CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art and Permanent Art Collection is excited to announce two new opening art exhibitions, both opening Aug. 25.

In the main gallery, “The Self is not a Single Body” is a two-person figural exhibition by Wisconsin artists Amy Fichter and Robert Martin. The exhibition runs from Aug. 25 through Sept. 18.

Amy Fichter lives in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and is a professor of life drawing at the University of Wisconsin–Stout. Trained in classical figure drawing, Fichter focuses on the human body’s gesture, movement and emotional expression. Fichter works primarily in soft pastel, while also exploring other drawing media, printmaking and photography.

For Robert Martin, the figurative work he creates is a layered combination of rural aesthetics, queer historical references, inherited ephemera, personal imagery and memory. Art-making – namely painting – allows him to tangibly imagine queer futures while honoring a rooted past by permitting these stories to coexist within one plane. 

An artist talk and closing reception will be held Thursday, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m. in Kamerick Art Building 111.

The second exhibition, “Past Masters: A Celebration of Former UNI Department of Art & Graphic Design Faculty” is located in the Mary Haskell-Hansen Room of the Gallery and coincides with the university's 150th Celebration. This UNI Permanent Art Collection exhibition was co-curated by UNI Professor of Art History & Performance Art, Jeff Byrd, and UNI Gallery of Art Director, Laura Gleissner.

This exhibition celebrates work from past UNI Department of Art & Graphic Design faculty who have had an impact on students, the university and the community. Work featured will include Roy Behrens, Marjorie Campbell, David Delafield, Mary Frisbee Johnson, frje Echeverria, Shirley Haupt, Jim Kerns, John Page, JoAnn Schnabel, Tom Stancliffe, Crit Streed, Darrell Taylor, Angela Waseskuk, Joan Webster-Vore and more. Due to the overwhelming amount of past faculty works in the collection, the exhibition will also spill out into the gallery showcases, just outside of the gallery doors throughout the semester. The exhibition runs from Aug. 25 through Sept. 18, Oct. 3 through Nov. 7, and Dec. 9 through 18.

The “Past Masters” gallery reception will be hosted by the Friends of the Permanent Art Collection & Gallery on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. and will be birthday themed to coincide with the UNI Sesquicentennial Celebration. Everyone is invited to come and share your stories of past UNI art and graphic design faculty who have impacted or inspired you.

Gallery Hours: Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and by appointment. The gallery will be closed September 1 for Labor Day. 

For more information, visit gallery.uni.edu.