This fall, the Art Museum of West Virginia University invites visitors to experience two thought-provoking exhibitions, “Evolving Visions: A Century of Women Artists Working in Abstraction,” and “Topographies of Memory” by Gamaliel Rodriguez. Both exhibitions are now open and will remain on view through Sunday, December 15.
Curated by Bob Bridges, “Evolving Visions” highlights a century of groundbreaking work by women artists who have shaped the language of abstraction. The exhibition features works from the museum’s collection, beginning with early pioneers like Blanche Lazzell—West Virginia’s most significant modernist artist—and culminating in contemporary pieces created within the last few years.
“My curatorial vision stems from the fact that historically, female artists have been overlooked, and male artists have unfairly dominated art history and museum collections,” Bridges said. “This exhibition shines a light on the women artists in our collection, offering a visual representation of quality and innovation across the past 100 years.”
Visitors will see a range of techniques, materials, and approaches, revealing how women have expanded abstraction through geometry, color, form, and conceptual depth. The exhibition celebrates the resilience and creativity of women artists working in a historically male-dominated field and creates a dialogue between generations of creators.
“Topographies of Memory” is the first mid-career survey of Puerto Rican artist Gamaliel Rodriguez, whose striking monochromatic drawings and landscapes examine the tension between memory, displacement and the built environment.
Rodriguez draws inspiration from Puerto Rico’s cultural history and daily life, juxtaposing the island’s vibrancy with the challenges it faces, from climate change to recurring infrastructural crises. His works invite visitors to reflect on how personal and collective memory shape identity and community.
Through fragmented, snapshot-like imagery, Rodriguez prompts viewers to consider themes of presence and absence, belonging and loss, and the ways in which memory both anchors and challenges us.
To encourage deeper engagement with the themes of memory, abstraction, and storytelling explored in these exhibitions, the Art Museum of WVU is offering a series of public programs for both adults and children.
Lunchtime Looks are short presentations and discussions led by speakers with a variety of interdisciplinary backgrounds. These informal talks are geared toward adults and offer fresh insights into the Art Museum’s exhibitions and collections.
- October 3 – Lunchtime Looks with Dr. Daniel Renfrew
- November 7 – Lunchtime Looks with Dr. María Pérez
During Story Hour, the galleries come to life for young visitors and their families. Each session features a reading connected to one of our current exhibitions, “Evolving Visions: A Century of Women Artists Working in Abstraction” or “Topographies of Memory,” followed by a hands-on art activity inspired by the works on view. While stories and activities are designed with children ages 4–7 in mind, visitors of all ages are welcome to join the fun. Story Hour events will be held Sept. 14, Oct. 19 and Nov. 9.
The Art Museum of WVU is open Thursday through Sunday from 12:30 to 6 p.m., and admission is always free. For more information about current exhibitions, upcoming programs and visitor details, visit artmuseum.wvu.edu.