Hiram Van Gordon Gallery

 

Hours: 

Monday - Thursday     10:00am - 4:00pm 

Location:

TSU Main Campus, 1108 37th Ave N
Elliott Hall, Room 118

 

About the Gallery

The Hiram Van Gordon Gallery offers approximately six exhibitions yearly that highlight the works of Tennessee State University students, faculty and alumni in the visual arts, African American and African artists, social and civic engaged work along with conversations regarding sustainable environmental practices in art.

The gallery is named after former Professor and Chair Hiram Van Gordon (1918-1979). Artist, Military cartographer and longtime chair of Tennessee State University’s Art Department was a graduate of Pearl High School and enrolled at Tennessee A&I in 1940. He enlisting in the Untied Sates Army in 1942, returning to attain his bachelors and Masters Degree in Art. He began his teaching in 1951, while still a student. In 1958 he began his twenty-one tenure of head of the department. 

Fall 2025 Gallery Schedule 

NCAT Students and Faculty 2025

AUG/SEPT

The HBCU Colloquium and Art Exhibition with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT)

August 18 to September 11, 2025

Reception Aug 29, Friday 4-6pm 

The HBCU Colloquium and Art Exhibition represents a dynamic intersection of artistic expression, academic collaboration, and cultural legacy. This convening between North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT) and Tennessee State University (TSU) is more than a showcase of visual art—it is a dialogue between creative minds, a bridge between institutions, and a proclamation of the rich artistic traditions embedded within Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Through this initiative, students and faculty exchange ideas, methodologies, and artistic practices, fostering an environment of mentorship, critical discourse, and shared innovation. This exhibition serves as a testament to the power of collaboration, demonstrating how art can transcend institutional boundaries to cultivate a network of creative scholars dedicated to advancing the field. By forging this strategic partnership, NCAT and TSU reaffirm their commitment to fostering artistic excellence, expanding educational opportunities, and preserving the cultural legacies that shape our future. In this exhibition and colloquium, we celebrate the transformative power of art and education, ensuring that the voices of emerging and established artists within our institutions continue to inspire, challenge, and uplift communities beyond the gallery walls. 

On Friday, August 29, NCAT Day will offer a dynamic series of events fostering collaboration between NCAT and TSU faculty. The day begins with a tour of the TSU Department of Art and Design, a student-led talk in the gallery, which provides networking opportunities and lays the groundwork for future partnerships. Next, Space for New Media will host an Artist Panel and a Q&A Session featuring faculty and students from NCAT discussing their academic initiatives, along with special guest NC A&T Alum Herb Gray on African American art collections. The evening will culminate in a reception for The HBCU Colloquium and Art Exhibition from 4-6 pm in the Hiram Van Gordon Gallery. We will celebrate this showcase of NCAT's artwork highlighting their program, inviting alums from both universities and TSU Department Greats that are in town for the John A. Merritt Classic on Saturday, August 30. 

Starting Saturday, TSU will present a curated art exhibition of TSU's students and faculty at Professor Michael McBride's Studio(283 Plus Park Blvd., Nashville, TN 37217), showcasing artwork that explores themes of Black representation, historical legacy, and storytelling. Complementing the exhibition, Micro Presentations + Q&A sessions will feature short-form presentations from students and faculty, offering insights into thesis projects, class research, and art/design scholarship. This engaging event will provide a platform for meaningful discussions, knowledge exchange, and a deeper appreciation of the artistic and academic pursuits shaping TSU's creative landscape. The day will end with a campus-wide cultural event—Football Game, which will provide a relaxed setting to connect further with the TSU community, deepen relationships, and experience the vibrant energy of Nashville.

A special thank you to TSU alum and A&T Professor of Art Dr. Willie Hooker for organizing the HBCU Colloquium and Art Exhibition in the Hiram Van Gordon Gallery. Along with the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Art Department for supporting students and faculty to engage with other HBCUs and expanding the narratives between communities. Welcome to TSU!

SEPT/OCT

OCT/NOV

NOV/DEC

Virtual Artist Talks

in Space for New Media (unless noted otherwise)

Our artists' talks and lectures are geared at creating forums for artists and students to talk about their work in a supportive open environment. In the process of creating a line up of artists and speakers that relate back to our exhibit schedule in the Hiram Van Gordon Gallery, Space for New Media, and M-SPAR, connecting what is learned in classroom courses and seminars to real-world applications. We will invite organizations and artists from a variety of perspectives to talk about their work. You can view previous lectures on our YouTube channel TSU Art and Design. 

ART Talk

Fall 2025

Coming Soon! 

Past Exhibitions

Space for New Media

new media gallery

The Space for New Media gives students and artists a place to produce and display digital, experimental, and performance-based work, using our state of equipment to bring innovative ideas and images to campus.

Tennessee State University's Department of Art and Design  Art and Artifact Collection

We promote African and African American art along with relevant issues that face our campus, community, and world. Over the years, the Department of Art and Design has amassed a permanent collection of African and African American art, an Alumni and Student Collection, The Art Eubanks Collection, The Ruth Witt Collection, and Dr. Richard and Sharon Edwards Collection. The Art and Artifact Collection provides exhibition and educational opportunities for undergraduates and the community to approach contemporary concerns in fine art and art education. 

Hiram Van Gordon painting of Portrait of Booker T. Washington 1951

Directions

1108 37th Ave N 

Parking Pass

Elliott Hall is locate on the back side of Tennessee State University main campus. From I-40 East, take a Right on 28th Ave/Ed Temple then Left on Walter S Davis. Left on 39th Ave N, Left on John L Driver Ave, past the guard station, Left on 37th Ave N.

From I-40 West, turn left of Jefferson St. take a Right on 28th Ave/Ed Temple then Left on Walter S Davis. Left on 39th Ave N, Left on John L Driver Ave, past the guard station, Left on 37th Ave N.

From Charlotte Ave, take a Right on 28th Ave/Ed Temple then Left on Walter S Davis. Left on 39th Ave N, Left on John L Driver Ave, past the guard station, Left on 37th Ave N. 

Parking is lots K and L. Enter Elliott Hall from front of building and proceed to back right side, enter Hiram Van Gordon Gallery.

map to Elliott Hall on Tennessee State University

Contact Us

Courtney Adair Johnson
Gallery Director
cjohn173@tnstate.edu
615-963-5921

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