On view through December 6, 2025, The Jule’s latest exhibitions investigate the theme of “belonging” as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary.
AUBURN, Ala.—As the nation looks ahead to its semiquincentennial, or the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, residents might catch themselves reflecting on the actions taken by those revolting colonists so long ago and what it means to us today living in a pluralistic society. The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University is considering this as well through its newest slate of exhibitions themed around the idea of “belonging” In the United States through visual art.
“Each year, our galleries are themed around a broad topic for visitors to consider in a variety of ways,” said Chris Molinski, the Janet L. Nolan Director of Curatorial and Educational Affairs. “This year’s theme of ‘belonging’ asks visitors from across the university and its surrounding community to consider what ‘belonging’ looks like, across time, memory and culture.”
Woven through The Jule’s questions of belonging as understood through the lens of American art is the evolving story of the museum’s Advancing American Art collection. Auburn purchased 36 paintings in 1948 from the “Advancing American Art” exhibition that had traveled around the world promoting the freedom of expression and creativity. Today those pieces are the foundation of the university art collection; and nearly 1/3 of them reflect the core of this fall’s exhibition “Being and Belonging in American Art: 1946/2026.” Guest-curated by the University of South Alabama’s Dr. Elizabeth S. Hawley, the exhibition pairs objects from Advancing American Art with other pieces from the university art collection and some loaned works, asking visitors to compare what defined “American” in 1946 with what they see in contemporary objects.
In the museum’s largest gallery, The Jule tells the next chapter of the Advancing American Art story with works by Helen Frankenthaler, Grace Hartigan, Lee Krasner and other artists in “Women Artists in Ascendance.” With loans from the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, this exhibition looks at how art radically transformed in the wake of World War II, embracing new materials, experimental techniques and dynamic processes that reflected the increasing complexities of the modern world. Male artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning dominated the art scene in the early 1950s, but women began to take center stage upon the publication of LIFE magazine’s eponymous article in 1957. Despite their achievements, women artists often faced systemic barriers to recognition and resources compared to their male peers, and “Women Artists in Ascendance,” similar to the original vision of the 1946 Advancing American Art exhibition, celebrates the resilience and innovation of artists across generations. The exhibition also features objects from Auburn’s art collection by Alice Baber, Grace Hartigan, Louise Nevelson and Mildred Thompson.
The story of 20th-century art history continues into the 21st with “Binh Danh: Advancing American Art,” in which a survey of work by the inaugural William Collins Smith Auburn Award recipient is exhibited.. Known for pioneering the chlorophyll print—a process using sunlight to imprint images onto leaves—and his mirrored daguerreotypes of the United States National Parks, Danh’s photography centers questions around memory, history and identity, asking viewers how they see themselves and others in the American story.
In “Foreign in a Domestic Sense,” contemporary artists Sofía Gallisá Muriente and Natalia Lassalle-Morillo layer testimonies, archival fragments and poetic imagery in their immersive video installation. Examining stories of Puerto Rican communities within the state of Florida, the exhibition confronts intersections of climate, migration and identity. And in the latest iteration of the “Radical Naturalism” series, The Jule’s poet-in-residence, Nicole Sealey, brings a contemporary voice to John James Audubon’s legacy, inviting visitors to engage with bird portraits and creative writing. The galleries will function as a space of inquiry, studying how we talk about, describe, define and understand art, with poems adorning gallery walls alongside Audubon’s iconic prints from “The Birds of America.”
In addition to all-new exhibitions, Auburn’s art museum is introducing a new public tour offering from the museum’s cohort of student workers. Each day the museum is open, visitors of all ages, knowledge levels and interests can join a guided tour of the exhibitions at 5:00 p.m. from an Auburn University student serving as a Student Guide for deeper engagement opportunities.
“Students are at the heart of Auburn’s art museum,” said Cindi Malinick, museum executive director. “In addition to gaining valuable work experience they can take forward into their professional lives, our Student Guides help visitors understand art and museum work more deeply.
All exhibitions are now on view at The Jule through December 6, 2025. Admission and registration are free. Visit jcsm.auburn.edu for more information.
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