What might you discover in Temple University’s only public gallery?
Temple Contemporary is Tyler’s physical link to the outside world and our North Philadelphia East neighborhood.
Located on the first floor of the Tyler Arts Building, Temple Contemporary art gallery serves as a 3,400-square-foot gallery and open door to the community to engage with Tyler and Temple Contemporary’s mission to “creatively reimagine the social function of art.”
Named for Tyler alum and prominent Native American contemporary artist Edgar Heap of Birds (MFA ’79), the Edgar Heap of Birds Family Gallery is a dedicated 750-square-foot exhibition space inside Temple Contemporary focused on Native American art programming. Heap of Birds’ gift endowed both the space, and an artist residency focused on Native American work.
The 35-member Temple Contemporary Advisory Council informs the gallery’s work by representing a broad cross-section of people across Philadelphia. This volunteer council is composed of neighboring high school and Temple University students, Tyler faculty and city leaders from a wide variety of industries who bring their perspectives, questions and ideas to Temple Contemporary.
Mark your calendars to attend the lectures, presentations, student and faculty exhibitions and public projects at Temple Contemporary that connect Tyler to the greater Philadelphia community.
Temple Contemporary’s Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs
“My approach is really going to center on finding those unexpected connections between disciplines, but also between communities,” Kenyatta says. “I’m really seeking to understand what Temple Contemporary can do to be a space where multiple forms of expertise are valued, and where art and community knowledge intersect in really meaningful ways.”
