The 12th edition of the Bobcat Art Show, which debuts this week in a new space, is further proof that creativity can come from anywhere in the UC Merced community.
“In addition to the amazing work done by our Global Arts Studies students and faculty, we have some incredible pieces by engineers, finance managers, anthropologists and more – demonstrating how the power of art truly knows no bounds,” said Collin Lewis, the university’s executive director for the arts.
These works and many others by faculty, staff and students will be on display Friday (April 5) through May 3 at La Galería, located in Room 120 of El Portal residence hall. A public reception for the show is scheduled for 4 – 6 p.m. Thursday (April 4). La Galería is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. There is no admission charge.
La Galería, which opened in 2022, is one of the university’s two gallery spaces, following the establishment of the UC Merced Art Gallery in 2011. It is the main home for the university’s permanent collection, which is on view periodically and has a high level of focus on artists from or based in the Central Valley. The UC Merced Art Gallery and the UC Merced Library have hosted past iterations of the Bobcat Art Show.
The Bobcat Art Show is a testament to UC Merced’s commitment to fostering a culture of creativity and expression. Works will include paintings and drawings, sculptures, digital art and photography, offering viewers the opportunity to immerse themselves in a variety of perspectives across multiple mediums and styles. The exhibition was organized and curated by Grace Garnica, the gallery manager at La Galería.
"We are thrilled to present the 2024 Bobcat Art Show in its first showing at La Galería," Lewis said. “Following our Ruben A. Sanchez: Cosechando Sueños exhibition earlier this spring, we can’t wait to invite the community back to see even more groundbreaking and impactful art from the Central Valley.”
