Contemporary Art Forum
Miami University’s Department of Art welcomes a diverse lineup of contemporary artists, educators, designers, and creative professionals each semester as part of the Miami University Contemporary Art Forum.
The free lecture series offers students, faculty, staff, and community members an opportunity to hear directly from artists about their creative practices, careers, and the ideas that shape their work. Presentations will explore topics ranging from painting and sculpture to photography, ceramics, community advocacy, art history, and interdisciplinary creative projects.
2026 Artist Talks
All presentations begin at 5:50 p.m. in Art 100, 400 S. Patterson Ave., Oxford, unless otherwise noted. The series is free and open to everyone.
All events can be found on the university calendar and are listed below.
Adrienne Dixon — September 3
“Between Nature and the Built Environment: Large-Scale Painting as Site of Transformation”
Multidisciplinary artist, educator, and arts administrator Adrienne Dixon will discuss her studio practice and career journey. Her large-scale paintings explore the tension between nature and the built environment, using houseplants and domestic spaces to consider ideas of consumption, ecology and transformation.
Bridgette Bogle — September 10
“Unsmoothed Lumps”
Artist and Sinclair Community College professor Bridgette Bogle will discuss her transition from painting to soft sculpture and the ways motherhood, family life and the maternal body have shaped her work. Her sculptures incorporate domestic materials including old bed sheets, children's clothing and bras.
Rick Mallette — September 24
“Recent Work”
Cincinnati-based visual artist Rick Mallette will present a survey of his artistic career, examining the evolution of his imagery and ideas across painting, drawing, digital media and virtual reality. His figurative abstraction draws inspiration from popular culture and caricature.
Unfolding Stories 2026: Stories from the RCCAM Collection — October 15
A multidisciplinary panel will explore the ongoing Unfolding Stories project, which brings together faculty and students from Studio Art, Dance, and Architecture & Interior Design to create new works inspired by the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum collection.
Panelists include Joomi Chung, Kelley Booze, Larry Collins, Ashley Goos, Diane Fellows, Jenna Eder, Dayne Hill, and Exon Vasquez-Serrano. The project encompasses art historical research, animation and video, mixed media installation, dance and architectural design, offering new interpretations of works ranging from pre-Columbian artifacts to contemporary art. An exhibition is on view in Hiestand Galleries October 15, 2026–November 17, 2026. The exhibition, related programs, projection events, and this talk are part of FOTOFOCUS.
Jon Masuo Yamashiro and Jennifer Pearson Yamashiro — October 22
“The World War II Incarceration of Japanese Americans – Bridging Past and Present Through Photographs and Words”
Miami University faculty members Jon Masuo Yamashiro and Jennifer Pearson Yamashiro will discuss a collaborative visual and written project examining the history of Japanese American incarceration during World War II. Their work grew from a personal experience involving questions about their children's Japanese ancestry and led the family to visit multiple incarceration sites, confronting the history of prejudice and xenophobia through photography, writing, and family experience. An exhibition of works related to this talk are on view at the Oxford Community Art Center October 9, 2026–November 7, 2026. The exhibition and this talk are part of FOTOFOCUS.
Ana England — October 29
“Kinship and Other Universal Structures”
Ceramic artist and Professor Emeritus Ana England will discuss the development of her sculptural forms and her lifelong research into evolutionary time, cultural iconography and universal structures. Her work explores connections among organisms and the larger idea of kinship across species and cultures.
Michael Jacobs — November 5
“Artistic Practice and Pursuit”
Cincinnati-based artist Michael Jacobs will share insights from his experience building an artistic career outside of academia. Drawing from his studio practice and professional work in industrial design, Jacobs will discuss creating meaningful work, finding opportunities to exhibit, and navigating possible paths into the art world.
Briana Mazzolini-Blanchard — November 12
“Beyond the Classroom: Reimagining Leadership as Community Advocacy”
Indigenous artist, community organizer, and Executive Director of the Urban Native Collective, Briana Mazzolini-Blanchard, will discuss creative leadership, community advocacy, and nontraditional career paths. Her work centers on visual sovereignty, intentional representation, and creating spaces that amplify Indigenous and underrepresented artists.
Together, the fall series reflects the breadth of contemporary art practice and the many ways artists contribute to their communities — as makers, educators, curators, administrators, advocates, and creative leaders.
“The Contemporary Art Forum gives our students the chance to encounter a wide range of professional practices and perspectives,” said series coordinator Tracey Fethaerstone. “Just as importantly, these conversations are open to the entire community, creating opportunities for anyone interested in contemporary art and creative careers to engage directly with artists and thinkers.”
