Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Allen-Cannon.
Elizabeth, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am an artist living in Brevard County, Florida and I run Causeway, an artist-run gallery that I founded in 2024. When I moved to the Space Coast from Chicago in 2017, I found a lack of support for visual art. I am also an adjunct professor and I wanted my students to have access to practicing artists. So Causeway came about from that–partly for myself, because I wanted something like this to exist here, and partly for the younger generation of artists who are searching for a connection to the broader art community. I use the gallery as a way to provide exhibition opportunities to emerging and mid-career artists in the Southeast, while increasing local access to contemporary art.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In 2024, when Causeway opened, I was finally at a place in my life where I was ready to take on the challenge of starting an artist-run space, and that has made the process a bit easier. It has been especially helpful to draw on my years of experience as a practicing artist and my work in arts administration. Because it’s just me running the space, I am careful to not bite off more than I can chew. That means I mount only 2-3 exhibitions a year so each artist can receive my full attention and support. My favorite part of running Causeway is getting to know new artists and learn about their process by working with them in the trenches. Most recently, in helping artist Allison Spence install her exhibition “Familiar without a name,” we were struggling together to put what was basically a giant sticker on the wall. It was absurd yet so much fun and we were laughing the whole time. And of course it is always so rewarding to see how each exhibition comes together.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Causeway’s foremost goal is to present exhibitions that give the local community a chance to engage with novel formats, and to expand ideas about what art can be, what it can do, and where it can be found. The gallery is a bit different from other Space Coast galleries in that it is more of a project space than a retail space. While some of the artists may choose to price their work for sale, most of the artists are making installations or performance work, similar to what you might see in a contemporary art museum. I think it’s good to have this kind of creative space in a community alongside more traditional gallery models to inspire people to be curious and to experiment for the sake of learning. Having lived in Chicago and Kansas City, I’ve seen firsthand how artist-run spaces can truly transform a community. I would love to see our county fund small grants to support more of these kind of projects.
In addition to running Causeway, I am also an artist. In my own artistic practice, I work primarily in painting, artist’s books, and collage. Among other themes, my work explores how the self is reproduced, divided, and contained, as well as the relationship between the self and landscape.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
This fall, Causeway is looking forward to hosting a solo exhibition by Tampa-based artist Becca Wahl. The opening reception will take place November 7, 2026 from 3-5 pm at 315 Minutemen Cswy, Cocoa Beach, FL, Unit 5. Everyone is welcome! If you miss the opening reception, the exhibition will be open by appointment November 7-December 12. To make an appointment, please email causewayyy@gmail.com. In the spring, Orlando-based artist Lindsay Deifik will be exhibiting her work–look out for details on that to be announced soon on our website–www.causewayfl.com.
Pricing:
- Free and open to the public!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.causewayfl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/causewayfl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/causewayfl
