The James Watrous Gallery is dedicated to celebrating Wisconsin artists. Located on the third floor of Overture Center for the Arts in downtown Madison, the Watrous focuses on solo exhibits by contemporary Wisconsin artists and curated shows that reflect the Wisconsin Academy's interest in drawing connections between art and other disciplines. The gallery's exhibitions and events often connect with themes explored through Wisconsin Academy Talks, Initiatives, and in the pages of Wisconsin People & Ideas. Most exhibitions are curated through a juried open call for artists and guest curators, which is held every three-four years. The most recent open call was offered in early 2023.
The James Watrous Gallery receives ongoing support from the Great Performance Fund at the Madison Community Foundation and the membership of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters. Programming is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board, with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
