The Vanderbilt University Museum of Art (VUMA) will open a new exhibition titled 'Scent: Connection, Confrontation, Memory' on February 14, 2026. The show explores how artists from diverse cultures represent the sense of smell through interactive installations, sculpture, painting, photography, and a newly commissioned performance by Ainu artist Kanako Uzawa.
The exhibition matters because it tackles the ephemeral and universal human experience of scent, translating it into visual and interactive art forms. It highlights cross-cultural artistic practices and serves as an educational collaboration, with Vanderbilt design students working alongside museum curators on the exhibition's design and branding as part of their coursework.