Past Exhibitions

Art That Moves 

This exhibition of kinetic works from the Art Museum’s permanent collection and several regional artists will explore the marriage of design and aesthetics with technology and innovative constructions popularized in the 20th century. Art that Moves is developed in connection with the Year of MIAMIdeas: Creativity and Innovation (2015-2016) initiative set forth by President Hodge. #ArtThatMoves

Margaret Bourke-White: Photographs of the U.S.S.R. 

Margaret Bourke-White’s adventurous spirit led her to photograph various danger zones around the globe. Though her concern for politics and social justice was that of a global participant, her zealous photojournalism shows us a uniquely American spirit. In this exhibit, Soviet Russia is captured through Bourke-White’s lens as she documents the industrialization and political changes in the region, and how this represents an American sympathy for developing and war-torn nations.

The Past is Present: Metalpoint Drawings in the 21st Century 

For the past 6 years, Dennis Angel has produced metal point drawings on paper, a meticulous process popular in 15th and 16th century Europe. This exhibition includes preparatory drawings paired with the finished metal point drawings and several of Angel’s still-life installations.

Union County High School Art Show 

May 29–June 27, 2015

Congratulations to the Union County High School art students who made the works on display for this annual celebration of creativity in our local schools.

William Douglas McGee: Abstract Expressionist 

January 27–June 27, 2015

McGee’s works in this exhibition are from the Art Museum’s permanent collection and on loan from a local private collection.

Art History Capstone: Figures in a Garden: The Ideal World in Chinese Art 

January 27–June 27, 2015

Figures in a Garden explores the idealized world in Chinese culture. The Neo-Confucian philosophical understanding of the orderly world is featured in scenes such as gardens, landscapes, scholars, birds and plants. Through the guidance of Professor Ann Wicks (Art History) and Art Museum staff, senior Art History majors curated this exhibition from the permanent collection.

Freedom Summer - A Student Response 

January 27, 2015 - May 16, 2015

One of the primary initiatives of the Miami University Art Museum is to attract and interact with students and for those future graduates to experience and participate in the arts in new ways. This second iteration of the Summer Reading Program Student Art Response exhibition, in collaboration with the Miami University Summer Reading Program, is one facet of this exploration. It allows current undergraduate and graduate students to exhibit their art in a museum gallery setting.

Faces of Freedom Summer: The Photographs of Herbert Randall 

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer, the Miami University Art Museum provided students with the opportunity to view many powerful photographs by photojournalist Herbert Randall (on loan from the University of Southern Mississippi's McCain Library and Archives) alongside related materials from Miami's Western Archives and the Art Museum's collection.

Revealing The Light Within: The Healing Power of Expressive Arts 

Before the establishment of formal language as a means of communication, humans relied on symbols, visual imagery, sounds, and movement. These innate forms of expression served as the earliest attempts to outwardly project personal and collective understandings of self and the surrounding world.

African Art: Confronting Assumptions, Challenging Values 

January 28 – May 17, 2014

This Senior Capstone Exhibition examined the marginalization and commercialization of African art within the context of indigenous and mainstream art and culture. The exhibition was curated by Art and Architecture History majors at Miami University under the direction of Professor Dele Jegede and Curator of Exhibitions, Jason E. Shaiman.

Meditations: The Abstract Nature of H. A. Sigg 

January 28 – May 17, 2014

In the late 1960s, Swiss artist H.A. Sigg was given the opportunity to work with Swissair as an artist-in-residence. To aid in producing his paintings, Sigg was permitted to ride in the cockpit of a commercial airplane and sketch the clouds, land, and rivers below en route to different locations around the globe. While on the first of his journeys to Southeast Asia, he experienced the unique vantage point of looking directly down at the world from afar. The constraints of a limited viewpoint had been removed, allowing Sigg to meditate on his new intellectual approach to and observation of his surroundings.

