Hillyer Art Space

Hillyer Art Space is one of the participants in the First Fridays in DuPont afterhours gallery program. Normally, they are open 12 – 5 or 6pm, but on the first Friday of each month, they stay open later and have an open house type of event. Hillyer Art Space is a program of IA&A (International Arts & Artists), which is a nonprofit arts service organization that focuses on the accessibility of contemporary art. While the First Friday events are free, Hillyer did have a donation bin setup since they are funded through donations. The suggested donation was $ 8. Before discussing the art, here are some logistics:
1. The event is free so it will get crowded. It was super packed when we arrived around 7:20pm. If you don’t arrive early, the coat room will be full and expect to either wear your coat and be uncomfortably warm, or have to carry it with you all night.
2. They had «snacks» stationed in the main gallery but they were all gone, with the exception of a few crumbs, by the time we arrived.
3. They had free wine already pre-​poured in plastic cups. It was an anonymous white, and since it was free, there is little to complain about. They did run out near the end, probably around 7:40ish (the event ended at 8pm).
4. It’s pretty close to the DuPont metro so I’d highly recommend using the metro to get here, although there was a parking lot available.
Onto the art… there were 3 separate spaces each featuring a different artist. When you walk in, the first space currently features Jack Warner’s «Heuristic Defenses» which has a quasi-​militaristic aesthetic featuring structures that are used to provide the most basic levels of physical and cognitive safety, such as fences and weapons. This makes sense as the artist is an ex-​marine. The next space featured Michelle Lisa Herman’s «I Just Want to Know You’re There». This was slightly more abstract and more of an interactive installation. One of the exhibits («Mirror Mirror») explored communication and the desire for interaction in the digital age and invited viewers to watch a display of individuals either smiling or yawning, compelling the viewers to do the same. One of the other works featured was an interactive sculpture, «Sad bear». The bear moved with very lifelike motions and appeared to be crying. The third exhibit featured paintings from the artist’s visit to Cuba. The artist stayed in the same village that Hemingway lived in when he wrote «The Old Man and the Sea». The paintings definitely capture the spirit of the hope and pride Cubans feel for their country and their futures. Interesting fact: the artists brought their own brushes and canvases as they knew supplies would be difficult to obtain once in Cuba.
It does not take long to view the gallery space but I highly recommend it if you are in the area as something thought-​provoking and unique to experience!

This was an amazing space, I absolutely loved everything about the Hillyer. I appreciated the communication between myself and the Coordinator. The ambiance was impeccable, the newness of the space. Everything was definitely on fleek. Love, love, loved it, I would definitely rent again in a heart beat. Thank you Hillyer and Allie for making my event such a huge SUCCESS.

My alumni association decided to host an open house at Hillyer for our membership base to get together and learn about upcoming programming. The space was perfect for our event and Allie, our point of contact, was very responsive and very professional. We managed to pull of an excellent DIY event and the art space was very accommodating. Our members loved looking at the art and moving in the open spaces. I would absolutely recommend the space for anyone looking to secure a space that could hold between 100 – 150 people.

We held a photo auction at the Hillyer recently for the 2^nd year in a row. The space is perfect for our event, and the rental cost is a good value. The staff is very helpful and easy to work with. We had plenty of space to prepare and store our food and beverages. There are a limited number of tables for use, so we rented 10 additional tables and had plenty of space to arrange them inside. Our event was a success, and we look forward to using the Hillyer in the future!

