News, Stories and Media

Harriet Bart: Material Alchemy explores the transformative power of memory through art. From textile-based objects to public sculptures at Iowa State University, Bart’s work highlights how objects, words, and poetry preserve, protect, and shape remembrance. Her art invites viewers to consider histories and experiences often overlooked or forgotten.

Double Take: Insights on Figural Expression examines how artists alter the human form to shift perception and reveal deeper meanings about identity, culture, and humanity. Through stylized figures, political cartoons, and expressive sketches from University Museums’ permanent collection, the exhibition highlights the power of visual interpretation when familiar forms are transformed.

All the Evils: Christian Petersen and the Art of War explores Christian Petersen’s artistic engagement with themes of conflict and human struggle. Featuring sculptures from the Christian Petersen Art Collection alongside loans from private collections, the exhibition examines how war and societal challenges are reflected and interpreted through artistic expression.

The Iowa State University Biographical Dictionary – Featured Bios is a comprehensive digital project highlighting nearly 500 individuals who have shaped the legacy of Iowa State University. Authored by more than 150 contributors, each entry follows the Iowa Biographical Dictionary model and includes key details such as birth and death dates, education, career milestones, and significant contributions to the university. Essays range from 750–1,000 words and are supported by primary and secondary sources, with selected photographs and portraits included when available. Developed with guidance from a selection committee, the project recognizes faculty, staff, alumni, and public figures who achieved statewide, national, or international prominence or made lasting cultural contributions to Iowa State.

Inspired by the updated definition from the International Council of Museums, which describes museums as inclusive spaces for critical dialogue about the past and future, the reACT Exhibition Series invites meaningful campus conversations through art. Organized by University Museums, the series offers Iowa State faculty and professional and scientific staff the opportunity to serve as guest curators, creating exhibitions that respond to current events relevant to the university community. By bringing together works from the permanent collection in new and thought-provoking ways, reACT fosters respectful dialogue, diverse perspectives, and deeper engagement with timely issues.

AMES, Iowa — The Faces of Iowa State project carries forward a portrait tradition that began at Iowa State University in the 1930s, when the institution commissioned paintings to honor presidents, deans, distinguished faculty, and notable alumni. Revived in the 1990s and reimagined in 2016 at the Iowa State Fair, the project continues to celebrate the leaders, innovators, and community members who shape the university’s legacy. Organized by University Museums, Faces of Iowa State highlights the power of portraiture to tell stories of leadership, scholarship, and service. Through art, the project reflects the university’s history while honoring the individuals whose contributions define its future.

Perceptions of Identity: Paintings by Rose Frantzen explores the complexities of identity through portraiture and visual perception. On view January 25–July 30, 2021 in the Campbell Gallery at the Christian Petersen Art Museum, the exhibition features works from Frantzen’s In the Face of Illusion series alongside portraits from her Faces of Iowa State series. Organized by University Museums and curated by Sydney Marshall, the exhibition examines how age, race, ability, and societal expectations shape both self-perception and the way we view others. Through commissioned portraits and studio works, Frantzen invites viewers to reflect on the illusions and assumptions that influence identity within individuals and communities.

As we begin this season of bounty and thanks one aspect of Victorian life comes to mind, especially since the upcoming holidays are deeply focused around food and, for many, religion. During the 1870s to early 1900s many patterns for pressed glass had the Bible verse "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" (Matthew 6:11) molded into a bread plate or tray and included as part of the table setting.