TuckUnder Projects

TuckUnder Projects & Pavilion is a hybridic, experimental garage-based gallery and independent multi-platform site that specializes in emerging and midcareer artists focusing on open critical discourse, autonomous visual initiatives, conceptual arts practice, novel curatorial projects, and reflexive institutional critique. One of the many original organic TuckUnder Projects strategies is to openly resist, challenge, and question the false power awarded to art world gatekeepers by inverting that power, placing it back into artists hands, and creating different artistic entrances and fresh creative access points to historically restrictive art world structures.

 In the past decade (2011-2021+), TuckUnder orchestrated creative work with a diverse range of artists, curators, and collaborators via solo & group gallery exhibitions, Leaky Sink solo & group projects, short- & long-term exterior installations, variable analogous durational projects, unpredictable video projects, and solo and collective Raspberry Patch residencies. The creative energy of these unique projects and artistic collaborations maintain our focus on remaining an alternative site of contemporary artistic practice, curatorial discovery, and conceptual exploration.

TuckUnder has exhibited over 100 artists within more than 80 shows in ten years. Speaking in her 2014 opening talk at Rochester Art Center, TuckUnder artist/photographer Melissa Borman described TuckUnder Projects as a key catalyst for her solo exhibition at the Third Floor Emerging Artists gallery. Through their promotion and experience at TuckUnder many of the artists have gone on to become visible groundbreakers in the regional, national and international contemporary art scene. From curating, directing, and exhibiting at small & large scale museums, galleries, and institutions; to creating experimental gallery, public art, or residency project sites; or initiating unorthodox performances and writing idiosyncratic publications, TuckUnder collaborators have become a prominent decentralized alternative art base paralleling the traditional hierarchical art structure. 

In 2015, we were extremely honored to have our artistic work at TuckUnder Projects named by City Pages as Artist of The Year. In her brief essay art critic Camille LeFevre stated, “In total, Driessen’s work is about liberation, creative freedom in the midst of corporate control, and the potency of a David in a world of Goliaths.” At TuckUnder, we are working to empower a wide range of contemporary visual artists in the midst of a volatile socio-political climate, global art market fluctuations, institutional instability, and local gallery closings; and these become an enabling creative force for positive energy, artistic momentum and creative potential.

TuckUnder’s unique venue, curatorial prowess, experimental capacity, and welcoming hospitable atmosphere are significant project elements that were cited by Table Fort within their 2015 MRAC Management Consulting Fund report. As TuckUnder served a valuable career exhibition and curatorial niche, we are extremely appreciative of all those who generously supported us. TuckUnder credits our artists, curators, performers, collaborators, donors, patrons, venders, neighbors, and our amazing fiscal sponsorship through Springboard for the Arts for this site-specific project.