An exhibition featuring work by graduating undergraduate and graduate Art History students as a part of the NEXT Festival 2026!

Show Dates: April 20 - May 17
Gallery Hours: M-F, 9am-5pm
Reception: May 1 at 4pm

The term “in the round” is used to describe freestanding sculpture, able to be viewed from all sides—each individual element visually pieced together to form a comprehensive whole. As art historians, we adapt this sentiment by researching not only the artwork, but the wider social, political, and theoretical conditions in which the works were made. Art history is a wholistic practice that bridges creativity, materiality, and academic investigation.

The George Washington University’s Art History program fosters opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students to conduct archival research, participate in student-led exhibitions, and prompt object-based learning to better inform their scholarship. Undergraduate students study a wide range of periods and geographies, establishing a strong foundation in the field. Graduate students pursue diverse, individual topics of research, spanning the Byzantine Empire to 1970s New York, that culminates in a final Qualifying Paper. For many of us, these pursuits breach the confines of academia, as the creation of art is interconnected with our scholarship.

Art History in the Round, featuring work by both undergraduate and graduate students, exemplifies the relationship between scholarly inquisition and material exploration that inspires us beyond the classroom. While some of these exhibits have emerged from course research, others embrace the larger breadth of our creative practices. This exhibition celebrates art historians through their art, signifying that academic pursuits only play one part in the creative lives of scholars. Among the photographs, ceramics, textiles, and prints, we encourage visitors to engage with art history in the round.