Twenty-five students at the University of Toledo have curated and designed a fully online exhibition titled "Birds in Art: Devotion and Decadence" for the Toledo Museum of Art. Featuring 32 works from the museum's permanent collection—including paintings, sculpture, decorative art, and photography—the exhibition explores humanity's complex relationship with birds through themes of spirituality, fashion, science, and hunting. Students from the Art Museum Practices and Graphic and Interactive Design programs collaborated on every aspect, from artwork selection and label writing to website design and marketing, working directly with museum staff.
This project matters because it demonstrates a model of experiential, community-connected learning that bridges academic training and professional museum practice. The exhibition also provides virtual public access to the museum's collection while parts of the Toledo Museum of Art are closed for extensive renovations, highlighting how digital exhibitions can maintain community engagement during physical closures. The long-standing partnership between the university's Department of Art and the museum offers students meaningful real-world experience that strengthens their portfolios and career readiness.