gallery

Current Exhibitions | Upcoming Exhibitions | Marketplace
Calls for Entries | Artist-in-Residence | Event Rentals

2011 Archive | 2010 Archive | 2009 Archive | 2008 Archive | 2007 Archive

The RayKo Gallery serves to advance public appreciation of photography and create opportunities for regional and national artists to present their work. Offering 1600 square feet of exhibition space, RayKo Gallery is dedicated to photography-based art. The Rayko Gallery presents eight to ten Main Gallery exhibitions each year, and we show both groups and solo artists. Download the submission guidelines online for comprehensive information regarding Main Gallery exhibition proposals.

MAIN GALLERY

The RayKo gallery fulfills a primary and integral part of our mission, to advance public appreciation of photography and create opportunities for regional, national, and international artists to develop and present their work. It houses over 1,600 square feet of exhibition space and presents eight to ten shows a year. RayKo Photo Center charges a commission of 40% for Gallery and 30% for Marketplace sales.

We invite emerging photographers to participate in a host of opportunities to introduce their talent to the public. And to do so in a handsome, ample, well lit space that does justice to their work. We encourage everyone to submit to our annual juried plastic camera show as well as our biennial pinhole photography show, both of which have become traditions at RayKo. Along with solo exhibitions, our gallery schedule consists of thematic shows highlighting the work of two or more photographers. We take pride in our creative themes, which alternate between the timely and the timeless.

Each year, we also host exhibitions that are created externally, providing a venue for other photography institutions, schools, magazines, and the like.

For the viewer we advance the public appreciation of photography by being simultaneously highly selective and ‘plugged in.’ This combination affords us the ability to exhibit the best of the up-and-coming photographers. Seasoned as well as burgeoning collectors benefit from the reasonable prices available at our position in the gallery business. On countless occasions we have proven to be the last stop before a photographer’s explosion in recognition and prices.

But we derive our greatest satisfaction in relation to the photography viewer by assembling intelligent, tasteful shows that explore and demonstrate emerging photographic trends. We never cease to be amazed by photography’s full range of expression and beauty. And we never cease to be curious where it will take us next.

THE PANELS

We have a secondary exhibition space in addition to the main gallery. It consists of a series of panels suspended along the corridor that leads to our darkrooms and work area. We’ve reserved them to showcase work that has been “crafted at RayKo.” We have the capability to create images using a vast array of processes: traditional, digital, platinum, wet plate, kallitype, murals, 3D, etc. Also a number of youth photography programs make use of our facilities and produce some amazing work. Many fine art photographers who have work in progress depend on our facilities to move forward. Many of the images in our Photographer’s Marketplace has been created here. Many of the students in our workshops have learned and mastered techniques here. We directly enable and facilitate a huge variety of worthy photographic possibilities, and the panels showcase this range of possibilities. Beyond our own crass commercial interests, we hope this display inspires viewers to grasp new photographic possibilities that are attainable under our roof.

PHOTOGRAPHERS MARKETPLACE

The Photographers Marketplace was developed to support the work of Bay Area artists. It is our goal to encourage the collection of photography by making it affordable and accessible. Artists establish their own prices as long as individual pieces do not exceed $350. The images run a wide gamut of themes, printing styles and techniques, as well as subject matter. From international photojournalism, to lovingly printed familiar local scenes, a diverse range of artwork can be found here. To maximize accessibility we created free standing bins and flat files to contain the work and organized them by photographer. The public can independently leaf through hundreds of photographs with each visit.

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM

Our Residence Program was developed to continue our support and education of fine art photographers. Through the program, artists receive a $2250 credit for use of the rentals, services, and workshops at RayKo. There is a sixth month time frame to shoot, print, and complete the body of work as well prepare work for the exhibition. Artists gain hands on experience in the entire process of creating work, from conceptualizing, printing, framing, and hanging. Work produced in the program will culminate in a show in our side gallery. Up to three final prints of the gallery’s choice will be donated to RayKo’s print collection. Artists will have regular review sessions with the Gallery Director as the project progresses. Mentoring is available to assist in the artistic development of residents and cultivate a more polished body of work. Please visit our website for more details and deadlines.

ART*O*MAT VENDING MACHINE | $5/token

A retro cigarette machine that has been exquisitely refurbished, painted, and converted to vend original artwork for only $5! RayKo is host to San Francisco’s first Art*O*Mat. Stop by to plunk, pull, and partake in the easiest, most accessible way to start an art collection. Artists in Cellophane (A.I.C.), the sponsoring organization of Art*o*Mat®, is based on the concept of taking art and “repackaging” it to make it part of our daily lives. The mission of A.I.C. is to encourage art consumption by combining the worlds of art and commerce in an innovative form.

1947 VINTAGE AUTO PHOTOBOOTH | $3/token

RayKo’s vintage auto photobooth cranks through 14 tanks of chemistry and produces a strip of 4 unique images on traditional B&W paper. It’s one of the first auto photobooths made for production, and has been featured in 7×7 magazine, SF Weekly Best of the Bay, and San Francisco Magazine.