Dec 14, 2025: Gamaliel Rodriguez: Topographies of Memory at Art Museum of West Virginia University
Topographies of Memory is the first mid-career survey of works by artist Gamaliel Rodriguez. Known for his striking use of color; monochromatic palette; and eerily familiar, yet non-descript landscapes, Rodriguez’s practice pushes the boundaries of drawing. Rodriguez has spent much of his career examining the complexities of history, both the clarity and vagueness of memory, the fragile state of infrastructures within society, and the balance between humankind and nature. His works place these elements in conversation with one another, using his distinct aesthetic to highlight their evolving power dynamic. This exhibition and Rodriguez’s work prompts visitors to contemplate their own personal memories of fleeting moments while also asking viewers to consider the parallels they may share with communities outside of their own. Rodriguez’s use of fragmented and snapshot-like imagery suggests the multiplicity of lived experience, inviting viewers to engage in a dialogue about how cultural identity is constructed and deconstructed over time, and how new experiences often shape and inform our life’s journeys.