O'Kane Gallery
Upcoming Exhibition
Here and There
February 19 - April 2, 2026
Opening Reception February 19 from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.
O'Kane Gallery has temporarily moved. Join us at Willow Street Pump Station
Here and There is a two-person exhibition bringing together large scale digital photographs from Valentine Ollawa and hand-printed black and white film-based photographs from Tijani Lawal. Both artists have ties to Nigeria and bring varied techniques as they focus on journeys here and there. The exhibition is curated by Cammie Tipton-Amini.
Tijani Lawal - Untitled
Lawal’s mysterious and sometimes enigmatic black and white photographs bring shifting angles as figures often emerge out of a dark night. Predominantly photographed in Houston, Lawal’s works additionally capture celebratory events in the city. Ollawa’s photographs are crisp and intensely colorful images from Nigeria, Brazil and the US. His work brings remarkable clarity to the smallest details that celebrate everyday activities and unique stories from his own journeys.
Valentie Ollawa - Emergence 2024
The Harry W. O'Kane Gallery, established in 1970, was made possible by gifts from Harry W. O'Kane, Mary W. Bingman, and the Humphreys Foundation. The O’Kane Gallery presents five to six exhibitions that meet the diverse interests of students, faculty, and staff of the University of Houston-Downtown. Exhibitions in all media provide educational support to various university courses and to nearby schools. The gallery also functions as a site for university forums, meetings and receptions. Exhibitions are free and open to the public.
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