NEHMA Exhibits Retrospective of Nationally Recognized Utah Artist Jane Catlin

The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University presents the exhibition “Jane Catlin: A Retrospective.”

This exhibition is a heartfelt way of honoring Jane Catlin’s career as an artist and highlights the evolution of her artistic expression.

From her early figural paintings in the 1990s to the semi-abstraction of biological forms and processes in recent years, the exhibition showcases the profound transformation of Catlin’s style and content. An evening reception will be from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 8. Catlin and curator David Wall will discuss the art in a gallery talk.

Jane Catlin was born in 1951 and grew up in Ogden, Utah. After graduating with a bachelor’s in painting at Utah State University in 1986, she went on to study at the Rhode Island School of Design, receiving her master’s in painting in 1989. She began her teaching career at USU in 1994 and retired in 2020, being awarded the title of emeritus professor of drawing and painting.

Catlin's extensive travels through Japan, Korea, Africa and Canada have left an indelible mark on her work, contributing to its ever-shifting nature. Yet, amidst this evolution, a striking consistency emerges, revealing a deep-seated fascination with biology, ecology and the environment. The often strange and mysterious imagery from her visual meditations serves as a poignant commentary on the mutating world, echoing its beauty and fragility.

“Over her long career, regardless of the shifts and changes in subject matter and styles, Jane’s work never ceases to compel the viewer,” Wall said. “It is a quality that never diminishes.”

This retrospective not only affords a rare insight into Jane Catlin's artistic evolution but also presents some of her most noteworthy works. This exhibition provides viewers with an opportunity to discern the thematic threads that have been woven through her four-decade-long artistic exploration of nature and the human experience.

“Jane Catlin: A Retrospective” will be displayed at NEHMA from Feb. 8 to June 15. This exhibition has been curated by Wall, a USU associate professor of film and visual studies.

In addition, NEHMA celebrates the opening of another exhibition titled “Women’s Work: New Additions to the NEHMA Collection.”

“Women's Work” showcases creations by female artists that have recently entered NEHMA's collection. Including works of collage, photography, painting, printmaking and sculpture, the exhibition explores women's self-expression and their contributions to the global art scene. It includes pieces by local and international modern and contemporary artists and highlights recent efforts to diversify NEHMA's collection. “Women’s Work” will be displayed Jan. 27 through July 20.

About Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art: The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University fosters engagement with modern and contemporary art to facilitate learning and promote dialogue about ideas important to the people of Utah and the mission of Utah State University. Admission is free and open to all. Parking is available in the free museum parking stalls and at the Gateway Terrace.

Out-of-town visitors are encouraged to book rooms at the University Inn on the Utah State University campus. University Inn is located within a short walking distance of the museum and a short bus ride/drive from downtown restaurants and shopping.

For more information, visit usu.edu/artmuseum or contact Shaylee Briones. shaylee.briones@usu.edu, 435-797-0227.