Sharp Museum | Southern Illinois University

Exhibits

North Hall

Mitchell Gallery

• Trajectory: Arch Connelly III & Jimmy Wright
  August 22nd – December 15th, 2023
  "In the year that witnessed the Stonewall Uprising and moon landing, there couldn’t have been a more fertile time for seeking liberation while looking at the stars. Arch and Jimmy embody that spirit, ever expanding on how the lived experience is fantastical. Their bond at SIU, based as it was on looking at art in all its forms, was under the influence of how the figurative was decorative and how the decorative was alive. Both Arch and Jimmy have an uncanny way of being so present in and ahead of their time, it's hard to believe that only decades after they met at SIU the world is now ready for their works to be a part of the conversation, as part of museum collections and exhibitions. But if one thinks of a trajectory, a literal throwing across in Latin, their work will always land beyond our expectations."

Continuum Gallery

• Bayard Series: Bruce Porter

  August 22nd – December 15th, 2023
  Drawing from a myriad of influences, artist Bruce Porter is able to create high energy nonrepresentational screen prints that are reflective of his unique life and interests. Growing up in Rochester, New York, and later moving to New York City, Porter taps into these life experiences and melds them with his passion for mythology to create his signature style.

Atrium Gallery

• Curators' Choice: John Axton
  August 22nd – October 7th, 2023
  The Sharp Museum's collection hosts several works from many extremely talented artists. The Curators have gone through the Museum's collection of fine art to select the captivating paintings of the South West by artist John Axton.
  
  
• Metal Detected
  October 15th – December 15th, 2023
  "Metal Detected" is the annual exhibition curated by the Southern Illinois Metalsmith Society, showcasing works from past and present students from the Metals Department.

South Hall

• Southern Illinois Gallery
  Our Region
  Ongoing
  "Our Region" is an exhibition of Southern Illinois history, featuring artifacts from the Sharp Museum and Center for Archaeological Investigations collections.
  
  
• Lutes Gallery
  European Painting, Sculpture, and Decorative Arts
  Ongoing
  This exhibition highlights paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and furniture from Renaissance Europe selected from the collection of Carl W. Lutes.
  
  
• Saluki Gallery
  Chére Caresse: Art in the Crosby Papers
  August 22nd – December 15th, 2023
  Caresse Crosby was never a woman to sit idly by, she was always in pursuit of the next adventure. As an independent publisher and gallerist, she always strove to support and promote artists and writers any way that she could. Often giving voices and representation to those who otherwise struggled to find such support. Our exhibition "Chére Caresse" celebrates this amazing woman's legacy.
  
  
• West Gallery
  Raising the Bar
  August 22nd – December 15th, 2023
  When Tom Walsh began teaching at SIU he was tasked with creating a metals program that would be second to none. And over an 18 year period, he accomplished that. Creating a foundry that was the best equipped in the nation at its time. Allowing the Art and Design department to grab the attention of many prominent artists. This exhibition celebrates that program, and the many artists that participated in it.
  
  
• Hall of Art
  A Stitch Apart
  August 22nd – November 3rd, 2023
  The Sharp Museum's art collection features works spanning multiple styles and media. But some of the most intriguing come from our textile collections. The works selected for this exhibition reimagine what "Fine Art" can be, with artists and artisans delving into the world of textiles.
  
  
• Study Gallery
  Folk Art
  August 22nd – December 15th, 2023
  An exhibition of Folk and Outsider art from the Sharp Museum's collection curated by Jodi Ruffner. This exhibition explores the creative spirit inherent in all people, highlighting ways people from the Southern Illinois region pursued this.
  
  
• International Gallery
  Dressed to Impress
  September 4th – December 15th, 2023
  In the fashion world style is a concepts that transcend nationality. With different cultures around the world creating their own unique and wonderful clothing traditions. The Curators at the University have scoured the Archive to find exciting examples of these traditions from our various international collections.