Structures

This dynamic selection of 20th- and 21st-century artworks from the museum’s permanent collection explores the ways that art can speak to or question the formal, physical, environmental, social, and institutional structures of our world. Here you will encounter the work of Melvin Edwards, whose Lynch Fragments series inspires thoughtful reflection on America’s complex and violent history. DJ and visual artist, Rozeal, addresses racism and the complexities of cultural appropriation and globalization in our current times. Alberto Rey encourages viewers to consider their own ecological surroundings from which we are often disconnected. These connections to regional resources and materials are also seen in the work of Maria and Julian Martinez, who innovated upon ancient forms of pottery in ways that still inspire Pueblo artists. Oftentimes, multiple structures are present in the same artwork, providing pathways and opportunities for interpretation and inquiry. From paintings to sculpture, from pottery to jewelry, the artworks in this exhibition inspire conversations about how our world is structured. 

Image: Armando Mariño, Cuban, b. 1968. De frente al publico—Hombre de espalda y hombre de frente (In front of the public—Man from the back and man from the front), 2003. Oil on canvas, 70 x 53 in. (177.8 x 134.6 cm). Collection of The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia. Museum purchase with support from the FUNd, 2003.20. © Armando Mariño