The University of Notre Dame’s Department of Art, Art History & Design is proud to present its annual MFA thesis exhibition, highlighting the culminating work of four graduate students set to earn their Master of Fine Arts degrees in May 2025. This highly anticipated exhibition will be displayed in two groups, each offering a distinct and engaging artistic experience. The first exhibition will run from February 28 to March 20 at the AAHD Galleries (214/216 Riley Hall), featuring the thought-provoking works of Thomas Callahan and Emma Ryan. An opening reception will be held on Friday, February 28, from 5 to 7 pm, providing an opportunity to meet the artists and experience their work firsthand. The second exhibition will showcase the exceptional pieces of Norah Amstutz and Griffin Liu, on display from April 3 to April 16 at the AAHD Galleries. The opening reception for this group will take place on Friday, April 4, from 5 to 7 pm. This annual exhibition is a celebration of creativity, dedication, and artistic vision, offering visitors a glimpse into the future of contemporary art. We invite you to join us in supporting these talented emerging artists and experiencing their extraordinary work. Originally published at artdept.nd.edu.

In 1980, the University of Notre Dame became the first major university to boycott Campbell Soup products in support of Midwestern farmworkers represented by the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (Toledo, Ohio). In a few short months, a small and dedicated cohort of students tapped into a growing movement and convinced the campus to act in solidarity. This exhibit was created in conjunction with Somos ND, a campus-wide initiative to honor the history and legacy of Latino and Hispanic contributions to the University. It is curated by Emiliano Aguilar, assistant professor in the Department of History. This and other exhibits within the Hesburgh Libraries are generously supported by the McBrien Special Collections Endowment. All exhibits are free and open to the public during business hours.Open to undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, postdocs, the public, alumni, and friends  

The Department of Art, Art History, and Design invites you for a lecture by Lucas Lynn Christensen, doctoral candidate in the Department of Theology, exploring the relationship between visual art, history, and ritual through Andrew of Crete’s engagement with the Dormition icon. His research examines how visual elements serve as historical evidence, blurring the boundaries between imagery, ritual, and sacred truth. In a series of early eighth-century homilies, Andrew of Crete explicitly references the detailed imagery of the Dormition icon, transforming visual elements into persuasive evidence for the historical events it commemorates. This lecture explores how Andrew deploys the icon’s details as an epistemological resource—a visual argument that invites his audience to actively participate in completing the narrative. For listeners encountering the celebration for the first time, the icon serves not only as a testimonial object but also as an open-ended canvas. By interweaving vivid recollections of his own experiences in Jerusalem with calls for mimetic ritual participation, Andrew positions his hearers within the very frame of the icon, thereby blurring the boundaries between art, lived ritual, and historical truth. This investigation reconsiders the role of visual representation in constructing and authenticating sacred history, revealing how immersive engagement with an image can function as a dynamic form of historical evidence. Originally published at artdept.nd.edu.

Wrestling with the fallout of the war in Gaza on Jewish identity, political commentator Peter Beinart shares his personal reckoning with the moral reconstruction needed to build a future "that recognizes the infinite value of all human life." Atalia Omer, professor of religion, conflict and peace studies, will moderate. A frequent contributor to The New York Times and an MSNBC analyst, Beinart is a professor of journalism and political science at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. He is also the editor at large of Jewish Currents and writes The Beinart Notebook, a weekly newsletter. Note: Bags and backpacks will not be allowed inside the venue. A storage space will be provided on site. Originally published at kroc.nd.edu. This event is co-sponsored by Contending Modernities, the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, and the Mirza Family Professor in Islamic Thought & Muslim Societies.

The McDonald Center is hosting a kickoff Chipotle dinner for our Forty 2 Flourish program. Write a letter to yourself for how you would like to grow during this Lenten season and learn about the programs we will be offering throughout. Sign up here for the Chipotle dinner and to get program reminders. Originally published at mcwell.nd.edu.