Missouri State University honors the Renaissance of the female form in its summer exhibition, “The Figure, Reclaimed: A Renaissance of the Body in Visual Culture.” Co-curated by Director of Exhibitions Jodi McCoy and MFA student and Mara Cressey, the exhibit is on view at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center from July 5-August 4 and is open from 6-8 p.m. during the August 4 First Friday Art Walk.

Featuring paintings by artists Aneka Ingold and Livia Xandersmith, the exhibition is one of the Committee on Women in the Arts‘ (CWA) “can’t-miss” summer picks. According to CWA, “These artists explore the legacies of their respective mediums and their enduring significance in contemporary art. Unafraid to tackle pressing social issues, their works offer a powerful lens through which to examine themes of gender, sexuality, race, and ethnicity. By amplifying marginalized perspectives, these exhibitions provoke meaningful conversations and challenge existing narratives in the art world.”

The curation of Ingold and Xandersmith’s work was a collaborative effort between McCoy and Cressey. This is the second time an MFA student has co-curated an exhibition as part of MSU’s MFA curation opportunity. The student with the selected concept works directly with McCoy through all stages of the exhibition process, from the initial planning to the final installation of artwork.

“I was pleasantly surprised at how much freedom I was given throughout the process of choosing artists and crafting the words to go along with the exhibition,” Cressey said. “Jodi was extremely helpful in going through the necessary steps of a curatorial process.”

Centered around the experiences of female artists and techniques in figurative painting, “The Figure, Reclaimed” considers the historical perspective of women in art. These themes are especially relevant for Cressey, as figurative painting is a primary focus in her own personal artistic practice and academic research.

“As this genre of painting has begun to re-emerge in the contemporary art world, I think it’s incredibly important to consider who was, and who wasn’t, able to work this way historically, how people are pushing traditional norms associated with figurative painting, and how this is impactful to audiences with a vast range of identities and experiences,” Cressey explained. “Both Ingold and Xandersmith’s works demonstrate a deep understanding of the human form, but still offer many stylized, abstracted, and/or surreal moments. Their work is distinct but works together very harmoniously.”

The works of “The Figure, Reclaimed” commemorate the tradition rooted in figurative painting’s past, while also looking forward to new voices representing the genre in contemporary art.

The Carolla Arts Exhibition Center is located at 326 N. Boonville Ave, Springfield, MO 65806 [map]. Summer gallery hours are Monday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Call 417-837-2330 for additional details.

News written by Taylor Ladd, edited by Reynolds College Communications Team. Photos by Taylor Ladd.

Taylor Ladd is a graduate assistant for the Department of Art and Design. She is working towards her master’s degree in writing at Missouri State University with professional interests in writing about art, culture and food.