Annually, RAG presents four thematically structured group exhibitions, three solo project space exhibitions, and five display case mini exhibitions curated by either the Curatorial Director or invited guest curators. Artists for group exhibitions are selected from an annual pool of submissions collected each February for which the application is free and open to the public. The gallery also presents:
• In Progress—a month-long residency program that promotes non-traditional approaches to art making by inviting audiences to visit Rush while an artist or art collective engages the gallery as a studio space for works in progress. The residency culminates with a closing reception that showcases works completed within the term. Ann Liv Young was the inaugural In Progress resident in 2007, followed by Michael Paul Britto in 2008 and Carol Pereira and Jonas Olson in 2009.
• Project Space—three annual solo exhibitions featuring work by artists who have previously exhibited in Rush Art’s group shows. These Rush alumni are invited back to present their most recent work as a mini retrospective since their initial involvement with the gallery. An exhibition catalogue that traces the artist’s progression accompanies each Project Space exhibition.
• The Glass Case Exhibition Series— five annual mini exhibitions in the 3’ x 5’ display case located near the entrance to the gallery. The glass case caters to small-scale works sized to fit yet loud and unconventional in message. Keith Anderson was the inaugural Glass Case artist in 2009.
• Guest Curators and One Night Events—the gallery invites guest curators and one-night event producers to transform the gallery for proposed projects, exhibitions, fashion shows or screenings. Past one night fashion event producers include documentary filmmaker and fashion designer Zulema Griffin, Hood By Air, and Brian Wood. The guest curator application can be found under the submissions tab.
• RAG Archive; 1996-present—a library of images and catalogue essays relating to the exhibitions of the gallery’s 13 year history. Since its establishment in 1995, the gallery has exhibited the multidisciplinary works of over 300 visual and performance artists including; Kehinde Wiley, Renee Cox, Mika Tajima, Shinique Smith, Suntek Chung, Odili Donald Odita, Mickalene Thomas and Wangechi Mutu. Subsequent to their involvement with the gallery, Rush alumni have gone on to exhibit with a prestigious collection of galleries and museums including the Studio Museum in Harlem, PS1, the Bronx Museum, the Whitney Museum, the Smithsonian and the Museum of Modern Art. The RAG Archive gives a unique insight into how these now world-renown artists got their start.