The University Gallery at East Texas A&M University is exhibiting “Dan Jian: Library of Partial Things” through October 24 in the University Gallery, located at 2005 University Dr. in Commerce, Texas.
An opening reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. September 2 with a gallery talk by the artist beginning at 5:30 p.m. The gallery is open weekly 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment.
The exhibition features collage-based drawings stemming from Jian’s interest in fragmentation and multiplicity. The monochromatic compositions, whether wall drawings or works on paper, are driven by her desire to explore paradoxes and dualities, seeking to capture moments where opposing feelings coexist: the intimate within the vast, the permanent within the fleeting, and a sense of dwelling without a ground.
Dan Jian (b. 1986) is a visual artist who works across painting, drawing, and animation. Originally from the mountain region of Hubei, China, Jian came to the United States at the age of 19. She received her B.F.A. from Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University (2012) and her M.F.A. from The Ohio State University (2016). Currently, Jian is an Associate Professor of Art at Texas Christian University while maintaining an ongoing studio practice in Fort Worth, Texas.
Jian’s solo and group shows have been exhibited nationally across the US and internationally in China, Italy, and Korea. She is a residency alumnus of Ragdale Foundation, Vermont Studio Center, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and Organhaus Contemporary Art Space in Chongqing, China. Jian was elected a Carter Community Artist by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (2022) and an Artist Grant recipient from the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas (2023). Jian is represented by Cris Worley Fine Arts in Dallas. Her work can also be explored at her online portfolio, www.danjian.info.
The East Texas A&M Department of Art aims to inspire and prepare students to excel in various art professions and foster a lifelong appreciation of the visual arts.
The university has three exhibition spaces: the University Gallery located in the Art Building, the President’s Gallery in the Business Administration Building and the Gallery 219 Project Space on the 2nd floor of the Wathena Temple Fine Arts Building.
The University Gallery is reserved for exhibitions featuring artworks by East Texas A&M students and nationally and internationally recognized artists and designers. The gallery also hosts graduate critiques, thesis reviews and the Annual Juried Student Art Show held every spring. The Wathena Temple Project Space and the President’s Gallery feature solo and group exhibitions created by currently enrolled East Texas A&M students.
East Texas A&M University serves rural and metropolitan East Texas with a dedicated mission to transform lives. With an enrollment of approximately 13,086 students, East Texas A&M is the third-largest member of The Texas A&M University System. Students choose from among 143+ academic degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels and learn from world-class faculty who conduct nationally recognized research.
A vibrant student experience includes a thriving Greek community and more than 95 student-led organizations. As a member of the Southland Conference, East Texas A&M features 14 NCAA Division I athletic teams. The university offers classes online and on-site in Commerce, Dallas, Corsicana, McKinney, Mesquite, and Bryan (RELLIS).
