THE HUMAN ANIMAL
Category: Event Calendar
Date and Time
- Friday, Nov 13, 2026 5pm - 8pm
Location
Dairy Arts Center
2590 Walnut St
Details
Participating Artists: Jessica Teckemeyer, Michael Brohman, Tricia Waddell, Xan McKenna, Wyatt Martin
ON VIEW: Nov 13 – Jan 3 | Opening Reception: Nov 13, 5 – 8
This exhibition explores how conceptual artists use imagery of animals, creatures, and “the other” to reflect on human nature and the breadth of human experience. Through large-scale installations and sweeping conceptual works, the exhibition examines the symbolic power of the nonhuman as a mirror through which social, political, and psychological realities are revealed.
Focusing on the figure of the animal—and the idea of the “human as other”—the exhibition interrogates themes of aggression, dominance, fear, and control, questioning the often false or ironic divide drawn between humanity and the natural world. What we project onto animals and imagined creatures frequently exposes our own instincts, anxieties, and contradictions, revealing how closely intertwined human behavior is with the forces we claim to stand apart from.
Serving as a launching point for dialogue around American legacy, the exhibition opens space for conversation on politics, history, and contemporary cultural and social issues. By situating animal imagery within broader conceptual frameworks, the works challenge viewers to reconsider narratives of power, violence, and belonging, and to reflect on what it means to be human in relation to the world we inhabit.
