our mission
Archer Hawkins Gallery is an artist-run exhibition space and studio dedicated to launching and advancing the careers of emerging artists whose work is marked by originality, depth, and visual presence. Primarily focused on regional painters, printmakers, and illustrators from a new and complex generation, we embrace an eclectic program that values high-quality craft, emotional resonance, and critical engagement. Rooted in Baltimore’s creative ecosystem, the gallery serves as a site for dialogue, experimentation, and connection.
our story
Born out of resiliency and a love for the arts, Archer Hawkins Gallery is the product of a young artist's search for a space where creativity, community, and purpose could be united under one roof.
In 2015, the Baltimore art gallery’s founder, Archer Senft, suffered a spinal cord injury that rendered him a quadriplegic, reshaping the way he approached both art and life. Determined not to let physical limitations dictate his future, Archer adapted to his new normal and slowly began to find a path forward. Initial frustrations nearly led to abandoning art entirely, but a relationship with Match Zimmerman, a high school art teacher who began as a mentor and became a close friend, introduced him to new possibilities in digital mediums, reigniting his passion for art.
In an effort to build on his digital skillset, Archer pursued a degree in Computer Science, all the while continuing to develop his artistic practice in the background. However, at the onset of the pandemic in 2020, everything shifted, forcing him once again to reassess and embrace uncertainty, ultimately leading to his decision to leave school and commit fully to art. He began renting a studio at the Fox Building in Hampden with his younger brother and fellow artist, Dutch Senft. During his three years there, Archer experienced firsthand the value of collaboration and creative community, as well as the necessity of having a dedicated space for art-making.
In 2023, what began as a search for a larger studio developed into a deeper ambition: a vision to build a space where art can be created, shared, and celebrated. Committed to this vision, Archer purchased the property at 5722 Falls Road and began renovations with the help of his dad, Bill Senft. Meanwhile, he returned to school at MICA to pursue a degree in Art History with a minor in Curatorial Practice, reflecting his devotion to not only making, but also contextualizing and understanding art.
Serving as a trifecta of a gallery, a studio, and a home for its founder, Archer Hawkins Gallery is the culmination of a dream. We envision this Baltimore art gallery as a critical first step for emerging artists: both a site of creative discovery and a professional springboard, connecting artists to the broader art ecosystem from Baltimore to New York and beyond.
