City Hall Galleries
The galleries at Boston City Hall foster a vibrant local art scene by diverse artistic voices, presenting memorable exhibitions that engage, challenge, and reflect the city's community.
The City Hall Galleries are free and open to the public!
Keep reading to learn more about the shows that are currently on view, upcoming galleries events, and more.
Events
EventsExhibits | Feb. 16 - May 8, 2026
Mayor's Neighborhood Gallery
2 Perspectives
By the Boston Strasbourg Sister City Association. Event: February 19 from 5 - 7 p.m. 2nd floor.
Scollay Square Gallery
(in)Visibility: Belonging in the Margins
By current and former BCA Studio Residents. Event: March 12 from 5 - 7 p.m. 3rd floor.
Mayor's Office Gallery
Gwisin Baljaguk (Ghost Prints)
Solo show by Timothy Hyunsoo Lee. Event: March 5 from 5 - 7 p.m. 5th floor.
Emerging Gallery
After Nature
Solo show by Nicole Duennebier. Event: TBD. 8th floor.
Mezzanine Gallery
Crossroads
Solo show by Yujin Cao and Wei Wu. Event: TBD. 3rd floor.
Long-term installations
Long-term Installations- Location: 3rd Floor Mezzanine, Boston City Hall
- Dates: Ongoing
We Belong is a light-based public art installation with the intent to promote ideas of belonging and inclusion among communities in Boston. In LED neon, the work forms the text “We Belong – here – together – guided by the same stars” in a circular format, with a constellation that maps and connects Boston’s neighborhoods.
With the support of a City of Boston Transformative Public Art grant, the installation will travel to multiple Boston neighborhoods in 2022-2023, beginning with the East Boston Social Centers from July-September 2022. Local residents are invited to participate in the project by sharing what the concept of “belonging” means to them.
Yu-Wen Wu is an interdisciplinary artist living and working in Boston. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Wu’s subjectivity as an immigrant is central to her artwork. Arriving in the United States at an early age, her experiences have shaped her work in areas of migration—examining issues of displacement, arrival, assimilation, and the shape of identity in a new country. Passionate about data, mapping, and its storytelling, Wu’s work lies at the crossroads of art, science, politics, and social issues. Her wide range of projects include large-scale drawings, sculpture, site- specific video installations, community-engaged practices, and public art. Wu has been awarded numerous grants, exhibited nationally and internationally. Her work is included in several private and public collections.
The Mayor's Poetry Program is an annual program in which Boston residents are invited to submit poems to be displayed throughout City Hall and in an online gallery for one year. The theme for 2026, selected by Poet Laureate Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah, was "Belonging".
All poems are displayed next to the South Elevators of Boston City Hall, except where noted otherwise.
First floor- "Leaf Peeping" by Brynna Boyd
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"Morning Journey / Voyage Matinal" by Emerson Vilbrun (North Elevators)
- "The Intersection" by Em Roth
- "Arrival" by Veronica Thomas
- "My Last Suicide, I Hope Yours Too" by Indigo Kinsella
- "Connolly's" by Henrietta Hodge
- "You Belong Here" by Essmaa Litim
- "Place of Pryde" by Thea Iberall
- "Revere Beach in Two Acts" by Fin Leary
- "Do You Believe in God? (A Love Letter to Dorchester)" by Sean Carney
- "Once Upon a War, Once Upon a Home" by Mariana Pereira Carvalho
- "Brookline Ave Orchestra" by Houley Koundourou
- "Theory of Everything" by Elane Kim
- "All My Poems Used to End in Sky" by Anna V. Q. Ross
- "Hand in Hand" by Juanita Cox
Gallery Locations
Mayor's Office Gallery
The Mayor's Office Gallery exhibits work by Boston area artists who have received recognition for their artwork through grants, awards and other types of public display.
Directions: It's located on the 5th floor of City Hall. From City Hall Plaza or Congress St. entrances, take South Elevators to the 5th floor, follow signs to Mayor's Office: signage marks the gallery entrance. If you are planning to attend an opening you must enter from Congress Street.
Mayor’s Neighborhood Gallery
Directions: Located on the 2nd floor near the South Elevators. From City Hall Plaza or Congress St. entrances, take South Elevators to the 2nd floor.
Scollay Square Gallery
The Scollay Square Gallery showcases the many arts organizations and artists community groups that support local artists throughout the City.
Directions: It's located on the 3rd floor/main lobby of City Hall. When entering from Congress St, take elevators to 3rd floor, proceed through lobby, passing the information desk on your right. The gallery is ahead of you. When entering from City Hall Plaza, proceed through lobby, passing the information desk on your right. The gallery is ahead of you. Signage marks the gallery entrance. If you are planning to attend an opening you must enter from Congress Street.
The Emerging GalleryThis is the newest of City Hall's galleries. It showcases Boston's up and coming artists.
Directions: It is located on the 8th floor of City Hall. When entering from Congress Street or Cambridge Street, take the elevators to the 8th floor. The gallery is in the hallway to the left of Room 801, which is perpendicular to the elevators.
