Michael Takeo Magruder, the Knight Fund Distinguished Artist-in-Residence, presented a new exhibition titled "re:GeneratedPrairie" at the Borzello Art Gallery in Knox College's Ford Center for the Fine Arts from September 16-30. The show featured digital prints, canvases, 4K videos, and soundscapes inspired by the prairie burn and regrowth at Knox's Green Oaks. Magruder, who has held over 300 exhibitions in 35 countries, was invited by Knight Distinguished Chair Robert M. Geraci and also mentored students during his residency, helping them with exhibition setup, curation, and critiques.
The residency matters because it brought an internationally recognized artist to a liberal arts college, creating a direct, hands-on learning experience for students in exhibition installation and professional practice. Magruder's donation of a limited edition print set to Geraci and Knox College further enriches the institution's collection. The project also highlights how artists can engage with local landscapes and ecological processes, using technology like AI to create work that resonates with both the campus community and broader contemporary art conversations.