The Shapes of Being: Michael Carson, Estella Fransbergen, Peregrine Heathcote, Ron Hicks, Milt Kobayashi, Tim Rees, John Schieffer, Melissa Peck, Holly Wilson

The human form has long served as one of the most enduring subjects for artists—an ever-evolving language through which they may explore identity, presence, vulnerability, and connection. In The Shapes of Being, we examine how each of our artists approaches the figure from distinct perspectives to reveal how the body can be interpreted through line, color, volume, and material. In painting, the figure may emerge through layers of color, shifts of light, or expressive mark- making, while sculpture gives form a tangible presence, allowing mass, balance, and surface to occupy real space. Each medium translates the body differently—some emphasizing structure, others atmosphere, others emotion—yet all return to the same fundamental truth: the human form is both a physical presence and a shared experience. 

Join us in looking at how these artists approach form in their individual manner and style.