Reality is Broken: A Student Art Response 

January 28 – May 17, 2014

Works in this exhibition are in response to the book by Jane McGonigal, Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change The World. One of the primary initiatives of the Miami University Art Museum is to attract and interact with students and for those future graduates to experience and participate in the arts in new ways. This first iteration of the Summer Reading Program Student Art Response exhibition, in collaboration with the Miami University Summer Reading Program, is one facet of this exploration. It allows current undergraduate and graduate students to exhibit their art in a museum gallery setting.

35@35: A Museum Collects

August 20 – December 14, 2013

Pure Abstraction

August 20 – December 14, 2013

Distributing Knowledge: The Printed Image, 1500 to 1800

This exhibition was the final project of the Spring 2013 Senior Capstone seminar for the Art and Architecture History major at Miami University.

With the guidance of Dr. Andrew Casper and Jason Shaiman, Curator of Exhibitions at the Miami University Art Museum, students worked collaboratively and individually through all of the necessary stages of the curatorial process, from defining the focus of the exhibition and organizing the thematic approach to the selection of prints from the art museum's collection and writing the associated texts. Active classroom discussions based on texts by numerous scholars provided the essential foundation for the development of this exhibition.

Jean Lodge: Prints, Drawings and Paintings

May 31 – June 29, 2013

Collections Highlights: Recent Acquisitions

May 31 – June 29, 2013

Hamilton High School Art Show

May 31 – June 29, 2013

MU Department of Art Faculty and Alumni Exhibition

January 8 – May 11, 2013

The faculty of the Department of Art are the epitome of the teacher/scholar model for which Miami is well-known. This type of educator equally balances the roles of research/creative activity with curricular development and instruction. They bring their personal work into the classroom for example and engagement, or collaborate with their students on the development of ideas and the creation of projects. This exhibition of faculty, emeriti, and alumni work is a great representation of this culture.

Grass Routes: Pathways to Eurasian Cultures

In Fall 2012, the Havighurst Center co-sponsored a semester-long focus on Eurasian nomads. A museum exhibit, featuring ancient bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, a semester-long lecture series, and undergraduate coursework culminated in a symposium, The Steppes: Crucible of Asia, a multidisciplinary conversation on the history, archaeology, art, languages, and folklore of the Eurasian grassland belt that for millennia served as an important link between civilizations from Europe to China.

University Photographers Association of America Annual Print Competition

June 12 – July 21, 2012

Collections Highlights: Staff Picks

June 12 – July 21, 2012

The 1970s: An Eclectic Art Invasion 

May 25 – July 21, 2012

This exhibition is the final project of the Spring 2012 Senior Capstone seminar developed by Professor Pepper Stetler for the Art and Architecture History major at Miami University.

With the guidance of Dr. Stetler and Curator of Exhibitions Jason Shaiman, at the Miami University Art Museum, students worked collaboratively and individually through all of the necessary stages of the curatorial process, from selecting artworks from the 1970s in the museum's collection to writing associated texts and designing the exhibition logo and layout. Active classroom discussions based on texts by numerous scholars of the period provided the essential foundation for the development of this show.

Talawanda High School Art Exhibit

May 25 – July 21, 2012

Out of the Shadows: The Rise of Women in Art, Part II

January 10 – May 12, 2012

Part II of Out of the Shadows: The Rise of Women in Art continues the study of women and the contributions female artists have made in the fields of photography, textiles and material culture. the current series of exhibitions explores the role of women in the creation of fine and traditional arts that frequently define a culture and a time.

Out of the Shadows: The Rise of Women in Art, Part I

August 23 – December 10, 2011

Part one of this presentation of women in art is a multifaceted exploration that goes beyond a highlight tour of notable women artists. Out of the Shadows examines women as the subject of art, explores the role of women as artists, and looks at the struggles women endured in an effort to be recognized for their talents.

Looking Beyond the Surface: Understanding Identities Through Art

January 11 – July 23, 2011

The concept of identity has been a topic of philosophical, psychological, and social inquiry for thousands of years. Historical figures including Socrates, Plato, Freud, and Jung are most commonly associated with the study of identity. Less often considered, but no less important, are painters, sculptors, and photographers. It is through a study of art that a significant understanding of personal and cultural identity can be explored.