After our family only wedding, we needed to have a second, friends-​only event, and Hillyer proved to be the ideal space. DIY it is for sure, but that was part of the charm. We did our own lighting, our own catering, our own music, and the event came off incredibly well. As a musician, it was great working with a space and staff of people who are genuinely dedicated to art. Our guests kept on asking: «how did you find this place?» They were all so enamored and pleasantly surprised. It really is a funky little find, tucked away in the alley, and when you finally walk in you get a sense of why it’s been such a hit for events — perfect medium size, simple hardwood floors, white walls, beautiful works of art & sculpture, a fun outdoor «garage/​patio/​alley» space that is pure DC. By the time we had set up the bar, lighting, finger food and PA, we knew we had the perfect space, and the event was a massive success — -fun easy and beautiful from the beginning to the end. I definitely recommend jumping on the Hillyer bandwagon and bringing a little fine art ambience to your next event!
Thanks also to Allie Frazer for her patience, enthusiasm, and timely suggestions and helpful hints throughout the process.

This is a review for the Hillyer as a venue rental, nothing else. The art gallery itself is great.
I got married at the Hillyer Art Space in Sept. 2014. Nice space, very DIY. Their event coordinator was very helpful for the whole planning process leading up to the wedding. We had no trouble setting up and taking down everything for the wedding, and for the most part things went relatively smoothly. We appreciate how accommodating she was when we had questions or scheduling difficulties, and would be fine recommending the Hillyer for more casual events. Other perks: minimal decorations needed, art all over for guests to enjoy, and really cool gallery — guests liked the space itself.
However, our wedding itself is what brings this review down so much. The Hillyer told us about 3 weeks before the wedding that they we also hosting a large public DC-​wide event right after our event (Art All Night), but by no means did they foresee how it would impact our wedding.
Dozens (my mom swears nearly 100) of people ended up crashing our wedding on Saturday night, in large part because they thought I (the bride) was performance art or part of a show. in fact, when I came back to work on Monday, one of my coworkers told me that she showed up at my wedding, and then showed me a photo of me that she had taken from the gallery entrance to post on Instagram.
Many more were turned away at the door throughout the night. Much of our wine and food was actually taken by people wandering in off the streets. Every few minutes I personally had to escort someone out. The most frustrating part was during my father’s wedding toast — a man walked into the room and directly in front of my dad during his toast (arm’s length), to come watch the speech. It was completely ridiculous. This could have been mitigated by the Hillyer staff with presence at the door rather than my cousins acting like bouncers.
I also talked to some people who were very confused as to why the marketing and ads for the Art All Night event did not specify that the Hillyer would be closed for a private event until 11pm. There was only one small sign on the door that said «Private Event» and with no details describing the fact that a wedding was taking place. The one staff person on site was only helpful about halfway through the ceremony when we complained that so many strangers were interrupting the wedding. All in all, it was extremely frustrating to have to deal with this.
I know that the Hillyer is a small gallery and has limited capacity to address many of our concerns, especially now that the event is over — we were very happy with the DIY aspect of the event itself, so had no problems with anything there. I am a super laid-​back person, and this was a very casual wedding compared to most weddings, but there is absolutely no good excuse for anyone having to deal with these kinds of interruptions at their wedding. The staff should have been better prepared to deal with this, knowing that they booked such a large and public event on the same evening.
We got NO response when we tried to follow up with their staff to discuss afterwards and have not heard from them since. I even waited 4 days to post this review just to give them the courtesy of having a chance to respond to address our concerns.
UPDATE 10÷5÷14: we just received a response from their event coordinator this morning and appreciate the reply, although it does not change this review.

A nice semi hidden gallery, most of the time, that becomes quite busy during First Friday events. I have been here three times. The first two were memorable and fun on quiet Autumn weekends around noon. The third was during a crowded First Friday art walk in April. I generally don’t like crowds unless at concerts but tried to deal with it and liked most of what I saw until I saw some photos of the same ugly mug literally 100s of times and had to run out in disgust/​trying to hold back laughter over how someone could love themselves so much. Otherwise, a nice open space. I enjoyed «Change of Place» the most and that was the most memorable from my latest visit.

