Disjecta


Disjecta Contemporary Art Center is an art center in Portland, Oregon. It is home to the Portland Biennial since 2010, continuing in the tradition of the Portland Art Museum's ended Oregon Biennial.

Programming

Disjecta's Curator in Residence program began in 2011. Curators include Justin Hoover, Suzy Halajian, Julia Greenway, Michele Fiedler, Chiara Giovando, Rachel Adams, Summer Guthery, Josephine Zarkovich, and Jenene Nagy.
Visual arts programming highlights include solo exhibitions by Avantika Bawa, Karl Burkheimer, Tannaz Farsi, Anna Fidler, Chris Fraser, Dan Gilsdorf, Peter Halley, Mark Licari, and Jenene Nagy.
In 2010, Disjecta launched the first Portland Biennial. The Portland2019 Biennial was curated by a group of three regional curators–Yaelle S. Amir, Elisheba Johnson, and Ashley Stull-Meyers. The Biennial received positive reviews particularly for including new, diverse voices and a wider curatorial scope than previous biennials.
Past curators of the Biennial include Cris Moss, Prudence F. Roberts, Amanda Hunt, and Michelle Grabner.

History

Disjecta became a non-profit in 2005 and had plans to move to an expanded 20,000 sf space in North Park Blocks. The plans were launched with a high profile party.
In 2008, Disjecta announced the public opening of a 20,000 sf facility at 8371 N Interstate in the historic Kenton neighborhood. The former bowling alley and more recently abandoned hydraulic shop now houses five large, fully leased artist studios, along with 3,500 sf of visual exhibition space, a 600 sf performance space, and an open space that houses performances and community events.
In 2016, Disjecta announced the departure of founder, Bryan Suereth amid some mild controversy. Hiring Blake Shell as Executive Director in April, 2017.