Welcome to Dittmar Memorial Gallery
Dittmar is located on the First Floor of Norris University Center. This student-run gallery space features 5-6 exhibitions per year.
Dittmar Memorial Gallery was named in recognition of a gift by the late Paul O. Dittmar. For more than 50 years, Dittmar Gallery has promoted the careers of young artists on campus and artists across the nation.
All Dittmar Events are free. Catered refreshments are provided at all art receptions where possible and RSVPs are not required.
More information about the gallery and exhibitions can be found here.
Image: Archive As Action, Archive as Discourse Exhibition, 2025.
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Hours of Operation
| 2025 - 2026 Gallery Hours | ||
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| Monday - Sunday | October 2, 2025 - June 14, 2026 | 10:00am - 10:00pm daily |
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Closed For Holiday & Exhibition Changeover |
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Please note: Dittmar Gallery hours are aligned with Norris Center building hours and is also closed intermittently for installation and deinstallation of exhibitions as stated above.
Please check to see if the building is open when planning your visit.
Upcoming Exhibition
Dancing in the Rain
January 29 - March 4, 2026
Opening Reception: Thursday, January 29, 2026
6:00 - 8:00pm
Dittmar Gallery
Dancing in the Rain interrogates the fraught relationship between Black identity and Americanism. This body of work does not seek definitive answers but unfolds as an embodied exploration, a reflection of the artist’s lived experience in a space that claims his belonging yet weaponizes its conditions against him. The central questions pulse through each piece; Is "American" an identity he can claim, or a tool of control wielded by his oppressors? As Kare’ Williams journeys through this inquiry, he is not only interested in the tension between America and people of color, but also in how we transform these tribulations into positivity.
CLICK HERE to learn more about related workshops and events.
Image: Kare’ Williams, Stand the Rain, 16inx20in, mixed media and collage on canvas, 2025.
2026 Community Art Show
Dittmar Memorial Gallery is now accepting submissions for the 2026 Community Art Show on view at Dittmar Gallery April 9 - May 1, 2026.
The theme for the 2026 exhibition is "Reclamation".
Art has been used throughout human existence as a unifying force and a wordless language to represent our curiosities, communities, and aspirations. However, artistic spaces and practices have not always been inclusive or accessible to everyone. For this community show, consider how your perspectives can be integrated to manipulate and redefine art in spaces in order to reclaim personal identities, art practices, and cultures that have complex histories.
Explore how your creativity can be exercised to navigate the world and take ownership of your reality. Consider stepping outside of the traditions of academic art and notice what you encounter in your day-to-day life that could be considered art.
The community show is open to all members of the Northwestern campus, Evanston and Chicagoland, and other college communities.
Join the Team
Click here to learn more about the Dittmar team| Available Positions | |
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| No positions available at this time. Please check back soon. | |
| Stay in the Know | Contact Us |
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Dittmar Memorial Gallery Instagram CLICK HERE to sign up for Dittmar Gallery newsletter. Be the first to know about upcoming exhibitions, programs, events, and more! |
General Inquiries: dittmargallery@u.northwestern.edu Phone number: (847) 491-2348 Location: First Floor Level Map |