The Fine Arts Gallery at the University of New Orleans presents numerous professional and student exhibitions yearly. Student exhibitions include individual MFA Thesis Exhibitions and group exhibitions of undergraduates who have completed the Senior Thesis Studio Requirement. Undergraduate exhibitions each year include the Annual Undergraduate Drawing Competition and the Ernest and Shirley Svenson Drawing Award, as well as the Senior Project Exhibition. The Competition and Award are made possible through a generous endowment from Dr. and Mrs. Ernest Svenson.

Professional exhibitions include an annual exchange exhibition with the University of Innsbuck featuring two emerging artists from Austria, one person or group exhibitions by contemporary professional artists from the region or nationally recognized artists represented by New Orleans galleries, and faculty exhibitions featuring one to three studio faculty members.