Founded in 2009, Institute 193 embraces the notion that ground-breaking contemporary art can and does emerge outside of large metropolitan centers. 

Institute 193 provides artists from Kentucky and the Southeastern United States—selected not by commercial viability, but by the quality and relevance of their work—with exhibition and publication opportunities. It also endeavours to help these artists gain broader media exposure and foster connections in art markets across the globe.

Institute 193’s original gallery space is located in Lexington, Kentucky, a mid-sized city with a vibrant creative community. Nevertheless, Lexington lacks a museum or a center for contemporary art. Institute 193 fills this cultural void by hosting musical performances, film screenings, lectures, and other community-driven events in addition to visual art exhibitions.

Institute 193 regularly partners with other institutions to expand its cultural footprint and to serve as ambassadors for artists from the region and beyond.