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The Irma Freeman Center for Imagination... 

has been contributing to the educational and cultural landscape of Pittsburgh, including hosting an array of events and exhibitions, for over 10 years. Since its inception, the IF Center has collaborated with dozens of schools and other organizations, locally, nationally and globally. Our audience and participants are a vast assortment of ages, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. We offer diverse and unique opportunities for artists and patrons alike.

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INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST EXHIBITION! CREATIVE CITIZEN STUDIOS PRESENTS: COMMUNICATION

Throughout 2023 and 2024, CCS thought about the ways we communicate with each other, the way we communicate who we are through art and how we communicate with the world. Our shared language of love and connection is evident within the works created as well as a portrayal of each artist’s individual spirit and style. We invite the viewer to listen to these new and retrospective works and to feel the thoughtful language that CCS artists share within their artwork. Be present with us as we communicate in creative ways while sharing various methods of storytelling throughout history.

CCS uses art to bring people of all abilities together. We work with artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities to make, exhibit, and sell their work. Our weekly art classes, workshops, and exhibit opportunities help promote our artists while connecting them with a larger community of artists.

CCS Is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with Citizen-artists featured in local, regional, and national art shows and exhibit spaces.

GALLERY VIEWING HOURS ARE EVERY SATURDAY 2-5 PM

Opening Reception, First Friday May 3rd!

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Opening Reception, First Friday May 3rd! 〰️


Beginner Yoga taught by Sha

In-Person Yoga Classes open! Every Tuesday night at 6:30 pm 2022. Doors open at 6:15 pm at our spacious gallery. Join us for a peaceful evening filled with zen.

WELCOME

BACK

DRINK

&

DRAW!

Grab a tea from Bantha Tea Bar right next door and join us over at our beautiful gallery space for figure drawing featuring nude models. We are so excited to return. See you soon!


Previous Exhibition!

The Irma Freeman Center for Imagination presents GOOD MORNING PENN AVE HOW ARE YOU. (The Making of Vaultart’s Mural & the Artists Who Made it) This exhibition will showcase the visual artworks of a collaborative mural team. This team consists of VaultArt Artists and staff, and local muralist educators. 


In June of 2022, Max Gonzales curated the creation of the VaultArt mural on the 50-foot-long exterior wall on South Winebiddle Street, “Good Morning Penn Ave How Are You”.

Eight primary Vault artists, Steph Neary, Max Gonzales, Vault artist mentor Sam Berner and six local artists combined their artistic styles and completed the mural in time for Vault’s five-year anniversary on July 1st 2022. Prior to the mural painting, each mural educator spent the day with the Vault team to share their painting processes. In 5 separate sessions, all artists collaborated on a large series of wood panel paintings


BOOK RELEASE

Order our catalog! This book features the work of 50 artists who participated in our Group Collage Exhibition, Cut & Paste

Zim Syed (Legal Defense Fund)

Please donate if you have the means to

Venmo pictured below

“Through my practice I seek to dismantle hierarchical structures and ideas of predetermination. My paintings are a re-versioning of existing forms and my installation work focuses on bending reality into something more whimsical. My process is one of collaboration and chance. I often draw from children’s media, popular fiction, and art history; and am deeply influenced by rich history and practices of tricksters, clowns, magicians, and mimes.”

previous exhibition

Pinaka Art

Pinaka Art is a collaborative between father and son, Ravindra and Sagar Kamath based in Pittsburgh, PA. Our combined experiences span a variety of media and techniques culminating in a wide variety of products and services. As a collective, Pinaka Art creates contemporary works inspired by South Asian motifs and culture.

Tales of cursive lands, sāgar and Ravi Kamath, Pinaka Art: Sagar Kamath is an interdisciplinary artist that creates work exploring his identity as an Indian-born American through painting, digital design, and Kathak. He draws inspiration from traditional South Asian forms and aesthetics. Sagar has commissioned works for Riverlife and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette amongst others.

Rent our Space!

Email info@irmafreeman.org

Rent our Venue! For more information click here for our Booking Page!


etsy shop returning soon! new offerings include if art on mugs, hoodies, Tee Shirts, pillows, legging, socks and more!

Check Out our Artists’ Boutique!

Painting by Joan Brindle

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The Irma Freeman Center is the proud sponsor of WRCT

IF sponsors wrct radio programming

Free Craft Kits! Watch free tutorial for kids 5 & up! Go to this link and watch in cyber space! Also we have clothespin Doll Kits. See tutorial Sheila Ali on making Clothespin Dolls with ArtsEd Collaborative!

Update 11/6/2020:

We are proud to announce that we are now an official partner with Pittsburgh Public Schools! We are very excited to increase our outreach to children all around the Pittsburgh area. This is just another step in our journey to bring visual, performing arts and STEAM to more kids in our wonderful community!

Yelp Reviews

5.0 star ratings

This has got to be one of the finest community centers a city could have! Located on Penn Avenue in Garfield on the heart of galleries and shops. Irma Freeman was a Pittsburgh artist who was born in Germany. She worked as a painter with most of her impressionist landscapes being painted after she turned 70. The Center has all of the information and history on her interesting life from the very beginning.

I've been here several times for classes and exhibitions. In addition, they participate in Unblurred the first Friday of every month. It's nice to have them participate in this gallery crawl because they often have live bands in addition to works on display.

Some of the classes they offer include Zumba, Capoeira Angola (martial arts), Wing Tsun Kung Fu, African drum classes, as well as DIY projects and tech.

Another Pittsburgh gold mine that shouldn't be taken for granted. -Karla D.

Wonderful community center, gallery, and event center. I attended a poetry reading here, but they also host community events, classes, summer camps, and art exhibitions. Whether you attend a Yoga or art class here, it's an inviting and welcoming space that will expand your horizons and encourage your creativity. -David B.

The art was amazing and very interesting. What I saw was contemporary art that was incredibly thought provoking. The two people that were in there were very pleasant to chat with and knowledgeable about the art work. They even encouraged us to come back on the first Friday next month. I loved everything I saw so much and I look forward to my next visit here. -Sue T.

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