The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt

SCHMIDT CENTER PUBLIC SPACE

On View: December 9, 2025 – December 16, 2025 

In recognition of World AIDS Day, the University Galleries is honored to partner for the third year with Compass Community Center and its collaborators to display six panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt—the largest community art project in history. Now over 35 years old, the quilt is composed of more than 50,000 hand-sewn panels, each one commemorating an individual lost to HIV/AIDS. 
The project began in 1985, when activist Cleve Jones invited participants in a candlelight march in San Francisco to honor those who had died by writing their names on placards. Arranged like a patchwork quilt, these placards became the inspiration for what would become the NAMES Project, first exhibited at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in 1987. 

Nathan-ism

SCHMIDT CENTER PUBLIC SPACE

On View: January 12, 2026 – January 30, 2026 

Opening Reception: January 12, 2026, from 4:30pm - 8:30pm

After the war, Allied powers – the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union – came together to form the International Military Tribunal (IMT). From 1945 to 1946, Nazi German leaders stood trial for crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy to commit any of the foregoing crimes. Nathan-ism captures the life and memories of Nathan Hilu, a Jewish artist whose recollections span historical milestones, including his role as a guard at the Nuremberg Trials. This experience fueled a lifetime of artistic inspiration for Nathan, a virtually unknown "outsider artist," who spent the next 70 years obsessively creating a visual narrative from his memories. 

America 250: We Hold These Truths: We Walk These Grounds

SCHMIDT CENTER GALLERY & PUBLIC SPACE

On View: January 22, 2026 – March 29, 2026 

Opening Reception: January 22, 2026, from 4:30pm - 8:30pm

On the eve of the United States’ 250th anniversary, We Hold These Truths: We Walk These Grounds brings together contemporary artists whose works examine the layered meanings of American identity, land, and legacy. Through photography, fine craft, and installation, artists reimagine familiar symbols—apple trees, wild horses, longhorn steer, presidential portraits, and family heirlooms—as portals into personal and collective memory. Award-winning artists featured in the exhibition include, among others, Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Mills, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Artistic Innovation grantee John Hitchcock, and NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow Daesha Devón Harris.

Rooted in the belief that patriotism can hold complexity, the exhibition invites viewers to reflect on what it means to love a place, what it took to build it, the spirits that haunt it, and what it will take to shape its future. In tracing the many paths that crisscross this nation, the exhibition reminds us that to walk these grounds is to participate in an ever-evolving story of what it means to be American.  

Insecurities in Paradise

SCHMIDT CENTER PUBLIC SPACE

On View: February 10, 2026 – March 1, 2026 

Opening Reception: February 10, 2026, from 4:30pm - 6:30pm

The Insecurities in Paradise exhibit features visual narratives by five Florida Atlantic University students confronting the realities of housing insecurity while pursuing their education. Through photography and personal storytelling, the project offers an intimate lens into their Struggles, highlighting the resilience of student communities and prompting reflection on how universities can more effectively respond to basic needs insecurity. 

Insights VIII: Brainy Days

RITTER ART GALLERY

On View: February 19, 2026 – March 15, 2026 

Opening Reception: February 19, 2026, from 4:30pm - 8:30pm

The Ritter Art Gallery is honored to present Insights VIII, a compelling exhibition showcasing the passion and creativity of artists living with bipolar disorder. Selected from over 200 national submissions, these works illuminate the healing resonance of visual language as it gives form to psychological states and interior landscapes. This exhibition is made possible through the generosity of the Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation, dedicated to fostering awareness and understanding of bipolar disorder, and is proudly sponsored by FAU’s Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. Insights VIII challenges stigma and celebrates resilience, revealing the complex landscape of bipolar experience while fostering awareness, empathy, and dialogue through the transformative power of art. 

Annual Juried Student Exhibition

SCHMIDT CENTER PUBLIC SPACE

On View: March 26, 2026 – April 12, 2026 

Opening Reception: March 26, 2026, from 4:30pm - 8:30pm

Juried and selected by guest arts professionals, this exhibition presents the top works submitted by FAU students across all majors and campuses. Produced and organized by students for students, the resulting exhibition presents a diverse spectrum of the creative and artistic talents at FAU. The exhibition is produced by the University Galleries, FAU, with help from the Department of Visual Arts and Art History. 

Art of Science

RITTER ART GALLERY

On View: March 31, 2026 – April 19, 2026 

Opening Reception: March 31, 2026, from 4:30pm - 8:30pm

The Ritter Art Gallery is honored to present Insights VIII, a compelling exhibition showcasing the passion and creativity of artists living with bipolar disorder. Selected from over 200 national submissions, these works illuminate the healing resonance of visual language as it gives form to psychological states and interior landscapes. This exhibition is made possible through the generosity of the Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation, dedicated to fostering awareness and understanding of bipolar disorder, and is proudly sponsored by FAU’s Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. Insights VIII challenges stigma and celebrates resilience, revealing the complex landscape of bipolar experience while fostering awareness, empathy, and dialogue through the transformative power of art. 

Outside Office Hours: FAU Faculty Showcase

SCHMIDT CENTER GALLERY

On View: April 16, 2026 – July 17, 2026 

Opening Reception: April 16, 2026, from 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Outside Office Hours showcases the diverse and dynamic artistic talents of Florida Atlantic University’s faculty and staff, revealing the creative research that unfolds beyond their academic and administrative roles. Spanning a range of media—from sculpture to video and installation—each work tells a unique story, offering insight into the personal and professional intersections that shape artistic practice.

Through experimentation with materials and concepts, these artists challenge traditional notions of collaboration, forging connections across disciplines and campuses. The exhibition highlights not only individual creative pursuits but also the collective energy that drives FAU’s artistic community.

Beyond the classroom, lecture hall, or office, Outside Office Hours underscores the power of creativity, mentorship, and innovation within our institution. It offers a rare glimpse into the faculty’s artistic endeavors, demonstrating how their work inspires, informs, and influences the next generation of artists and cultural leaders.  

Spring Graduates Showcase

RITTER ART GALLERY

On View: April 30, 2026 – May 10, 2026 

Opening Reception: April 30, 2026, from 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm

The Master of Fine Art Degree (MFA) exhibition is the culminating project for students earning this terminal degree in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) exhibition is the culminating project for students earning this degree in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History. This semester, the graduating class led by Associate Professor Corey Lamb presents works in a variety of studio media. 

National Collage Society Small Format Exhibit

SCHMIDT CENTER PUBLIC SPACE

On View: May 14, 2026 – June 30, 2026 

The National Collage Society aims to foster appreciation and interest in the recognized medium of collage. Collage has only been identified and defined as a fine art during the twentieth century. The NCS, Inc. advances the stature of collage as a significant art medium and assists in public education through exhibits and workshops, lectures, and publications.