Ancient Abstractions: Roman Visual Trends Beyond the Natural
Curated by Nicola Barham
The lifelike naturalistic bodies of Greek and Roman sculpture have been a source of wonder since the Renaissance. Indeed, the Italian Renaissance artist Vasari identified the ancient world as the time “when sculpture rose to its greatest height.” But close likenesses of the natural world are not the only visual products of the ancient past. This exhibition traces alternative visual trends of the ancient Roman world that today would be considered examples of abstraction. It focuses on monuments and motifs that have long been pushed to the margins of our accounts of ancient art. Oversize arrangements of interlocking shapes pulsate in bold block colors from tombs, temples, and homes; stylized animals flicker into view in colorful textiles, only to collapse once more into bright geometric arrangements; and artists adopt experimental shorthands for the depiction of space across media. Anticipating recent interests in color and form, the visual trends of antiquity emerge as much more varied than has long been told.
Expected opening: Fall 2026
Collaborative Archaeology at Jebel Barkal, Sudan
Curated by Suzanne Davis and Geoff Emberling
Jebel Barkal in northern Sudan has captivated local communities, explorers, and archaeologists for centuries. Once the capital of the powerful African empire of Kush, the site’s spectacular ruins include royal pyramid tombs, temples, palaces, and the newly discovered ancient city itself. Across its long history, Jebel Barkal has played a part in the rise and fall of empires, adapted to a changing climate, and been home to fascinating people, from iconic rulers to everyday residents.
Since 2016, a joint team from Sudan’s National Corporation of Museums and Antiquities and the University of Michigan has investigated the ancient city while working to preserve this important site. Collaborative Archaeology at Jebel Barkal, Sudan, will highlight major discoveries from the past decade through video, photography, and interactive displays, exploring the modern methods used to study and protect the site amid a devastating war. Along the way, visitors will meet the people essential to telling the story of Jebel Barkal’s past, present, and future.
Expected opening: Winter 2027
