On view September 15 - December 12, 2026

Catalyst: Art as Inquiry brings together recent work by University of Vermont studio art faculty whose practices demonstrate the power of creative inquiry to expand how knowledge is created and shared.

An array of cupped, cement hands spill out of an open suitcase. A sculpture by Nicolei Buendia Gupit.
Nicolei Buendia Gupit, Remittance Givers, 2025. found luggage, acrylic, handwoven net with indigo dye, air-dry clay. Courtesy of the artist.

Across disciplines and media, these artists reveal the connection between artistic practice and research, generating insights, challenging assumptions, and inviting new ways of understanding the world. Through diverse approaches to making, they explore themes of transformation and resilience, systems of communication, and histories of power and representation. Like a catalyst that sparks change, the works in this exhibition create opportunities for discovery through cross-disciplinary dialogue and innovation.

Colorful collage of guardian figures from eastern and western cultures. An artwork by Misoo Bang.
Misoo Bang, Heavenly Guardians-Lokopalas, 2025. Stone pigments with collage on Hanji paper. Courtesy of the artist.

Together, Catalyst artists highlight the creativity and rigor of artistic research at UVM while affirming the vital role of art in shaping how we ask questions, construct meaning, and imagine future possibilities.

Artists: Misoo Bang, Mildred Beltré, jen berger, Steve Budington, Nicole Bull, Pamela Fraser, Nicolei Buendia Gupit, Christopher Kojzar, Ace Lehner, Angelo Madsen, Jaimes Mayhew, Meg McDevitt, Bill McDowell, Heimo Wallner, Erika White, and Micah Wood. 

This exhibition was developed collaboratively by the staff of the Fleming Museum of Art, with generous support from the Kalkin Family Exhibitions Fund. 

Overlapping pamphlets on a multicolor background read, "Towards a method for imagining queer and trans utopias." Artwork by Jaimes Mayhew.
Jaimes Mayhew, The Table for Queer/Trans Utopian, 2025. Table, 3 chairs, and Towards a Method for Imagining Queer and Trans Utopias zine. Courtesy of the artist.

 

About the Fleming Museum of Art

We are UVM’s art museum. From class visits and public programs to research and exhibitions shaped by the questions, creativity, and discoveries happening right here on campus: the Fleming is where learning comes alive. Each year, thousands of UVM students, community members, and visitors gather here to experience art that brings people together. The Museum and all events are free and open to all. Learn more at uvm.edu/fleming.