Gallery Z, Providence

Gallery Z was founded in 2001 by photographer and curator Bérge Ara Zobian. After beginning in a shared studio space, it moved to the Federal Hill neighborhood in 2003 and remained there until late 2020. The gallery later reopened at another location in Rhode Island, so the former storefront is no longer an active exhibition venue.

During its years here, Gallery Z presented small and medium-sized original works by local, national, and international artists. Displays included paintings, photographs, drawings, prints, glass, sculpture, collage, and mixed-media pieces. Regularly changing exhibitions ranged from cityscapes and portraiture to abstract art, while works from the director’s collection added historical depth.

A major part of the gallery’s identity was its collection of Armenian art. Exhibitions brought together artists from Armenia and the wider Armenian diaspora, often combining established figures with contemporary painters, photographers, and sculptors. Gallery Z also maintained a Public Art Window, introduced in 2003, which gave nonprofit groups space to present their work and raise awareness. For about ten years, these displays were linked with monthly events combining art, food, music, and community fundraising.