Reanimating Antiquity: Fairfield University Art Museum Presents James Welling’s ‘Cento’
Source: Keith Beaty / Toronto Star via Getty Images James Welling Fine Art Exhibition Display.
Bridging classical antiquity with contemporary chromatic experimentation, the Fairfield University Art Museum will present “Cento,” a major survey of recent work by acclaimed artist James Welling. Opening to the public on September 25, 2026, in the museum's Walsh Gallery, the exhibition showcases over 60 works from Welling’s celebrated Cento and Personae series.
Represented by Regen Projects, Welling utilizes digital and painterly alterations to "reanimate" photographs taken at ancient Greek and Roman sites and global museum collections. Staged alongside selected plaster casts from Fairfield University's historic classical sculpture collection, the exhibition fosters a direct dialogue between ancient form and modern photographic abstraction.
Exhibition Highlights & Artistic Practice
The exhibition examines Welling’s layered approach to classical statuary and architectural remnants:
Reanimating Antiquity: Works from the Cento and Personae series apply saturated, unconventional color channels to photographs of ancient sculpture, challenging conventional perceptions of monochromatic marble.
Dialogue with Historic Casts: Welling’s altered photographs are exhibited directly alongside plaster casts of Greek and Roman sculptures from the museum’s permanent archives.
Public Programming & Lectures: The exhibition opens with a keynote address by Welling at the Kelley Theatre, followed by a series of monthly gallery talks throughout the fall semester.
Event Architecture & Key Dates
To assist museum visitors and arts journalists, the museum outlines the schedule of public programming for the exhibition:
Event Milestone Date & Time Location / Format Opening Night Lecture Thursday, September 24, 2026 (5:30 PM)Kelley Theatre, Quick Center (In-person & Arts & Minds Live) Opening ReceptionThursday, September 24, 2026 (6:30 PM)Walsh Gallery & Lobby, Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts Exhibition Public Run Opens September 25, 2026Walsh Gallery, Fairfield University Art Museum Gallery Talks with James Welling Oct 10, Nov 7, Dec 5, 2026 (3:00 PM)Walsh Gallery, Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts