I look to Beeler’s future, I want to ensure that the gallery will engage our diverse student body with programming that aligns with what our students are learning in the classroom,” Taggart says.

The shift in direction from a curator-led experience to a faculty-run space, with programming being developed by a Faculty Director of Galleries and input from a faculty advisory board is a departure. Starting July 1, Tim Rietenbach will assume the role of Faculty Director of Galleries, expanding his current role as Director of Student Exhibitions. CCAD will create a faculty advisory committee for Beeler Gallery to ensure that the programming is inclusive and reflective of the curriculum. The gallery will present work by students, alumni, and faculty, in addition to exhibitions of other artists and designers. Deciding this will be the work of the Faculty Director of Galleries with help from the advisory board.

CCAD looks forward to expanding the success of community events like Chroma, the Art Fair, the Faculty Triennial, and the CCAD Fashion Show with more work from students, alumni, and faculty, while also bringing work from artists and designers that will engage and inspire our students.