The Art Gym was founded in 1980 by Marylhurst University art faculty members Kay Slusarenko, Paul Sutinen, and Terri Hopkins, who together raised $1500 from a banquet and cookie sale, to open the 2,700 square foot gallery.
Hopkins, in particular, lead the charge to curate the exhibits, and to raise the necessary funds for them.
The university funds the space and basic infrastructure.
Since then, the gallery has occupied what was previously the campus gymnasium and theater on the third floor of the university's B.P. John Administrative Building.
The Art Gym is dedicated to producing exhibitions and publications featuring artists of the Pacific Northwest.

In 1990, Oregonian reporter Randy Gragg asserted it had "become one of the Northwest's most important showcases of regional art," and noted that it had already shown the work of more than 250 Northwest artists, most from the Portland metropolitan area.
He noted three "key opportunities" offered by the Art Gym: "young emerging artists new on the scene, mid-career artists wanting to break new ground and senior artists who deserve recognition."

The Art Gym held a fundraiser exhibit for its 20th anniversary, in 2000, to raise money to refinish the floors and rebuild the movable walls.
The exhibit, titled "Wonder Women to the Rescue," featured 34 local artists, each of whom contributed 50% of proceeds to the cause.

Marylhurst University announced it would cease operations in 2018, prompting concern about the Art Gym's future.
In July 2018, the Art Gym announced that it would be moving to the Oregon College of Art and Craft effective August 1, 2018.
The Art Gym was founded in 1980 by Marylhurst University art faculty members Kay Slusarenko, Paul Sutinen, and Terri Hopkins, who together raised $1500 from a banquet and cookie sale, to open the 2,700 square foot gallery. Hopkins, in particular, lead the charge to curate the exhibits, and to raise the necessary funds for them. The university funds the space and basic infrastructure. Since then, the gallery has occupied what was previously the campus gymnasium and theater on the third floor of the university's B.P. John Administrative Building. The Art Gym is dedicated to producing exhibitions and publications featuring artists of the Pacific Northwest.
In 1990, Oregonian reporter Randy Gragg asserted it had "become one of the Northwest's most important showcases of regional art," and noted that it had already shown the work of more than 250 Northwest artists, most from the Portland metropolitan area. He noted three "key opportunities" offered by the Art Gym: "young emerging artists new on the scene, mid-career artists wanting to break new ground and senior artists who deserve recognition."
The Art Gym held a fundraiser exhibit for its 20th anniversary, in 2000, to raise money to refinish the floors and rebuild the movable walls. The exhibit, titled "Wonder Women to the Rescue," featured 34 local artists, each of whom contributed 50% of proceeds to the cause.
Marylhurst University announced it would cease operations in 2018, prompting concern about the Art Gym's future. In July 2018, the Art Gym announced that it would be moving to the Oregon College of Art and Craft effective August 1, 2018.
The Art Gym