Three new exhibitions bring together artists to explore our natural world and the human experience through immersive art, painting and sculpture.
This September, theHilliard Art Museum at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette launches Fall at the Hilliard, a season of exhibitions and programs that spotlight the intersection of visual art, ecological consciousness, and the pursuit of self-reflection. Opening to the public on September 13, 2025, the museum will present three major exhibitions featuring both internationally celebrated and regionally significant artists: Shoplifter / HrafnhildurArnardóttir, Mare Martin, Manon Bellet, Hannah Chalew, and Harriet Joor.
Opening Exhibitions
New York-based Icelandic artist Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir creates a monumental“Nervescape” that transforms the museum into a fictional forest of brilliant blues, shocking pinks and electric yellows. Known for her sculptures and site-specific instillations that blur the boundaries between art, design and fashion, Arnardóttir constructs her work from thousands of bundles of synthetic hair that resembles nerve cells, creating environments that offer contemplation on humanities relationship with the natural world. This specially commissioned year-long installation will serve as a dynamic backdrop for workshops, performances and panel discussions throughout the exhibition.
Mare Martin, both artist and gardener, creates work rooted in reverence for the natural world. Raised on a farm in Opelousas and trained as a botanist, she blends scientific observation with intuitive perception. Her exhibition, Beyond the Botanical, draws on Goethe’sThe Metamorphosis of Plants and expands it using art not as representation but as a way of knowing. Through painting, drawing, and sculpture, Martin channels cycles of life and death with rich pigment, texture, and form. Grounded in Southern roots but globally attuned, her compositions are embodiments of nature, spirit and cosmos, inviting us to experience not only with our eyes but with our whole being.
Continuing the commitment to bring the museum’s permanent collection into dialogue with contemporary art practices, theexhibitionFragile Matter brings together historical and contemporary voices. Harriet Joor (1875–1965), whoseceramic works represent one of the founding gifts of the museum's permanent collection enters across-generational dialogue with Manon Bellet and Hannah Chalew, in a conversation rooted in environmental awareness and craftsmanship. With a shared reverence for the Gulf South, these artists explore the fragile relationship between humans and nature, emphasizing the importance of sustainability, memory, and material practice.Legacy artist Joor, a celebrated Newcomb artist and former UL professor, provides a historical lens on how regional artists have long engaged with the natural world through artmaking.
"Our fall program embodies our commitment to presenting art that is regionally rooted and globally engaged," said Molly Rowe, Executive Director of the Hilliard Art Museum. "Through immersive installations, material exploration, and reflection of the natural world, these exhibitions foster creative exchange of ideas within our university community and beyond, inviting audiences to engage in cross-disciplinary dialogue about art, nature, and our interconnected world."
The museum invites members and the public to an opening celebration onFriday, September 12, 2025, featuring an artist talk with exhibiting artist Hrafnhildhur Arnardóttir, live music, immersive programs, an open bar, and light bites. Members receive early access from 5–6 p.m., with doors opening to the public at 6 p.m.
Fall Season Highlights and Programs
Opening Preview Celebration
Friday, September 12, 2025
· 4 p.m. – Artist Talk:Shoplifter /Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir in conversation with curator Aaron Levi Garvey.
· 5-6 p.m. – Member Preview
· 6 p.m. – Public Opening Celebration featuring live music, immersive experiences, and refreshments. Free for members, UL students, faculty, and staff. General admission: $10; children under 10 free.
Family Fête
Saturday, November 15, 2025
A day-long celebration of creativity for all ages, featuring hands-on artmaking, performances, and community engagement. Free for members, UL students, faculty, and staff. General admission: $10; children under 10 are free.
Upcoming Exhibitions
Nervescape XI, 2025
Shoplifter / HrafnhildurArnardóttir
September 13, 2025 – July 25, 2026
Beyond the Botanical
Mare Martin
September 13, 2025 – February 14, 2026
Fragile Matter
Manon Bellet, Hannah Chalew & Harriet Joor
September 13, 2025 – January 31, 2026
For additional information, exhibition details, and programming updates, please visitwww.hilliardartmuseum.org.
About Hilliard Art Museum
The Hilliard Art Museum at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette presents exhibitions and programs that are regionally rooted and globally engaged, fostering the creative exchange of ideas and cross-disciplinary research rooted in the visual arts. Founded in 2004, the museum also preserves and advances scholarship on its 3,000+ piece permanent art collection, ranging from 17th-century landscapes to contemporary Louisiana photography. For more information, visit hilliardartmuseum.org.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Hilliard Art Museum is located at 710 E St Mary Blvd in Lafayette, LA. Public hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Closed Saturday and Sunday. General admission is $10; Free admission for UL students, faculty and staff, as well as children under 10. Hilliard membership starts at $60 annually and includes free admission to galleries and events.
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