We used the Hillyer Art Space for a networking reception. The space was perfect for what we needed, the staff was extremely helpful and the attendees loved the art.
Some things to know:
1. Its pretty DIY but there are tables available (but no table clothes) and staff is there to help when you need things like a broom, paper towels or knives. The staff has a comprehensive list of vendors to choose from if you need something beyond whats available in house and they will give helpful feedback about cost and who is easiest to work with.
2. The space is actually three separate rooms which worked really well for what we needed. But fear not, its not broken up in a funny way, there is actually really good crowd flow between them.
3. Because a lot of art is hung without a frame they do ask that you sign an extra waiver if you want to have red wine at your event. We did and it worked out just fine.

Just had a wedding reception at Hillyer and it was wonderful. The space accommodated approx 90 people with room left over. The staff (Allie) couldn’t have been more accommodating. I hired a valet service (Metro Park) and this is a must if you’re having a large group as the parking is minimal there. The caterer had a room for prep work and the caterer’s requests were met by Allie. The artwork in the space was definitely secondary to the event itself. The space is intimate but not too small. With three rooms at Hillyer, my guests were able to wander from room to room and yet still be a part of the reception. The rates are also the lowest I found in the area.

Came here with the Honey as they had an art market on and 3 things happened:
1 The stalls were awesome and The Honey bought something that she really liked and it was really great value.
2. Some of the photos /​exhibits n the place were very interesting — especially the immigration one.
3. I sat outside on a chair checking my fantasy football team waiting for the honey to finish, and of course, people who were coming in thought I worked for the place. that was awesome.
person 1: «Excuse me — do you just walk in ?»
Me: «No, it’s a $ 20 admittance chaerge please»
person: «seriously — are you kidding?»
Me: «Yes I am kdding — go right in.
Woman-​in-​pearls-​who-​had-​obvioulsy-​lunched-​at the Cosmos Club (WIPCC):
» excuse me — is that piece for sale“
ME: «It certainly is, but I am afraid I do not have the pricing information»
WIPCC: «I have a client who has a space that needs something lkke this»
(she was talking about the odd shaped sculpture outside the front door)
Me:” Well, why don’t you write your name and address down in he guest book and write a note beside it that you are nterested in this piece:“
WIPCC: «I certainly will — thank you»
person 2: «Is this an art gallery»
Me: «Yes it is»
person 2: «are there things for sale in there»
Me: «oh, yes indeed — go right in — you will love it»
And I should also point out — my fantasy team were all studs this week (apart from Roy Helu Jr).

I really enjoy going to Hillyer for the First Friday art receptions – I’m a regular. It’s a great way to mingle and meet new people who also love art. I also love how the space is alternative and less stuffy than typical commercial galleries – it definitely attracts a younger crowd although you can meet people of all ages at these events. The artwork itself varies, but I’d say it generally tends to be more progressive (which I personally like) than some other areas I’ve been to.
I especially enjoyed the last FF — had a great mix of work! If you like arts and culture, this place is definitely worth checking out.

This is a great art space. I went on one of the First Fridays in Dupont Circle which is a great time to check it out, because for a suggested donation of $ 5 you get free wine and snacks and usually a musician playing. The exhibits vary, but they tend to be really impressive. One of the best small art venues in town.

These guys were truly spectacular — so professional, so helpful, so accomodating. We had our wedding there, and it was magical. Wish we could have another one every year in the Hillyer!

Hillyer Art Space is like the Phillips Collection’s funky, fun, non-​snobby younger sibling. Right in back of the Phillips, it’s small. However, thanks to the great lighting job and light woods and walls, it does not have a claustrophobic feel. In fact, it feels quite light and airy. They focus on a lot of local artists who often make visits to the gallery during the exhibitions! Like a small celebrity sighting. The art they bring in is interesting and beautiful. Mostly paint based, but I have seen some photography exhibitions there as well.
First Fridays are a good way to make your ‘first visit’ to the Hillyer. You get in for free (although they suggest a $ 5 donation) and enjoy free wine and snacks to boot. If you want some culture fast, Hillyer is a great option.

