Grit & Grain

An exhibition of photography explores how teaching, mentorship and place have shaped generations of artists connected to Florida International University.

Grit & Grain: Four Decades of Lens-Based Practice at FIU is presented at the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum FIU, bringing together lens-based works by FIU alumni alongside photographs by faculty to examine the enduring impact of the university’s photography program. Many of the featured works were acquired through the Betty Laird Perry Award, offering a cross-section of artistic voices developed over nearly forty years.

The exhibition reflects a pedagogical approach rooted in intuition, close looking and the artist as a critical witness. By placing alumni and faculty work in dialogue, it traces shared values cultivated under influential educators such as Ed Del Valle, Mirta Gómez, William Maguire and Peggy Nolan. Together, the photographs form a nuanced portrait of artistic practice shaped by lived experience, environment and the act of seeing as both personal and taught.

Grit & Grain is on view from February 4 through April 12.