Lincoln, Neb.—Francisco Souto, professor of art and director of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s School of Art, Art History & Design, is one of 20 artists featured in the new exhibition titled “Made in the Plains” on display at Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha June 7-Sept. 21.
Showcasing the vibrant and diverse artistic communities of the region, “Made in the Plains” features new and recent work by 20 artists living in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. While not a comprehensive survey of art being produced here, the exhibition highlights a range of materials and approaches artists engage to respond to the current moment.
Souto is unveiling a new piece for the exhibition, titled “8 Million Broken Dreams.”
“It is a polyptych composed of eight circular panels, each 10 inches in diameter,” Souto said. “The series features arrangements of small stones on each panel, evoking both the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity and the staggering number of people—over eight million—who have left Venezuela. The work invites contemplation through its visual weight and poetic presence, offering a poignant narrative that encourages deep reflection.”
The concept of a “well-crafted object” is central to Souto’s aesthetic and studio practice.
“Each drawing is carefully rendered and highly varnished, framed with colorful stripes along the perimeter,” Souto said. “These stripes reference the iconic mosaic floors of the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela—Additive Color (1974–1978) by Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez (1923–2019). This public artwork holds deep symbolic and emotional significance for many Venezuelans, marking a place of both departure and longing.”
Three alumni are also included in the exhibition. The full list of artists include:
• Wesaam Al-Badry (Lincoln, Nebraska)
• Jess Benjamin (Omaha, Nebraska)
• Larry Buller (Lincoln, Nebraska), M.E. 2006; M.F.A. 2017
• Andrew Casto (Iowa City, Iowa)
• Rachel Cox (Iowa City, Iowa)
• T.J. Dedeaux-Norris (iowa City, Iowa)
• Nancy Friedemann-Sánchez (Lincoln, Nebraska)
• Neil Griess (Omaha, Nebraska), B.F.A. 2011
• Becky Grismer (Spearfish, South Dakota)
• Shabnam Jannesari (Hastings, Nebraska)
• Larassa Kabel (Des Moines, Iowa)
• Sarah Rowe (Omaha, Nebraska)
• Nathaniel Ruleaux (Rapid City, South Dakota), B.A. 2012
• Lee Emma Running (Omaha, Nebraska)
• Angie Seykora (Omaha, Nebraska)
• Lauren Simpson (Omaha, Nebraska)
• Francisco Souto (Lincoln, Nebraska)
• Christine Stormberg (Omaha, Nebraska)
• Mallory Wetherell (Kearney, Nebraska)
• Jave Yoshimoto (Omaha, Nebraska)
For more on the exhibition, visit The Joslyn’s website at https://go.unl.edu/madeinplains.