When studying works of art, especially portraiture and genre (scenes of everyday life), two primary questions are considered in an effort to explore the meaning. Who are the artists and what are they expressing about themselves and their subject matter? Often, the artist is presenting a personal identity while questioning the viewer’s understanding of his or her own character and values. This in turn raises the question, “What is an identity?” Is it a set of personal attributes or something much deeper that requires looking beyond the surface?

Animal Tales: Storybooks for Children

August 24 – December 11, 2010

As children, we learn about the world through the stories we read or hear. Animals, birds and insects often play a part in these tales, either as principal actors, human companions or wild species sharing our planet. Organized in collaboration with the King Library Special Collections, this exhibition explores the presence of animals in children’s books from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Included are such classics as Call of the Wild, Winnie-the-Pooh and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Creatures Great and Small

August 24 – December 11, 2010

This suite of exhibitions investigates the powerful ways the natural world has functioned as a storyteller. In earlier times the complex relationship between humans and animals found expression in folk traditions of storytelling and craft production. In more recent centuries, artists have drawn upon this resource for inspiration in their work. Artists and writers continue to be influenced by the natural world, and their stories create an enduring cultural heritage.

Art Glass: Sculpture & Possession

January 14 – July 23, 2010

Objects made of glass have been a part of the physical landscape for centuries—used for function, decoration, or contemplation in both public and private settings. Once a luxury item, glass objects are now relatively abundant and inexpensive. Art Glass: Sculpture and Possession features glass objects, such as paperweights, pressed glass goblets, and small sculptures, and considers them in both aesthetic and economic terms as objects of admiration and objects of consumption. In addition to objects from the Art Museum’s permanent collection, including Louis Comfort Tiffany vases and Population Portrait #7, Marble Jar #5 by contemporary artist Mark Matthews, this exhibition debuts a large portion of a major bequest from paperweight collector Dr. Carman Bahr.

Adornment & Excess: Jewelry in the 21st Century

January 21 – July 23, 2010

Historically, but not exclusively tied to constructions of wealth and opulence, jewelry can function as a material reflection of a society, a natural barometer of what is valued at a certain time, how, and why. Several contemporary art jewelers interested in using jewelry as a way to raise questions and/or awareness about significant cultural issues consider decadence and extravagance as a conceptual project, while others purposefully create objects and “gemstones” with recycled materials. Both directions emphasize the materiality of jewelry as a commodity, as a symbol, and as a carrier of meaning. In addition, these jewelers are drawing attention to how we consume materials and objects historically, visually, and metaphorically.

Consuming Clay: Porcelain Wares from the 18th and 19th Centuries

January 28 – July 23, 2010

Value, whether monetary or sentimental, actual or perceived, is not static and can be determined by a complex range of variables. Connected to social and class status, porcelain wares from the 18th and 19th centuries were once tangible signifiers of wealth, position, and power in Western Europe and the United States. Tables were piled with lavish settings of hand-decorated, fine porcelain—an ostentatious practice that related to ceremony, consumption, ritual, and cultural identity. Emphasizing the relationship between consumer practices and luxury goods, Consuming Clay features historical tableware and decorative objects from premier Western European manufacturers such as Sèvres, Meissen, Höchst, and Belleek, as well as Chinese export ware.

Mik Stousland: The Art of Delight

A member of Miami University’s Department of Architecture from 1952 to 1985, Charles Eugene “Mik” (Mike) Stousland also created jewelry, sculpture, prints, and more. This retrospective exhibition, with loans from several private local collections, offers a rare opportunity to compare his work across media.

Miami University Department of Art 2009 Bicentennial Exhibition

An exceptional mixture of past and present, this exhibition features contemporary prints, paintings, design, sculpture and jewelry created by current Department of Art faculty and their nominees of recent retired/former faculty and alumni.

Darwin's Firsts

October 1 – December 12, 2009

The museum installation includes first editions of many of Darwin’s works from the Lloyd Library in Cincinnati, including a rare presentation copy of On the Origin of Species. Visitors will be able to leaf through facsimile copies of the first edition, a special illustrated edition of the work, and commentaries on the significance of Darwin to the modern world.

