THE DINNER PARTY
SPECIAL 2-YEAR ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION
SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 26, 2025
OPENING RECEPTION: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 6-8PM
ARTIST PANEL+CLOSING RECEPTION: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1-3PM
FEATURING A REUNION OF 22 LA-BASED MIDDLE ROOM ARTISTS IN TANDEM WITH 22 GUEST ARTISTS
CURATED BY SHANNON RAE FINCKE IN CELEBRATION OF CONNECTION+CONVERSATION+COMMUNITY
The Middle Room is thrilled to present The Dinner Party, a special two-year anniversary 1+1=2 group exhibition
of paired works of artist peers to celebrate the gallery’s two-year anniversary. The exhibition will be on view
from September 26 - October 26, 2025. A formal sit-down dinner party will be held within the exhibit for the 44
artists in the show to commemorate the occasion on September 26, and a traditional opening reception for
the public will follow on Friday, October 3, from 6-8pm. An artist panel and closing reception will be held on
Sunday, October 26, from 1-3pm.
The Dinner Party is a large group exhibition of 44 paired works, comprised of 22 LA-based artists who have
shown at The Middle Room over our first two years, alongside 22 other artists of their choice. Curated by
Founder/Director, Shannon Rae Fincke, in the spirit of expanded connection, conversation, community—the
dynamic pairings of the artists and their works in this exhibition celebrates camaraderie amongst artists and
the heart of the gallery’s vision and values since its inception.
The Middle Room opened its doors on September 22, 2023, in our original tucked-away alternative space, with
an exhibit titled In The Middle With You. That inaugural show was conceived around the idea of initiating the
gallery by inviting 21 other artists, with diverse small works centered around a middle focal point, to join me in
this new space for an intimate, dynamic, conversational exhibition—akin to a housewarming dinner party. Some
of the artists participating in this anniversary exhibition were part of that very first show, and the rest have been
featured in the 16 exhibitions that have followed. Since the opening of The Middle Room, much has evolved—
including just a few months later, a move and design and renovation project to create our current commercial
gallery space. To mark our second anniversary and reflect the emphasis of the gallery, I invited 21 local artists
who have shown at The Middle Room over the past two years to join me for a literal dinner party. A real gathering
around a table. In the essence of connection and expansion, each artist was in turn invited to bring a plus one:
another artist who has not yet shown at The Middle Room—to join them at the figurative and literal table. In this
way, the anniversary artists dinner and the accompanying group exhibition—The Dinner Party—serves as both a
reunion and introduction. Each returning artist exhibits their work at The Middle Room again now in this special
exhibition, alongside another new artist of their own selection. The idea for this event and exhibition naturally
brings to mind Judy Chicago’s iconic ceremonial banquet, which honors the work of others around a shared
table. In that same spirit, this celebration and exhibit are about community and conversation, and the artists
who have made this space what it is—and who will help shape what it becomes next.
—Shannon Rae Fincke