Mount Mercy will display the artwork of Peter Xiao during a special exhibit in the Janalyn Hanson White Gallery, running February 14 – March 6. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
An artist talk will be held on February 17 from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in Lundy 4, Lower Lundy Hall on Mount Mercy's campus. A reception for the artist will immediately follow in the gallery.
Born in Beijing, China, Xiao was studying English at Beijing Normal University before he transferred to Coe College in 1980 and double-majored in English and fine arts. After earning his B.A. degree from Coe, Xiao went on to Temple University, Philadelphia and obtained a M.F.A in painting from Tyler School of Art.
Xiao taught part-time at Trenton State College while also serving as a teaching assistant. Upon completion of his M.F.A., he worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where he taught life drawing at the Samuel Fleischer Art Memorial, an adult art school affiliated with the Museum. His work was frequently shown in Philadelphia from 1987 to 1990, at the Chicago International Art Expositions in 1986 and 1987 and in Dolan/Maxwell, New York in 1989.
Since 1989, Xiao has served as an assistant professor of painting and drawing at Augustana College in Ill. His work has been frequently shown in one-person and group exhibits in the Quad City area and Midwest region, winning purchase awards from Davenport Museum of Art and other competitive exhibitions.
Describing his artwork, Xiao states, "After working figuratively for twenty five years away from real life experiences, I am now fully self-absorbed, drawing material out of the first half of my life in China and my identity as an immigrant from that country."
In his work, Xiao uses the human form/presence to play out ideas about space, narration and formal structure. A 1991-92 series of his work in oil, acrylics and mixed media focused on the subject of haircut, which held multiple meanings for him such as identity, power and manipulation. In his exhibit, "Harry's Hair Salon," a multi-media, see-and-walk-through installation project displayed recently at CSPS in Cedar Rapids, Xiao experimented with the paintings' links to experiences of other dimensions and participation by the viewer.
The Janalyn Hanson White Gallery is open:
Monday – Friday | 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Viewings outside of normal business hours can be arranged by checking out a gallery key from the University Center Information Desk, or by calling 319-363-8213.