Annual Review | A reflection and a reminder that spaces become home because of art and because of the people who gather within them.

ANTiPODE survived its first year at 103 S. Main St. Over the past year, our gallery has become a temporary home for artists working across painting, drawing, sculpture, film, dance, poetry, sound and installation. Through exhibitions, events, conversations and collaborations, these artists helped transform an unfamiliar space into a place of connection and belonging. We hosted 6 exhibitions and 25 events, collaborated with many artists, made new friends, and created memories we will carry with us for a long time. We are grateful and proud of what we have built together. As immigrants, ANTiPODE has helped us feel more at home in Seattle. We hope it has helped you feel the same.

Founding ANTiPODE and maintaining a dedicated physical space is a choice we would make again and again. But running a business in Pioneer Square is a constant fight, especially when you want to stay true to your values and resist commercial pressures. Downtown office vacancy is among the highest rates in the country and weekday foot traffic remains well below pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, operating costs — including rent, utilities, insurance and labor — continue to rise, not just for us, but for everyone living in Seattle. As housing, healthcare and everyday expenses consume larger portions of household budgets, fewer people have discretionary income to spend on art. These conditions make it difficult for galleries and cultural spaces to attract visitors and generate consistent revenue.

We survived, though. We survived because of the artists who trusted us with their work. Because our wonderful housemates, the Seattle Jazz Fellowship, helped us keep costs down and create new opportunities. Because 4Culture supported us with a grant. And because many of you purchased artwork, donated, volunteered, or simply showed up. Every exhibition, every event, every conversation and every act of support helped make this first year possible.

Annual Review brings together some of the artists we have been fortunate to work with in the past. Rather than looking back at a series of separate exhibitions, this exhibition looks at the relationships, conversations and shared experiences that emerged between them. It is a celebration of the bridges built through art — between artists and audiences, between different mediums, and between Seattle and other cities.