PULLMAN, Wash. — This fall, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Washington State University invites visitors to explore the many ways artists interpret the natural world. Opening Aug. 25, three exhibitions examine the ways artists engage with landscapes, ecosystems, memory, and place — revealing nature not simply as scenery, but as a living force that shapes identity, culture, and imagination.
Together, the exhibitions encourage visitors to reflect on beauty and loss, stewardship and resilience, while considering how art can deepen understanding of the environments people inhabit.
“Nature has long inspired artists to ask profound questions about who we are and how we belong,” said Ryan Hardesty, executive director and curator of the museum. “These exhibitions encourage us to see the natural world not only as something we observe, but as something that informs our memories, our creativity, and our responsibility to one another. We hope visitors leave with a renewed sense of wonder and connection.”
Anchoring the museum’s fall season and drawing from the collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation, The Mirror that Nature Holds brings together more than 100 works by leading contemporary artists exploring the natural world through themes of awe, environmental change, displacement, storytelling, and hope.
Inspired by the philosophical tradition of the sublime, the exhibition presents nature as both magnificent and vulnerable. While many works confront the realities of climate change and ecological instability, others imagine pathways toward renewal through regenerative practices, Indigenous knowledge, community, and shared stewardship. Together, they offer a vision of the future grounded in possibility
“For all of us who are lucky enough to grow up surrounded by nature, this exhibition brings together 35 artists whose work builds upon the wonder and majesty of nature!” said ARTnews Top 200 Art Collector, Jordan D. Schnitzer. “Whether it is work that challenges us with the issues of climate change or Native American themes that are thousands of years old, this exhibition wows us with the voices of these talented artists reflecting the world around us.”
Complementing these themes is Jim Hodges’ Unearthed, a monumental bronze cast of an uprooted tree that explores fragility, renewal, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Originally conceived in 2015 and previously exhibited only once at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Unearthed continues its journey at the museum, where visitors are invited to contemplate themes of ecological responsibility, historical reckoning, and their relationship with the natural world. Ultimately, the sculpture is intended to complete its life cycle through burial, allowing its accumulated goodwill to return to the earth.
Coinciding with the museum’s ongoing commitment to stewardship is JSMA Collects, an exhibition celebrating the growth of the museum’s permanent collection and the generosity of the community that has helped shape it. JSMA Collects illustrates how a museum collection becomes a living cultural resource — preserving artistic voices, fostering education, and inspiring generations of students, scholars, and visitors.
All exhibitions and public programs are free and open to the public. The museum is located in the Crimson Cube on the WSU Pullman campus and is open Tuesday through Saturday. For current hours, exhibitions, and upcoming programs, please visit the museum’s website.
Media Contacts
- Debby Stinson, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU, debby_stinson@wsu.edu
- Will Ferguson, WSU News & Media Relations, 509-335-8798, will.ferguson@wsu.edu
