The exhibition reexamines industrial labor and land through contemporary and historical lenses, opening September 30, 2024.
Professor Clayton Merrell is among the contemporary artists featured in “Broken Ground,” a new exhibition at the University of Pittsburgh Art Gallery curated by Sylvia Rhor and Alex Taylor. Running from September 30, 2024, to March 21, 2025, the show explores the complex ecological and social impacts of extractive industries. By juxtaposing works from the gallery’s collection with pieces by local artists, “Broken Ground” challenges traditional views of mining, farming, and steel production, reframing them in light of current environmental concerns.
Alongside Merrell, Carnegie Mellon School of Art alumna Jamie Kessler (BFA ’14) will also be featured in the exhibition. The opening reception will take place on October 3, from 5-7pm in the Frick Fine Arts Building.
Image: Clayton Merrell, Bigpinkheatwavestormfrontsmokeplumes, oil on canvas, 48×60, 2024