PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Peter Xiao: A Room That One Is In (And All Things in It)

Davenport, Iowa (November 30, 2023) — This December, the Figge Art Museum is delighted to debut an exclusive solo exhibition by Peter T. Xiao, a celebrated local artist and Augustana College's Paul A. Anderson Chair in the Arts. This marks his first solo exhibition at the Figge, opening Saturday, December 9, in the first floor Gildehaus Gallery.

A Room That One is in (And All Things In It) is a captivating, immersive installation, featuring 18 of Xiao’s recent large-scale paintings. The Gildehaus Gallery on the first floor will be transformed into a vibrant space, where Xiao's multi-panel paintings extend from walls to ceiling, creating an immersive experience. and offering a mesmerizing exploration of the intersection between art and our perceptual experience of the world. As Xiao states: “Objects in front look solid while others blur and shrink to the sides, just as floor and ceiling lines bend as they retreat toward the horizon.”

His floor painting, Rise Ye Point, Line and Plane, challenges our conventional views of everyday objects like chairs, exploring their dimensional "lift" and significance beyond mere functionality. Xiao’s installation is not just an exhibition but a "walk-around playground," encouraging visitors to interact with art in a way that bridges visual perception and physical experience.

A student of art and art history, Xiao blends and bends Renaissance concepts of perspective and color and our evolving understanding of how we see the world around us. Xiao describes the installation of paintings as a journey "From walls and things that wrap around me." His unique perspective invites viewers to contemplate the relationship between the artist's environment and the art produced, fostering a deeper connection between the observer and the artwork.

"We are delighted to showcase this exhibition at the Figge," said Figge Executive Director & CEO Michelle Hargrave. "Xiao's remarkable body of work will take viewers on a thought-provoking artistic journey, encouraging them to deeply engage with their own perceptions and experiences."

Museum-goers will discover that this exhibition is more than just a visual feast; it's an invitation to explore the dynamic relationship between art and our physical presence in the world, prompting us to see beyond what meets the eye.

A Room That One is in (And All Things In It) is sponsored by Dean Christensen and will be on view through April 7, 2024.

About the Figge Art Museum:
The Figge Art Museum is dedicated to bringing art and people together. Located on the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street, the Figge is the premier art exhibition and education facility between Chicago and Des Moines. Its landmark glass building, designed by British architect David Chipperfield, is home to one of the Midwest’s finest art collections and presents world-class exhibitions, art classes, lectures, and special events that attract visitors of all ages. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursdays; and 12-5 p.m. on Sundays. Reservations are not required, but can be made at www.figgeartmuseum.org or by calling 563-345-6632. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and students with ID and $4 children ages 4-12. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members and to all on Thursday evenings. You can become a member for as little as $50 by visiting the Figge website. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org. 

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