Welcome to the NEXUS archives
The NEXUS archive is under construction (our original digital archive was lost due to moving ISPs)
Below you will our archive of the past 35 years. In time, press releases, exhibition descriptions, links to artist pages, installation photographs, video interviews and reviews in the media will be incorporated into this evolving document, so feel free to check back often. If you are an alumni artist and have images of installations, missing postcard images, descriptions, anecdotes or corrections please send them to info [at] nexusphiladelphia.org
This archive wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of the Samuel S. Fels Fund
Established in 1975, NEXUS was founded as an artist-run organization to explore challenging and innovative artwork, consider the meanings and methods behind today’s art and empower artists through self-governance.
NEXUS was conceived at a time when very few non-commercial galleries existed in Philadelphia. The founders of NEXUS, three artist/educators, Suzanne Horvitz, Vivian Golden and Sandra Lerner sought to create an exhibition space for emerging artists working with new mediums and concepts that would act as a forum on contemporary art. As the first artist-run cooperative in Philadelphia, Nexus was, and continues to be, committed to the professional presentation of the artist’s work and the education of the public about contemporary art issues.
Recognizing the opportunities an exhibition space like this would provide, many of Philadelphia’s most interesting artists were quickly attracted to NEXUS, a pattern that is still evident today. Resident artists view NEXUS as a launching pad for their artistic careers as well as a venue that enables them to present their work with complete creative control, free of censorship and commercial restrictions. Many of NEXUS’ resident artists and alumni have achieved recognition and acclaim for their work. Since the gallery’s inception, NEXUS resident artists have received nine Pew Fellowships in the arts, ten Independence Foundation Fellowships, and seven Leeway Foundation Emerging Artist awards.