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Bardo Arts Center Blog

Explore upcoming events, experiences, and opportunities!

A close-up image shows three sculpted human brains mounted on thin metal rods against a dark, nearly black background. The brains are arranged in a row from left to right, with the leftmost slightly out of focus and the rightmost most prominent. Each brain has a rough, textured surface covered in greenish and mottled tones, with patches of red and orange accents that appear embedded in or clinging to the surface. One of the brains has a noticeable cracked or hollowed section, exposing an uneven interior.

Veteran Obsolete: Geoffrey Bowton

Featuring glass work by military veteran Geoffrey Bowton, this exhibition draws upon Bowton’s own experiences with combat deployments to confront the emotional and psychological challenges faced by veterans re-entering civilian life.  

Black-and-white, highly textured print depicting a chaotic, layered scene of splintered wooden structures and dense vegetation. In the upper portion, an angular, partially collapsed building emerges from a tangle of broken planks and beams. The foreground is filled with swirling, wave-like carved lines suggesting ground or water, while sharp, overlapping marks create a sense of motion and fragmentation. The composition is dense and abstracted, with jagged lines and intricate patterns dominating the entire surface, giving the image a turbulent and dramatic atmosphere.

Mary Stewart: Apocalypse Series and Other Works

Created in the 1990s in response to the Gulf War, Mary Stewart’s Apocalypse Series offers a civilian’s perspective on the upheavals of war at a time when news reports from the Middle East were reaching the ears of a global public.   

Image courtesy of South Arts.

2026 South Arts Southern Prize and State Fellowships for Visual Arts Exhibition

Launched in 2017 by South Arts, the Southern Prize and State Fellowships for Visual Arts program celebrates and supports exemplary contemporary art in the American South.  

Image from BFA Portfolio Exhibition 2025.

2026 Bachelor of Fine Art Portfolio Exhibition

Experience work by graduating Bachelor of Fine Arts students from the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµSchool of Art and Design.  

Abstract image featuring a glowing, cross-like shape formed by luminous white and pale gold lines at the center of a dark, blurred background. The central form appears fluid and organic, with irregular edges resembling melted or light-exposed material spreading outward. Surrounding areas show soft gradients and streaks in muted gray, brown, and black tones, with subtle drips and layered textures that create a sense of motion and depth. The overall effect resembles a photographic or chemical reaction captured in close-up, emphasizing light, contrast, and fluidity.

Kei Ito: Can There be Shadows within a Flash

Kei Ito’s work expands photography through camera-less processes, sound, and material transformation. Drawing from his family history as a third-generation Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor, Ito explores memory, war, and the invisible forces that shape both human and environmental experience.  

Wide view of a contemporary art gallery with light wood floors and white walls, featuring multiple artworks displayed in glass cases and on pedestals. In the foreground, a small wooden table and chair hold open books and two desk lamps. Several transparent display enclosures hang from the ceiling, containing ceramic pieces, vessels, and sculptural objects. In the middle of the room, a colorful, textured sculpture stands on a pedestal near a purple abstract form. Framed artworks line the walls in the background, and track lighting above illuminates the space evenly, creating a clean, organized exhibition environment.

2027 School of Art and Design Faculty Biennial

Every two years, the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµFine Art Museum offers faculty in the School of Art and Design the opportunity to share their artwork with the University community.  

Wide view of a contemporary art gallery with white walls displaying framed artworks and small installations. In the foreground, a dark sculpture of a reclining human figure rests on a low, hexagonal wooden pedestal. In the midground, a glass display case atop a white plinth contains small objects, while additional framed pieces and a wall-mounted display box with drawings are arranged along the walls. The space is well-lit with clean floors and minimal decor, emphasizing the artworks.

59th Annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition

This exhibition is an extraordinary opportunity for Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµundergraduate students to share their artwork with a larger public and to enhance their skills in presenting artwork in a professional gallery setting.   

Image from 2026 MFA Thesis Exhibition.

2027 Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition

Experience the culmination of three years of intense creative study and exploration in this exhibition highlighting artwork by graduating MFA students in the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµSchool of Art and Design.   

Kenneth Noland, Reef, 1969, acrylic on canvas, 44 x 164.25 inches. ©Kenneth Noland. Gift of the Artist. Image courtesy of Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµPhoto Services.

20th Anniversary Exhibition

Step into a visual timeline that celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµFine Art Museum through a dynamic exhibition showcasing decades of Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ's dedication to collecting and curating contemporary art.