Norwood Viviano
Brunnier Art Museum
January 20 - July 24, 2026
Artist Norwood Viviano combines technology, data collection, and art to visually depict change. From shifts in population and industry to sea level rise, he synthesizes complex data into sculptures that bring light to the effect of those changes on communities over time. Through blown glass paired with vinyl images and cast glass and metal sculptures, Viviano engages the extensive research of historians, urban planners, demographers, and climate scientists to create works that merge past and future.
Mapping Infrastructure / Mapping Agriculture presents sculptures and visual explorations examining manufacturing history in U.S. cities and projected land loss due to sea level rise. On view is the "Recast" series, combining imagery from manufacturing's past with current urban architecture, and "Cities Underwater," which visualizes dramatic loss of land predicted to occur in the next 500 years in coastal areas.
The exhibition debuts a new commission for University Museums' permanent collection: cast glass sculptures incorporating Iowa State's 1860 Farm House and Agronomy Hall with topographical maps examining the past, present, and future of agricultural research and stewardship at Iowa State University.
Recasting Ames, 2026 by Norwood Viviano (American). Commissioned by University Museums.
About Norwood Viviano
Norwood Viviano is an associate professor and sculpture program coordinator at Grand Valley State University. His work has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery, and is held in major museum collections including the Corning Museum of Glass and Museum of Fine Arts Houston.
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Exhibition Programs
Find full descriptions of programs on the University Museums Calendar. All programs are free and open to the public. Programs are subject to change. Check the University Museums Calendar and Facebook page for the latest events information.
Mapping Change: Norwood Viviano Artist Lecture and Conversation with Special Guest Beth Lipman
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM (US Central)
Location: Brunnier Art Museum, 295 Scheman Building
Taking data visualization into another dimension, Norwood Viviano utilizes a variety of mapping techniques to create sculptures that tell stories of American cities, industry, and change. Surrounded by his solo exhibition in the Brunnier Art Museum, Viviano will provide insights into his deep research methods and the use of computer modeling, printing technology and engineering in his creative process. After Viviano's lecture, fellow artist Beth Lipman—renowned for glass still-life compositions, including those in an exhibition closing soon at the Christian Petersen Art Museum—will join him for a unique opportunity to hear two nationally recognized artists discuss how they engage similar processes in completely different ways and the importance of knowledge-sharing and accessibility in artistic creation.
Casting Data in Glass: Data Visualization as Art with Norwood Viviano
Friday, February 13, 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (US Central)
Partnership with University Library and GIS faculty
Location: The Catalyst, University Library
What if you could turn research data into art? Learn how artist Norwood Viviano uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) throughout his artistic practice to create sculptural and visual representations of data, making abstract information tangible. Viviano will examine his unique processes and ask attendees to consider how they can create visually impactful objects or even art with their own collected data. This presentation is especially great for students, researchers and anyone interested in GIS, data visualization, science communication, or the intersection of science and art.
Explore! Artful Engineering and Technology
Saturday, February 28, 2026, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (US Central)
Location: Brunnier Art Museum, 295 Scheman Building
Explore the fascinating connections between art and technology at the Brunnier Art Museum. Free activities and crafts for children and families will focus on cityscapes, mapmaking, 3D modeling, and technology. Find inspiration from the exhibition Mapping Infrastructure/Mapping Agriculture by artist Norwood Viviano. Activities geared for grades K-5; all are welcome. Stop by any time during the three-hour window, while supplies last.
Museum Meetup: Storytellers Abound
Thursday, April 9, 2026, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (US Central)
Location: Brunnier Art Museum, 295 Scheman Building
Fairytales can be some of the first stories we're told, sparking imagination and curiosity. Visit the Brunnier Art Museum to explore the visual storytelling exhibitions Tell Me A Story and Mapping Infrastructure / Mapping Agriculture. Create your own name or letter sign inspired by illuminated manuscripts and grab a take-home snack. Guests are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite fantasy character. Museum Meetups are free and open to all ISU students and their guests. Drop in anytime between 6-8 p.m.
Curator's Tour: Mapping Infrastructure/Mapping Agriculture
Sunday, May 31, 2026, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (US Central)
Location: Brunnier Art Museum, 295 Scheman Building
How can data become sculpture? Brunnier Art Museum curator Adrienne Gennett will lead visitors on an exploration of Norwood Viviano's complex glass sculptures which aim to visualize complex information through striking works of art. Viviano's sculptures merge GIS mapping, LiDAR, and photogrammetry with traditional glassblowing and casting to translate agricultural and infrastructure data into three-dimensional glass forms. The exhibition features his new commission for University Museums' permanent collection: cast glass architecture incorporating Iowa State's 1860 Farm House and the Agronomy Building, each embedded with topographical maps tracing the complex relationship between Iowa agriculture's past and future.
Visit the Brunnier Art Museum
Hours:
Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Closed to the public Mondays. ISU curriculum tours may be scheduled on these days with a 2-week notice.
Closed University Holidays
Address: Scheman Building (Top Floor), 1805 Center Drive, Ames, Iowa
Admission: Free; donations always welcome
This exhibition is curated and organized by Norwood Viviano, Heller Gallery, and University Museums. Generous support for the exhibition was given by Marcia and Jim Borel, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Engineering, Dr. Amy Kaleita, Marilyn and Paul Gennett, and University Museums Membership.