The University of Pittsburgh's University Art Gallery presents "Earth and Ether: The Art of Lucille and Virgil Cantini," a new exhibition curated by students in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. The show features never-before-seen works uncovered in the Heinz History Museum's archives, alongside pieces from Pitt's collection and the Cantini family, highlighting the artistic partnership of Virgil Cantini—creator of iconic public art on Pitt's campus like "Skyscape" and "Man"—and his wife Lucille, a notable jewelry maker, ceramist, and enameler.
The exhibition matters because it not only celebrates Virgil Cantini's foundational role in shaping Pitt's visual identity and founding its studio art program, but also corrects historical oversight by bringing Lucille Cantini's art to the forefront. Student curators discovered that while Virgil's public pieces are ubiquitous on campus, Lucille's equally significant work had been marginalized, reflecting broader patterns of gender bias in art history. The show runs through Jan. 30.