ST. GEORGE, Utah — Examining how representations of the human face and body reflect societal ideals, emotional resonance and cultural identity, the Utah Tech University Sears Art Museum’s upcoming exhibition, “About Face / How Do You Figure?,” invites visitors to explore the human form and face.

“About Face / How Do You Figure?” will open with a reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 22 in the museum, located in the Eccles Fine Arts Center on the Utah Tech campus. Open to the community, the reception is free to attend and will include light refreshments and live entertainment by Kenny’s Caricatures, offering guests the opportunity to take home a personalized caricature and participate in an interactive start to the exhibition. The exhibition will remain on display through Jan. 10, 2025.

“The human form and face are fundamental to how we understand ourselves,” James Peck, director and curator of the Sears Art Museum, said. “Throughout history, artists have used the form and the face as symbols of beauty, power and identity.”

From ancient cave paintings to refined royal portraits, the human form has long been a source of fascination, offering audiences a mirror to their shared humanity. “About Face / How Do You Figure?” gives visitors an opportunity to reflect on how artists from different eras have represented the human form. Audiences are encouraged to explore these portrayals, engage with timeless questions of identity and consider the evolving meanings embodied in the human form.

Featured regional artists including McGarren Flack, Dilleen Marsh, Dennis Martinez, Del Parson, Megan Schaugaard, Julie Rogers and Peg Wheeler contribute distinctive perspectives to the exhibition, ranging from realism to conceptual abstraction. Additionally, pieces from the Sears Art Museum’s permanent collection by noted artists such as Jerry Anderson, J. Roman Andrus, Laura Gilpin, Dorothea Lange, Michael Malm, Fritz Scholder and L’Dean Trueblood complement the exhibition’s exploration of the human form.

As part of the exhibition, the Eccles Grand Foyer will feature works by Semion Percin (1905-1998), a Russian-born American portrait artist and caricaturist, known for his humor-infused caricatures and precise portraiture. Based in Southern California, he captured the likenesses of over 100,000 people, from Hollywood stars to beachgoers, in a career spanning more than 60 years.

Offering a variety of art styles from traditional to contemporary, the Sears Art Museum at Utah Tech University features several unique exhibitions each year. Thanks to the contributions of Robert N. and Peggy Sears, the museum has been a part of the university since 2004. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. For more information about Utah Tech University’s Sears Art Museum and the “About Face / How Do You Figure?” exhibition, visit searsart.com.

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