Exhibits
See what’s on display now at our Level 8 Gallery at the Central Library. We use our gallery space to host touring exhibits or partner with communities to share work from local artists and explore local history and current events.
Rooted & Rising: Stories from the African American Archive
The Rooted & Rising exhibition features a selection of powerful archival materials – letters, photos, newspaper clippings, and historical documents – that capture the depth and diversity of Black life in the Pacific Northwest. The exhibit is curated by local interdisciplinary artist Imani Sims of Vivid Matter Collective, who brings a deeply personal and innovative lens to the Douglass Truth Branch's African American Collection.
Accompanied by workshops and a live performance transforming archival memory into communal ritual and creative action, this immersive experience invites all participants – viewers and storytellers alike – to see themselves as part of the historical continuum and active co-authors of what's next.
This exhibit will run from August 11 to October 5 at our Level 8 Gallery at the Central Library.
About Vivid Matter Collective
Vivid Matter Collective (VMC) is a Seattle-based arts collective rooted in community, cultural storytelling, and the amplification of Black and Brown voices. Formed in 2020 in response to the uprisings for racial justice, VMC first gained recognition for the powerful Black Lives Matter mural created in the heart of Capitol Hill. Since that catalytic moment, the collective has grown into a leading force for public and private art commissions across Seattle.
Over the past five years, VMC has curated thought-provoking exhibitions, developed artist-led programming, and created opportunities that challenge dominant narratives in the arts. Our work spans murals, installations, performances, and community engagements—all designed to reflect the lived experiences, aspirations, and creativity of historically excluded communities.
VMC exists to imagine new possibilities for the future of art—where equity, representation, and cultural agency are at the center.
Upcoming Exhibits
35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act Exhibit
In celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we present an exhibit chronicling the history of the ADA and its significant impact on our society. This exhibit also features information about the Library’s Equal Access Program (LEAP) and Washington’s Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL).
This exhibit will run from October 15, 2025 to January 15, 2026 at our Level 3 Pop-up Gallery at the Central Library.
Nuestra Euforia/Our Euphoria Exhibit
Curated by our Artist in Residence Vaquero Azul, Nuestra Euforia/Our Euphoria celebrates trans and gender non-conforming community members past and present. The exhibit features the artwork of local trans and gender non-conforming artists, photography of local cultural bearers and icons, and a Trans Pride Ofrenda, an altar honoring Trans, Two-Spirit, and gender expansive relatives.
“This show is a love letter to Transcestors & Queer Ancestors who have been here since time immemorial. Our collective euphoria is a sacred offering to every single one of us, in the past and in the now.” – Vaquero Azul
This exhibit will run from October 18, 2025 to January 10, 2026, at our Level 8 Gallery at the Central Library.
Exhibición Nuestra Euforia
Cuidadosamente seleccionada por nuestro artista residente Vaquero Azul, Nuestra Euforia/Our Euphoria rinde homenaje a los miembros trans y de género no conforme de la comunidad, tanto del pasado como del presente. La exhibición presenta obras de arte de artistas trans y de género no conforme locales, fotografías de iconos y portadores de la cultura local, y una Ofrenda del Orgullo Trans, un altar en honor a los familiares trans, de doble espíritu y de género expansivo.
“Esta exhibición es una carta de amor a los antepasados trans y queer que han estado aquí desde tiempos ancestrales. Nuestra euforia colectiva es una ofrenda sagrada a cada uno de nosotros, tanto en el pasado como en el presente”. – Vaquero Azul
Esta exhibición estará abierta al público del 18 de octubre de 2025 al 10 de enero de 2026 en nuestra Galería del piso 8 de la Biblioteca Central.
About Vaquero Azul
Vaquero Azul (He/They - El/Elle) is a Otomí, Maya and Taíno, Two-Spirit illustrator and sewist. Their work focuses on Trans Euforia and Mexican & Mesoamerican Indigenous joy. Weaving moments of Euforia by blending Charro culture and the theatrics of Queer Fantasy aesthetics. Building spaces of calm and empowerment for other LGBTQ2IA+ voices within their workshops and presentations. He believes in a world where Trans, Two-Spirit, Dos Espíritus people are celebrated, loved, and left feeling proud of who they are and expresses it in their body of art.
Vaquero Azul joined our Artist in Residence program in 2024.
Acerca de Vaquero Azul
Vaquero Azul (Él/Ellos - El/Elle) es un ilustrador y costurero otomí, maya y taíno, de doble espíritu. Su trabajo se centra en la euforia trans y la alegría indígena mexicana y mesoamericana. Teje momentos de euforia mezclando la cultura charra y la teatralidad de la estética queer fantasy. Crea espacios de calma y empoderamiento para otras voces LGBTQ2IA+ en sus talleres y presentaciones. Cree en un mundo en el que las personas trans, de doble espíritu y dos espíritus sean celebradas, amadas y se sientan orgullosas de quienes son, y lo expresa en su obra artística.
Vaquero Azul se unió a nuestro programa de artistas residentes en 2024.
Past Exhibits
See images and learn more about past exhibits at the Library.