DAYTON, OH.- The Contemporary Dayton will present Niki Johnson: Pillars of Democracy, an exhibition by Milwaukee-based artist Niki Johnson exploring civic participation, collective action, and the enduring power of the vote. The exhibition opens Wednesday, July 1, 2026, with a public reception from 6–8 pm and an artist talk at 6:30 pm.

Pillars of Democracy is a monumental series of four collaged portraits envisioning Liberty, Justice, Freedom, and Forward progress as first-time voters from Milwaukee. Constructed from discarded stencil paper and leftover spray paint collected during the 2020 installation of Shepard Fairey’s Voting Rights Are Human Rights mural, the series bridges more than a century of voting rights activism through both material and design. Inspired in part by Bertha Boyd’s 1911 suffrage poster Votes for Women, the exhibition foregrounds the central role of women in democracy, from early suffragists to first-time voters today, uniting generations through civic participation and creative resistance.

Built collaboratively over ten months with the support of Milwaukee artists and nearly seventy community volunteers, Pillars of Democracy emphasizes that democracy is not abstract, but something actively shaped through everyday acts of participation, dialogue, and collective care.

“As we celebrate The Contemporary Dayton’s 35th anniversary season, this exhibition reminds us that democracy and freedom of expression are deeply connected,” said Heather Jones, Curator and Director of Programs and Engagement. “Artists create space for dialogue, reflection, and civic imagination, and Pillars of Democracy demonstrates how art can bring communities together while encouraging active participation in shaping the future.”

In conjunction with the exhibition, The Contemporary Dayton will present a series of free public programs designed to deepen community engagement. On Saturday, August 1, from 1–3 pm, Johnson will lead a hands-on collage-making workshop for up to 35 participants. Attendees will collaboratively create elements for a future public art project while exploring themes of community-building and creative expression.
A closing reception celebrating the exhibition will take place on Saturday, August 15, from 4–6 pm.

Merchandise related to Pillars of Democracy will also be available for purchase in the CoShop throughout the exhibition run. Proceeds will support the Pillars of Democracy: Unite & Rise tour, an initiative designed to engage audiences through exhibitions, artist talks, and workshops exploring the values that sustain a vibrant democracy. Aligned with the League of Women Voters national Unite & Rise campaign, the project highlights how artists, cultural organizations, and communities can work together to foster civic engagement and public dialogue.

Presented during The Contemporary Dayton’s 35th anniversary season, the exhibition reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to freedom of expression, artistic inquiry, and civic dialogue. As Dayton’s contemporary art center, The Contemporary Dayton remains dedicated to providing free access to contemporary art and public programming for the community.

Johnson is a Milwaukee-based artist, curator, and Executive Director of the Forward Art Initiative. Her work is included in the collection of the Dayton Art Institute and has been reviewed in The New York Times, The Guardian, Hyperallergic, and Vice Magazine, among other national and international publications.