Our Mission

The mission of the Arena Art Group is to champion exploratory and abstract art, support the artistic growth of its members, and contribute to a robust art culture in the greater Rochester community by holding regular public exhibitions of its members’ works.

Arena’s 60+ artists work in a wide variety of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, digital art, and mixed media.

Membership in the Arena Art Group is based solely on artistic qualifications and willingness to support the mission of the organization, without regard to such characteristics as race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability. We welcome those with diverse life experiences and heritages and commit to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all.

Our History

The Arena Art Group was founded as the "Arena Group" in 1951 by a group of artists who met at the former Arena Theater on Hoeltzer Street in Rochester, NY. Inspired by Abstract Expressionism and other art movements that had emerged after World War II, they wanted to try their hand at non-representational and abstract art. Their first exhibitions were held on the patio of the theater during intermissions, on easels made from railroad ties. Many years and many exhibitions later, the organization’s name was changed to the Arena Art Group. Since its founding, Arena has showcased the work of many of the region's most respected and accomplished artists.