About

Changing The Way
We All See Art.

Founded in 1973 as Nexus, a grassroots artists’ cooperative, Atlanta Contemporary has since become one of the southeast’s leading contemporary art centers. We play a vital role in Atlanta’s cultural landscape by presenting over 200 consequential artists and creatives from the local, national, and international art scenes through our various exhibition, project spaces, and programs each year. Atlanta Contemporary is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and is free admission, every day. We became free admission on September 1, 2015 to increase accessibility to the community of artists and arts enthusiasts in the metro-Atlanta area.

We commission new works, paying particular attention to artists who have not had a significant exhibition in the Southeast. We organize over 125 programs annually including Contemporary Kids, Contemporary Cocktails, Contemporary Talks, and more! Atlanta Contemporary provides 13 on-site subsidized studio spaces to working artists through the Studio Artist Program.

Dear Atlanta Community, 

We are thrilled to announce that Lauren Haynes will join Atlanta Contemporary as our next Executive Director, effective March 16, 2026. 

We know how much Atlanta Contemporary means to this community, and we sought a strong leader with vision who brings deep background in the arts and a meaningful connection to Atlanta and the American South. 

That's what makes this appointment particularly meaningful. Lauren's first arts internship was right here at City Gallery East. And over the past decade she has built relationships with arts institutions in Georgia, for example, serving on jury panels at the High Museum and the Lyndon House in Athens, speaking at the Atlanta Art Fair, and engaging with the Mildred Thompson House. She is not just joining Atlanta Contemporary, she is coming home. 

Lauren brings more than two decades of distinguished leadership from preeminent institutions including Governors Island Arts, the Queens Museum, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and the Studio Museum in Harlem. Her exceptional track record of curating transformative exhibitions, championing artists, and building strong community partnerships makes her the ideal leader for this exciting chapter. 

Lauren's vision, proven leadership, and genuine passion for supporting artists and engaging diverse audiences align perfectly with our mission and Strategic Plan. We are confident that under her leadership, Atlanta Contemporary will continue to serve as a vital platform for artists, a welcoming space for all audiences, and a dynamic force in our community. 

We invite you to join us in welcoming Lauren. We look forward to introducing her to our community in the coming weeks. 

Read the full announcement.