WVU Health Sciences Pylons
August 2026 - May 2027
"The Architecture of Care" is an invitational exhibition that interrogates
the "Invisible Care Labor" sustaining our world—work that often remains unrecognized
in both clinical and domestic spheres. Moving beyond "art for art’s sake,"
this project functions as a site of Knowledge Production, centering the physical
and emotional regulation required for caregiving, the domestic maintenance
of chronic illness, and the reclaimed presence of the body in transition.
This exhibition celebrates the launch of "Connective Tissue," a new WVU Press
series exploring the human condition through the lens of Health Humanities
and Narrative Medicine. By integrating expressive arts with medical methodologies,
the series equips clinicians and the public to better comprehend the lived
experiences of patients and providers. Due to the high-traffic nature of
the WVU Health Sciences Center Pylon, this exhibition features high-resolution
reproductions accompanied by artist narratives that bridge the gap between
fine art and medical ethics.
"The Architecture of Care" serves as a reminder that healthcare is not merely a series of transactions, but a complex web of human connections. By centering the slight wobble of a hand-drawn line, the pressure of skin on paper, and the authentic stories of those in the "trenches" of care, this exhibition invites viewers to see the labor of the heart and body that is often hidden in plain sight.
Artists include: Sally Jane Brown, Julia Clift, Miki Nishida Goerdt, Molly Humphreys, Lauren J. Turner, and Randi Ward. The exhibition will also feature select WVU Press Book covers.
Image: Julia Clift:
New Configuration II, oil on canvas, 2022-2023, 50" x 40"