A great social opportunity to partake on the first Friday of each month! I have been going to this venue for 4 years now (minus the year I lived in Japan) and it just keeps getting better! The events do get crowded and sometimes it will be hard to interpret art, but I don’t think the primary mindset of all is just ethanol. I describe this experience as being 3-​fold: art appreciation, socialising, and hip culture. You will certainly meet people here and will likely go out with them to other area venues after the 1^st Friday event. And you will likely meet people you will become friends with and go out with again (because many people here are friendly and outgoing). And you will see some cool art, some of which is reasonably priced for purchasing if you are starting a collection (depends on the exhibition). Also, if you are into spoken-​word poetry, they do Hillyer Open Mic Event (HOME) on the 3^rd Friday of each month and are starting to add more lectures, films, etc. to the venue calendar.
So if you haven’t been to 1^st Friday in Dupont (or haven’t brought your friends), come to support your local Hillyer Art Space!

This place is a nice little gallery and quite hard to find (Seriously, it is like in the back alley behind another museum). I went there for the PostSecret exhibit a few months back and was pleasantly surprised by it. The staff there were really friendly and I really enjoyed the interactive process involved with the exhibit I went to. Definitely plan on going back, especially on their First Friday exhibits because that sounds it might be fun.

Two stars for the space. +1 for the people.
Tucked away down an alley off of Dupont Circle, the gallery is really tiny and nondescript. I went to see the Postsecret exhibit with some friends, and it was incredibly crowded. It kinda felt like someone had opened up their studio apartment, complete with kitchen off to the side and ONE bathroom, to the public.
The people were great though, from the staff serving up cheap wine to the other people checking out the exhibit. Since everyone’s so crammed together, it’s a great place to strike up a conversation with strangers and cheesy as it sounds, to make new friends.

If you told me ten years ago I’d be visiting museums voluntarily, I would have snorted and rolled my eyes. Words that would have popped into my head: «stuffy,» «boring,» «adults.»
Thanks to
(I’m sorry Unilocal — still friends?) I had the chance to join a fun group of people on a field trip to Hillyer, and the results of the evening far exceeded my expectations. The «Art Space» is a four minute walk from the Dupont Metro, but once you arrive it’s like you’re in a different city; the buildings are tucked away from the bustle of downtown, and the surrounding neighborhood is serene and inviting.
Each building houses art ranging from sculptures of inverted car tires to paintings of upended chairs, installations of car crashes, japanese scrolls and drawings of cartoonish bubbles. «La Vida Intensa,» a series of sometimes DC-​centric paintings full of bright colors and bold lines by Gregory Ferrand, was my favorite.
On the first Friday of every month Hillyer unveils new exhibits and encourages visitors to wander the galleries, drink wine, nibble on snacks, enjoy a live DJ, and chat with some of the artists. Donations are strongly encouraged, and after the wonderful time I had I wish I had given more; the value of having a welcoming art space full of creativity and warmth just a short Metro ride away is incalculable.

DC’s art scene isn’t the greatest. I’m from Kansas City, home to one of the top three art scenes outside of NYC where we have a neighborhood of 60 art galleries, housed in old warehouses. DC’s scene is scattered among town houses and the art is not very edgy, and just OK.
This spot is different. Tucked in a little alley, it seems more edgy and urban than the rest. The art I saw here seemed a little bit more edgy, bu, the art isn’t even what matters. It has more of a party atmosphere than a stuffy gallery. A DJ spins records, people socialize, and free wine is given away. This is a great place to end a ‘first friday’ and meet new people.

The Hillyer Art Space is the spot to see the latest from DC artists. This gallery is a complete, non-​profit art assistance organization.
From the front of the gallery, this space doesn’t seem like much. However, inside you’ll find exhibits that vary from sculpture, paintings, drawings, photographs, sculpture, decorative arts, prints to video installations.
I particularly enjoyed the show going on right now called, «It’s Not You, It’s Me.» It is a bunch of prints by an Annapolis artists. The pieces reflect different aspects of relationships.