FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: 01/07/2026 Contact: Rachel Kilburg Varley, Public Art Coordinator Phone: 319-356-5248
City of Iowa City launches the Historic Post Office Gallery at the Senior Center with Black History Month debut
The City of Iowa City is proud to announce the launch of the Historic Post Office Gallery at the Iowa City Senior Center (ICSC), a new exhibition program that will feature rotating displays of local artwork in two public gallery spaces inside the historic downtown ICSC.
The new program is a partnership between the Iowa City Public Art Program and the ICSC, designed to showcase Iowa artists while making art more accessible to all residents. Exhibitions will rotate every two months and include a mix of solo shows, themed exhibits, and community collaborations.
“This program is about elevating community and creativity in everyday spaces,” said Rachel Kilburg Varley, Public Art Coordinator. “The Senior Center already welcomes hundreds of multi-generational visitors a week, and artists will now have a chance to engage directly with that community through thoughtful, inclusive exhibitions.”
First Exhibition: Parables of the Future – Black Future Fest
The gallery will debut in January 2026 with “Parables of the Future,” part of a community-wide Black Future Fest celebrating Black creativity, imagination, and resilience.
The exhibition will feature a variety of works by local Black artists exploring themes of Afrofuturism within science fiction, history, technology, and cultural imagination. A community mural project will engage residents across all ages in contributing to a collaborative art installation revealed at the ICSC during Black History Month.
The “Parables of the Future” exhibit will be on display at the Old Post Office Gallery at the ICSC from Jan. 19, 2026, until Feb. 27, 2026, with the Grand Opening to be held Feb. 14, 2026.
Black Future Fest is being presented in partnership with Public Space One (PS1), the Iowa City Public Library, FilmScene, UAY, Dream City, IC Foreign Relations Council, The Center for Afrofuturistic Studies, and the UNESCO City of Literature as part of an Afrofuturism series inspired by author Octavia E. Butler. To learn more about the events of Black Future Fest, including opportunities to participate in the community mural, please visit www.icgov.org/bff.
About the Historic Post Office Gallery
Located at 28 S. Linn Street in downtown Iowa City, the Iowa City Senior Center’s new galleries include the Assembly Room Gallery and the Top Floor Gallery. Both spaces attract significant foot traffic through general programming and community events. The galleries are open daily with designated viewing hours:
