The Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery is a meeting ground for students of Moraine Valley, the local community, and the contemporary art world. Our mission is to present significant works, through exhibitions and programming, by local, national and international artists.
Gallery Hours
Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless noted; summer and holiday hours vary.
Free and open to the public.
2024-25 Exhibitions
Moraine Valley Juried Student Art Exhibition
March 25–April 20
Reception: Thursday, March 27 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Join us as we celebrate the college’s emerging visual artists. Students submit artwork from across all areas of study including painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, printmaking, design and digital art. A guest juror selects best of show, honorable mention, and Agree-to-Degree award to a student graduating that will go into the permanent art collection displayed in the hallways of the Fine & Performing Arts Center.
Beyond Inking
April 23–May 18
Reception: Thursday, April 24 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Working as a mixed media fiber artist, Gretchen Jankowski uses traditional printing techniques as a launching pad for her explorations into other mediums of art making. Using macro and micro-environments inspired by nature and places, she constructs stuffed, voluminous, collaged-like quilts, often made of fabrics that are hand printed using traditional printmaking techniques. These fabric collages are quilted and batted together to make large 3-dimensional “coral reef” like works that often hang on the wall.
By incorporating abstract botanical patterns with sewn patterns that weave in and out of each other, the work quite literally calls out the viewers’ sensation to touch. Often creating works in series, using many iterations of the same pattern and print, changing medium as seen fit for each idea, Jankowski’s large-scale mixed media pieces and soft sculptures push the boundaries of classic relief printmaking and fiber art. Learning from every piece that she makes, even if a piece hasn’t conventionally conformed to her expected outcomes, Jankowski cherishes the inspiration and new techniques that often emerge out of mishaps.
Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Jankowski currently has a home and studio in Forest Park, Illinois. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in studio arts from Columbia College Chicago and a Master of Fine Arts degree in printmaking from California State University, Long Beach. She currently teaches printmaking in the fine arts program full time at Governors State University.
Juried Community Art Exhibition
May 30–July 31
Reception: Saturday, May 31 | 1-5 p.m. Awards at 2 p.m.
Gallery Summer Hours: Monday to Thursday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
The Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery invites the community to celebrate the final exhibition of the season, showcasing local artists. The 22nd annual Juried Community Art Exhibition gives local artists the chance to show off their artistic talent. The exhibition has an array of styles, perspectives and media from a variety of diverse local artists. This is one show you do not want to miss!
About The Juror: Nikkole Huss
Nikkole Huss is an interdisciplinary artist, professor of art, art department program lead, director of the Ferguson Art Gallery and curator of the art collection at Concordia University Chicago. As a visual artist, her work nods to the history of landscape art by encouraging the exploration and preservation of nature. While represented by Gallery UNO Projektraum Berlin, she has exhibited in 48 Stunden Neukölln, Berlin Art Week, Rome Art Week, Berliner Liste, Tokyo International Art Fair, Gallery UNO in Chicago and the Civic Museum of Santa Marinella, Castello di Santa Severa in Italy. She holds an M.F.A. in studio art from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, B.S. Ed. in art education from Northern Illinois University and A.A. from Moraine Valley Community College as a DeCaprio Scholar.
Exhibition Timeline:
Artwork drop-off: May 20-22 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Artists notified of acceptance: May 27
Pick-up of unselected artwork: May 28-29 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pick-up of exhibited artwork: August 4-5 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
View and download the entry form for full rules and details.
Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery
