UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — This fall, the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State is hosting a new gallery exhibition titled “Structures, Systems and Society: Work at the Interface of Art and Engineering,” on view now through Dec. 21. Located in the Barbara and Lee Maimon Teaching Gallery on Level 2 of the museum, the exhibition explores the creative and cultural intersections of two seemingly disparate disciplines: art and engineering.
A collaboration between the Palmer Museum and faculty from the College of Engineering, the exhibition serves as a showcase project for the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education and will feature several events throughout the fall semester.
The project was developed by Sarah Zappe, director of the Leonhard Center and assistant dean for teaching and learning in the College of Engineering, in collaboration with Joseph Cusumano, professor of engineering science and mechanics, and Benjamin Fehl, lecturer in the School of Engineering Design and Innovation. Keri Mongelluzzo, educator for academic engagement and access at the Palmer Museum, served as the project manager for the exhibition. Zappe, Cusumano and Fehl also curated the exhibition, with Zappe serving as the lead curator. Both Cusumano and Fehl have artwork showcased in the exhibition.
“What excites me most about this gallery is the opportunity for visitors to see art and engineering in conversation with each other,” Zappe said. “For our students and community, it’s a reminder that creativity is at the heart of both fields. By breaking down barriers between the two, we open the door for more innovative, human-centered ways of thinking and learning.”
From ancient innovations to contemporary design, the gallery highlights how artists and engineers have historically worked in tandem and how that synergy continues today. The exhibition features a wide-ranging selection of objects from the Palmer’s collection alongside works by Penn State faculty. It is organized around three thematic areas.
“Structures” investigates physical forms and frameworks that blend aesthetics and function in design. “Systems” explores the methods behind creation in both fields, emphasizing iterative processes and visualization techniques. “Society” considers the cultural, ethical and societal impact of engineering, and how art contributes to a more empathetic and inclusive innovation process.
The exhibition asks visitors to consider how siloed approaches to education and research might limit innovation, how art can inspire more responsible engineering practices, and what potential interdisciplinary collaborations offer students and society at large.