A student-curated exhibition titled 'The Shape of Being' opens Friday at Washington Gallery in Waco, Texas. Organized by Baylor University senior Aleah Burns, the show features work from five female Baylor student artists, each contributing three pieces plus a collaborative installation centered on hands. The exhibition focuses on figurative painting, exploring themes of identity, memory, human connection, and technology-mediated relationships. Featured works include Kate Swayze's 'Left Unsaid,' which uses layered materials like reused painting rags, and Burns' own 'Unstable Connection,' depicting fragmented figures embracing through screens.
This exhibition matters because it provides Baylor student artists with professional gallery experience beyond campus, bridging the university and the broader Waco arts community. It also highlights contemporary approaches to representing the human figure, with the all-women artist lineup offering diverse perspectives on shared experiences. In an era of digital saturation, the show encourages intentional, slow engagement with physical art, underscoring the value of in-person viewing and community connection in the visual arts.