The American Academy of Arts & Sciences has named Elizabeth Catlett to its 2026 class of legacy honorees, which recognizes people whose accomplishments were overlooked or undervalued due to their race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. Catlett, a sculptor and printmaker, was one of the first three students to receive an MFA from Iowa in 1940 and the first African American woman to earn the degree.

Johnny Brian and Caroline Pasierb are supporting a new darkroom for students, creating opportunities for future artists to explore traditional photographic processes.

Rachel Cox, associate professor of photography, received a grant to support a new photography project during her research leave this fall.

Ten years ago, three University of Iowa arts buildings opened with great fanfare, marking a major milestone in the university’s recovery from the devastating 2008 flood. Together, the buildings represented more than a return to campus; they sparked a new era for the arts at Iowa.

Faculty across the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, including SAAHD assistant professor Tony Orrico, discuss the questions driving their research, what brought them to higher education, and the interests that shape their lives beyond their work.

Read the University of Iowa School of Art, Art History, and Design October 2026 Newsletter.