West Michigan Area Show: Last Chance to See this Exhibition at the KIA Before it Closes on September 14, 2025!
Photo courtesy of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
This Event Has Ended.
The work of West Michigan’s talented artistic community is on view during the annual West Michigan Area Show. This crowd-pleasing annual juried exhibition was carefully curated from more than 300 submitted entries, ranging from paintings, prints, and photos to mosaics, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, and mixed-media works.
The 2025 juror is Detroit artist and teacher Hubert Massey. Hubert Massey is an award-winning Kresge Fine Arts Fellow. His distinctive fresco murals grace the halls of such visible Michigan destinations as the Flint Institute of the Arts, Detroit Athletic Club, and his alma mater, Grand Valley State University. He studied at the University of London’s Slade Institute of Fine Arts and later learned the centuries-old fresco technique from former assistants of legendary artist Diego Rivera.
Learn more here: https://www.kiarts.org/wp-
https://www.kiarts.org/
LEO VILLAREAL: INTERSTELLAR
Last chance to see this exhibition at the KIA before it closes on September 21, 2025!
Leo Villareal: Interstellar invites viewers into the immersive digital worlds of Leo Villareal, where code, celestial bodies, and humanity converge into a fusion of art and technology. This exhibition showcases a selection of works Villareal created during the last five years, underlining his pioneering role in the realm of digital art in the 21st century. By creating atmospheric artworks and environments where space and light collide, Villareal instills a sense of awe and wonder, offering intimate moments for both personal and collective reflection.
“We’re honored to present Interstellar at the KIA—an exhibition that brings the groundbreaking work of Leo Villareal to Kalamazoo,” said Michelle Hargrave, Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. “His digital art invites us to slow down and engage deeply—with light, with space, and with the questions that lie beyond our everyday experience. These are not traditional sculptures; they are immersive environments powered by light and code—mesmerizing, meditative, and deeply moving. For many visitors, this will be their first encounter with Villareal’s work. I can’t imagine a more meaningful introduction to how technology and art can come together to transform how we see the world—and ourselves.”
The artist’s use of light and code serves as both media and symbols that represent knowledge, discovery, and the spark of consciousness within the intricate web of the cosmos. The works on view will encourage viewers to consider the paradoxes of the universe—the vastness and intricacies of the cosmos against the fleeting nature of our existence. “Today, our world is almost completely reliant on technology,” says Rehema Barber, Director of Curatorial Affairs. “Artists like Leo Villareal show how technology is being used to expand the boundaries of artistic practice to not only inspire curiosity for viewers but also encourage reflection about the limitlessness of the world around us and our minute, yet important place in such a vast cosmos. This is quite refreshing in the face of a technologically-driven world driven by the immediacy of information and commerce, which at times can create a sense of disconnection and despondancy.”
The exhibition is on view at the KIA through September 21 inspiring visitors to imagine the possibilities that new technologies provide for humanity’s advancement and perhaps even its preservation. Leo Villareal’s works convey the tension that exists between these congruent and at times opposing forces, while asking viewers to reflect on their place within the grand, enigmatic expanse of the universe. Ultimately, Leo Villareal: Interstellar builds a shared journey through the known and the unknown. Learn more about Leo Villareal: Interstellar at kiarts.org.
https://www.kiarts.org/
Extended Hours on FREE Thursdays
Enjoy free general admission and extended hours until 8pm on Thursdays thanks to generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program and the Efroymson Family Fund.
Free Thursdays removes barriers and opens doors to inspiration, learning, and connection, whether someone is a lifelong art enthusiast or just wants to explore and reflect. Free July is so much more than a promotion, it is an invitation to everyone in the community!
Learn more at https://www.kiarts.org
About the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Since 1924, the KIA has offered its visitors the opportunity to enjoy and create art. The KIA’s permanent collection holds more than 4,600 objects across a wide spectrum of media, and the museum presents 10-15 exhibitions annually in its ten galleries. In addition to its exhibition spaces, the museum houses the KIA Gallery Shop, which sells pieces by international artisans and local and regional artists, a multi-media auditorium, a publicly accessible library, an interactive children’s gallery, and the Kirk Newman Art School (KNAS). KNAS has nurtured the creative passions of tens of thousands of students around the region, state, and beyond, annually welcoming more than 3,400 enrollments. Students of all ages engage with our talented and committed faculty as a part of an exciting fine arts curriculum that includes ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, drawing/painting, printmaking, fiber, photography, glass fusing and enrichment program.
Expanded offerings, collaborations, and outreach will celebrate 100 years of excellence in the arts and bring the KIA’s unparalleled resources to a wider audience than ever before. These special initiatives will give back to the community in appreciation for 100 years of growth, and deepen the ability of all Kalamazooans to find joy, learn from one another, and grow. Through close listening and renewed creativity, the anniversary will illuminate the pathway for the Institute’s next 100 years. For more information, visit kiarts.org.
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