As of May 5, 2026, Lauren Kennedy, a Rhodes College alumna, has made a significant mark in the art world with the establishment of her contemporary art gallery, Sheet Cake. Situated at 405 Monroe Avenue in the vibrant Edge District of Memphis, this gallery is dedicated to showcasing the works of artists from the regional South, with a special emphasis on celebrating women, queer artists, and artists of color. The gallery's grand opening took place on December 1, 2023, marking the beginning of an exciting journey in the art community.
The inaugural exhibition at Sheet Cake featured notable artists such as Erin Harmon, an associate professor of art at Rhodes College, and Joel Parsons, the director of the college’s Clough-Hanson Gallery. Kennedy expressed her enthusiasm about collaborating with such a talented group of artists, stating, "I am thrilled to be working with such an incredibly talented group of artists in the next year of the Sheet Cake’s program. Each represents something vital to the spirit of the gallery, and this first show will give people a good taste of what to expect."
Kennedy's journey in the arts began during her time at Rhodes College, where she was deeply involved in the arts community as a Center for Outreach in the Development of the Arts (CODA) Fellow. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in art history in 2008, she moved to Dallas. There, she contributed to the Nasher Sculpture Center's fundraising efforts and managed the production of the Dallas Art Fair. Her return to Memphis in 2012 marked a new chapter as she took on the role of partnership manager for Ballet Memphis and founded Southfork, an alternative art space that operated until 2017.
In 2015, Kennedy took on the role of executive director at the UrbanArt Commission. Over the past eight years, she has overseen $6 million in public art investments, spearheaded the development of the art program for the Memphis International Airport B Concourse, and significantly increased the organization's visibility and community engagement.
Reflecting on her journey, Kennedy shared, "Opening this gallery would not be possible without the incredible support around me and the experiences that have led me to this moment. And I can see how some of the very first threads of Sheet Cake were woven together in my time at Rhodes College - from my classes to opportunities to curate art and projects on campus and in Memphis."
Sheet Cake operates with the following hours: Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment. This schedule allows art enthusiasts ample opportunity to explore the diverse and vibrant exhibitions that the gallery offers.