Seeing ourselves: The Schingoethe Center’s fall exhibition explores identity through portraiture

This fall, the Schingoethe Center of Aurora University has been showcasing “Eye to Eye,” an interdisciplinary exhibition featuring works from more than 40 artists across the globe. The show, which remains on display through December, positions portraiture not simply as representation but as a living dialogue between artist, subject, and viewer.

On view is a striking range of media — photographs, paintings, prints, and sculptures — that explore how identities are shaped and reshaped by cultural, social, and institutional forces. Names such as Gertrude Abercrombie, Sonya Clark, Jess T. Dugan, Harry Fonseca, Omar Imam, and Wendy Red Star anchor the exhibition, but the breadth of voices ensures a dynamic, layered experience.

Among the nationally and internationally recognized artists featured, two members of the AU community also take the spotlight. Instructor Jennifer Scavone, who teaches art and photography at AU, contributed “Resilience,” a nontraditional self-portrait depicting a lone tree standing tall and unwavering.

Also featured is student artist Jocelyn Olivera ’28. In her work “Alien,” a bold painting that reclaims the alien stereotype as a symbol of vitality and cultural pride, Olivera drew on research into antisemitic caricatures and racist depictions of African Americans through history. She merges those images with portraits of Latina women to challenge viewers to reconsider how identity is shaped and distorted by prejudice.

“Throughout the process, I had a love-hate relationship with the piece, admiring its beauty while also confronting the painful and ugly message it conveys,” Olivera shared. “Using oil pastels, I aimed to turn a dehumanizing stereotype into something powerful and vibrant with culture. This piece serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that were made to bring me where I am today.”

“Eye to Eye” can be viewed in the Schingoethe Center through December 11. To learn more and view the museum’s current hours, visit aurora.edu/museum.