Pictured: Tim Guthrie Fred Simon Gallery Opening
Fred Simon Gallery
Fred Simon held steadfast belief in the importance of establishing a vibrant arts culture in Omaha and Nebraska as a whole.
For nearly 40 years, Fred and his wife Eve served as generous advocates and supporters of Opera Omaha. They were also major sponsors of the Omaha Symphony, Film Streams, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha Performing Arts Society, and the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, in addition to Fred’s involvement with Nebraska Cultural Endowment and Nebraska Arts Council.
Located in the lower level of the Burlington Building at 1004 Farnam Street, adjacent to the Old Market. Open hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visit this unique space or explore upcoming exhibits.
Construction has made parking a little more difficult when visiting the Fred Simon Gallery. Farnam on the northside of the building is closed, along with the parking stalls.
Below is a map to help navigate the construction and reach the gallery.
If you have any questions, contact Samuel Hennigh at (402) 595-3809, or at samuel.hennigh@nebraska.gov
Falling Skies
By Chad Fonfara & Beatriz Rodriguez
July 24 – Sept 16, 2026
Falling Skies brings together a thought-provoking from Beatriz Rodriguez and Chad Fonfara, weaving themes of migration, fragility, and the human search for meaning. Rodriguez’s prints reveal the struggles and resilience of fictional island inhabitants navigating displacement and survival. Fonfara’s Condemnations series transforms the image of fallen bird flocks into a bold examination of fear, belief, and the impulse to explain the unexplainable.
Artist Bios
Chad Fonfara- Coming from an educational background of fine art sculpture with a traditional skills-based underpinning, Chad has at different times in his career devoted his focus to lost-wax bronze casting, iron casting, wood carving, ceramic sculpture, mixed-media kinetic architectural sculpture, site-specific installation, and most recently off-hand glass. Chad’s shift to glass occurred during his eight year, conclusively tenured position as head of the Glass and Sculpture department at the University of Nebraska Kearney. Here, out of responsibility he became adept at the fundamental forms and techniques of glass; and out of fascination, curiosity and drive he began exploring sculptural form in the medium of glass. In 2015 he and his wife, Mari moved to Omaha, NE and set up a studio and hot shop.
Chad Fonfara received his B.F.A. in sculpture from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and his M.F.A. in sculpture from Kansas State University. He has studied glassblowing at Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington and The Studio at Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York. Chad has also had the good fortune to assist a few masters of glass who are a wealth of glass history and knowledge: Randy Walker, Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen and Jasen Johnsen.
Beatriz Rodriguez: Beatriz Rodriguez is an art professor, teaching printmaking and drawing at Wayne State College. Before coming to WSC, Rodriguez taught at the University of Miami as well as in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Florida. Rodriguez was born in Cuba and at the age of twelve moved to Miami, Florida. She received her BFA degree in Printmaking from Florida International University, graduating with honors and shortly a er went on to receive her MFA from the
University of Miami. While attending the University of Miami, Rodriguez received the Art Printmaking Award for two consecutive years. Her artwork has been widely exhibited in galleries nation-wide, and in museums such as The Yellowstone Art Museum and The Bradbury Art Museum. Her work has been published in Saw Palm: Florida Literature and Art as well as in Voyage Magazine Miami.
2023-2025 Exhibitions:
Shabnam Jannesari (Hastings)
May 19 – July 12, 2023
Reception: June 1, 5-7pm
Derrick Burbul (Kearney)
July 21 – Sept 14, 2023
Reception: July 20th, 5-7pm
Folk Art Exhibition
Sept 29 – Nov 29, 2023
Reception: Sept 28th, 5-7pm
Santiago Cal (Lincoln)
Dec 8, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Reception: December 7, 5-7pm
Yun Shin (Omaha)
Feb 9 – April 3, 2024
Reception: February 8, 5-7pm
Paula Wallace (Omaha) and Gretchen Peters (Gering)
April 12 – June 5, 2024
Reception: April 11, 5-7pm
Allegra Hangen (Omaha)
June 14 – Aug 7, 2024
Reception: June 13, 5-7pm
Shawnequa Linder (Omaha)
Aug 16 – Oct 9, 2024
Reception: Aug 15, 5-7pm
Karien Bredenkamp (Omaha) and Jeff Sedrel (Omaha)
Oct 18 – Dec 4th, 2024
Reception: Oct 17, 5-7pm
Calandra Cooper (Omaha) and Keith Buswell (Lincoln)
Dec 13, 2024 – Feb 5, 2025
Reception: Dec 12, 5-7pm
Susan Moore (Nebraska City)
Feb 14 – April 9, 2025
Reception: Feb 13, 5-7pm
David Gracie (Lincoln)
April 18 – June 18th, 2025
Reception: April 17, 5-7pm
Lindsey Weber (Lincoln)
June 25– August 20, 2025
Reception: June 26, 5-7pm
Oria Simonini (Omaha) and Ilaamen Pelshaw (Omaha)
Aug 29 – Oct 22, 2025
Reception: Aug 28, 5-7pm
Travis Apel (Omaha)
Oct 31 – Dec 24th, 2025
Reception: Oct 30th, 5-7 pm
Folk and Traditional Arts
Jan 16 – Mar 11, 2026
Opening: Thursday, Jan 15, 5-7pm
Holly Tharnish and Nadine Saylor
Mar 20 – May 13, 2026
Opening: Thursday, March 19, 5-7pm
Casey Callahan & Charles Kay Jr.
May 22 – July 15, 2026
Opening: Thursday, May 21, 5-7pm
Beatriz Rodriguez & Chad Fonfara
July 24 – Sept 16, 2026
Opening Thursday, July 23, 5-7pm
Byron Anway, Joe Pankowski, & Faridun Zoda
Sept 25 – Nov 18, 2026
Opening Thursday, Sept 25, 5-7pm
Bart Vargas
Dec 4, 2026 – Jan 27, 2027
Opening Thursday, Dec 3, 5-7pm
Jordan Ramsey Ismaiel
Feb 5 – Mar 31, 2027
Opening Thursday, Feb 4, 5-7pm
Sarah Rowe
Apr 9 – June 2, 2027
Opening Thursday, Apr 8, 5-7pm
Jonathan Seever & Josephine Langbehn
June 11 – Aug 4, 2027
Opening Thursday, June 10, 5-7pm
Hannah Demma & Yelena Khanevskaya
Aug 12 – Oct 6, 2027
Opening Thursday, Aug 11, 5-7pm
Folk & Traditional Art Group Exhibition
Oct 21 – Dec 8, 2027
Opening Thursday, Oct 14, 5-7pm