Francisco Souto, a professor of art and director of the School of Art, Art History and Design at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, is one of 20 artists featured in the exhibition "Made in the Plains" at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, running from June 7 to September 21, 2025. The show highlights new and recent work by artists living in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota, showcasing diverse materials and approaches. Souto is debuting a new polyptych, "8 Million Broken Dreams," consisting of eight circular panels with stone arrangements that reference the over eight million people who have left Venezuela, incorporating visual elements inspired by Carlos Cruz-Diez's mosaic floors at Simón Bolívar International Airport.
The exhibition matters because it spotlights the vibrant but often overlooked artistic communities of the Great Plains, bringing regional contemporary art to a major museum audience. Souto's work, in particular, connects local practice to global themes of migration and resilience, while the inclusion of three university alumni underscores the role of academic institutions in nurturing regional talent. The show offers a focused, non-comprehensive survey that reflects how artists in the region respond to the current moment through varied materials and conceptual frameworks.