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& Rising exhibition features a selection of powerful archival materials – letters, photos, newspaper clippings, and historical documents – that capture the depth and diversity of Black life in the Pacific Northwest.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.
Past Exhibits
See images and learn more about past exhibits at the Library.