Figure and Form

September 3 – December 12, 2009

As a constant and significant subject, the human figure has been variously represented across time and space. Figure and Form includes not only depictions of the human body via traditional portraits or symbolic figures but also adornment such as garments, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that theoretically frame the figure in space. Over 110 works will be on display including portrait paintings by Thomas Satterwhite Noble (1835-1907) and Allan Ramsay (1713-1784), bronze and ivory Art Deco sculpture by Demetre Chiparus (1886-1947), Pre-Columbian figures, a selection of African and Native American jewelry from the 20th century and an oversize neckpiece by contemporary metalsmith Jesse Mathes.

Compositions in Black and White

August 27 – December 12, 2009

Compositions in Black and White juxtaposes a multitude of objects—from Pueblo pottery and contemporary prints to sculptural reliefs and a 19th-century dress—that share a similar color palette of black and white. Not just a formal comparison of objects and ideas, this exhibition investigates the symbolic, metaphoric and practical use of color and dynamic composition to convey meaning. Features over 55 works including selections by Leon Golub (1922-2004), Philip Morsberger, Julian Stanczak, Thom Shaw and Kara Walker.

Ring of Truth

August 20 – December 12, 2009

In an era of digital manipulation, reality can be altered quickly and seamlessly. This compelling exhibition investigates how “truth” has been represented and understood in visual terms, raising questions about perception, fact, and certainty. Whether a landscape painting from the late 19th century or a self-portrait photograph from 1984, these 2-dimensional works offer the opportunity to consider the role of the artist - and, by extension, the role of anyone - in creating images and constructing stories. Features over 25 photographs, prints, and paintings, including works by John James Audubon (1785-1851), Audrey Flack, Cindy Sherman, Victor Vasarely (1908-1997), George W. White (1826-1890) and Margaret Bourke White (1904-1971).

myaamiaki iiši meehtohseeniwiciki: How the Miami People Live

The exhibition features artifacts and objects from the Miami Tribe whose original homeland encompassed the midwestern lands and rivers now named after them. Displays date from a facsimile of a Wea Deer Hide Map, circa 1775, to contemporary art by Miami Tribal members. The exhibition celebrates the vibrant heritage of the Miami Tribe, currently undergoing a language and culture revitalization effort.

Paintings, Prints and Sculpture: Selections from the Permanent Collection

January 24 – June 16, 2008

As an ongoing installation, this exhibition highlights various artistic periods and media from the museum's collection. These works are specifically selected to serve the needs of university courses.

Dialogue with Nature: New Conceptions of Organic Architecture

January 15 – May 10, 2008

This dynamic exhibition underscores the social import of architecture as it features models, sketches, photographs and studies in various media made by Miami University students responding to design issues at two internationally acclaimed house museums, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in Pennsylvania and the Burton J. Westcott House, Ohio.

Tanks, Helicopters, Guns and Grenades: Afghan War Rugs 1980s - 2007

September 7 – December 15, 2007

80 war rugs offer a rare opportunity to investigate the complex historical, political and social realities of the Afghani region.

Of Poems, Of Legends: Persian and Mughal Painting

September 7 – December 15, 2007

Jewels of Central Asia

September 7 – December 15, 2007

Central Asian jewelry that challenges how we understand identity through the symbols of adornment.

Magic Carpet Ride

September 7 – December 15, 2007

A gallery transforms into a Harem Tent, using examples of the museum’s traditional Near and Middle Eastern and Central Asian objects.

Selections from Pakistan to Turkey

September 7 – December 15, 2007

The museum features Luristan bronzes, Syro-Palestinian glass bottles and vases, Amlash ceramics, and Hurrian sculptures.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

January 26 – June 20, 2007

While dreaming up rocket ships and ray guns long before man's walk on the moon, the comic strip series, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century also displays American cultural fear of Red China, the Yellow Peril (Japan), and the exotic asiatic "other" during the early-mid 20th century, reminding us that our 21st century political events and warfare abroad, and at home, are not the first clash, real or imagined, between civilizations east and west, or conflation of distinctions between alien and foreign.

