UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — “Dispositions,” an exhibition of art installations by Yasmine Abbas that explores the experience of existing between cultures and places, is set to open Aug. 29 at the Woskob Family Gallery in the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center. Abbas is an assistant teaching professor of architecture in the College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School at Penn State.
An opening reception is scheduled to run from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 12 with an artist question-and-answer session starting at 6 p.m. Felecia Davis, associate professor of architecture, will serve as the moderator of the event.
The show, according to Abbas, focuses on "neo-nomads" and their strategies for making a place for themselves while navigating life between cultures and unfamiliar territories.
As a French architect who lives and works across four continents, Abbas draws from her own experience to examine “the creative potential that emerges from being perpetually in-between,” she said.
“’Dispositions’ refers both to our state of mind and to how we arrange ourselves in relation to others and our surroundings,” Abbas said. “Whether moving to a new city, experiencing resettlement or navigating life as descendants of immigrants, how do people — who bring different cultural experiences with them — find their place in an unfamiliar setting?”
Abbas uses mirrored surfaces, works on paper and leatherwork to “reflect society’s shared experience of displacement,” she said.
“Dispositions,” which is free and open to the public, can be viewed on Fridays from 12:30-5 p.m. through Jan. 2, 2026.
Classes, student organizations and University offices are encouraged to visit the Woskob Family Gallery, a unit of the College of Arts and Architecture. Inquiries can be directed to woskob@psu.edu. For more information on this and other exhibitions, visit the Gallery’s website. Keep up to date with the Woskob Family Gallery by signing up for its Listserv or following on Instagram @woskobfamilygallery.