Barbara Hershey: Remains

January 26 – June 20, 2007

The museum's ongoing theme of "social justice" continues with this small exhibition of works by the late Miami University professor of photography Barbara Hershey. This series of Hershey's photographic collages of destroyed synagogues is based on the artist's work in Czechoslovakia in the early 1990s, where she discovered many destroyed Jewish monuments.

Destination Anywhere

January 26 – April 27, 2007

Reflecting on a pivotal moment in their life as it reflects to art and their respective disabilities, 15 young artists are represented in this annual juried show of painting, photography and multi-media work organized by VSA Arts, an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center.

IMAGEworks / WORDworks

January 26 – June 20, 2007

This exhibition celebrates the works of poets that also produce visual art. Artists include Norma Cole, Tom Raworth, Marjorie Welish, and the collaborative team of cris cheek and Kirsten Lavers names TNWK (Things Not Worth Keeping). Each explores the intersections of word and image through richly varied media. Guest curated by Miami University English Department Professor and Chair, Keith Tuma. Supported in part of the Clark Family Capstone Fund.

Chopped! Art of the Custom Motorcycle

Natalie Marsh, Guest Curator, Columbus College of Art and Design
Celebrating the art behind the engine, Chopped displays some of the most creative customized motorcycles in our region.

Social Justice: Robert Indiana

After 40 years, Robert Indiana's political paintings The Confederacy: Louisiana, 1966 and The Confederacy: Alabama, 1965 continue to serve as visual metaphors addressing issues of social justice in contemporary American society.

Silk Road Oasis: The Sculpture of Ancient Gandhara

August 29 - December 16, 2006

Co-sponsored by the Havighurst Center for Post-Soviet Studies
This exhibition examines the cultural context of the Gandharan region through ancient coinage and features an open screening of the documentary, "The Giant Buddhas," a film by Christian Frei about the destruction of the famous Buddha statues in Afghanistan.

Graphic Content: Art of the New Music Poster

August 29 - November 18, 2006

Dirk Fowler, Curator, Texas Tech University School of Art, Lubbock
This exhibition highlights the explosion that is currently taking place in the new gigposter scene since 2000 and examines current trends in screenprinted poster designs.

Treasures on Paper from the Lloyd: Plants and Fungi

April 11 - July 1, 2006

Highlighting landmark prints of botanical imagery from the Lloyd Library in Cincinnati, this exhibition commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Miami University Botany.

Contemporary Art

April 11 - July 1, 2006

Contemporary artists make their visual statements using a range of artistic means. This exhibition explores some of the trends of our times.

In Hand: Containers and Vessels

March 28 - July 1, 2006

Looking beyond the functional purpose of containers and vessels, this exhibition will delve into the cultural, symbolic and religious significance of these decorative art objects.

Contemporary American Indian Art: Speaking Without Words

January 17 - May 6, 2006

Speaking Without Words aims to carry audiences into the world of 20th and 21st-century American Indian politics by addressing current issues and concerns, such as language reclamation, cultural revitalization, education, leadership, sovereignty, and indigenity.

Thomas R. Schiff: Panoramic Photographs

January 17 - May 6, 2006

Thomas R. Schiff's large-scale panoramic photography allows the viewer to experience a 360-degree perspective of regional city parks, architecture, and landscapes.

Julian Stanczak: Constellation Series Paintings

January 17 - Mar 25, 2006

Julian Stanczak's Constellation Series is the most recent collection of vibrant paintings by one of the leaders of the Op Art movement. Stanczak studied with Joseph Albers at Yale University and has exhibited widely during his 40-year artistic career.

Hindu Darshan: Exploring the Art of India

January 1 - April 2, 2006

Darshan, to be in the presence of a holy object or shrine, is a vital experience for millions of Hindus. This exhibition highlights keepsake paintings made for pilgrims to the holy center of Puri and a group of miniature paintings from Kashmir.