In an exciting development for art enthusiasts and students alike, the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art in South Bend, Indiana, is set to unveil its fall exhibition at the Teaching Gallery from August 26 to December 14, 2025. This initiative is a collaborative effort with various departments across the Notre Dame campus, engaging eight academic disciplines and numerous faculty members. The Teaching Gallery is a distinctive space designed to enhance student access to art objects for research, presentations, and other academic projects, while also showcasing the vibrant educational activities at Notre Dame to all museum visitors.
While the Raclin Murphy Museum considers all 23 of its permanent collection galleries as platforms for education and engagement, the Teaching Gallery's semester-long exhibition underscores the unique role of an academic art museum. Faculty from diverse fields are encouraged to integrate the gallery space and the museum's extensive collection into their course curricula. This fall, the gallery will feature works for in-depth study in classes spanning history, classics, English, theology, biological sciences, and art history. Additionally, the Institute for Latino Studies and the Moreau First-Year Seminar will utilize the gallery for student programs. Collaborations will involve Professors Francisco Aragon, Christopher Baron, Emily Beck, John Deak, Brandon Menke, Stacey Noem, Elyse Speaks, and the Moreau First-Year Seminar faculty. The exhibition will include paintings, sculptures, photographs, and prints from the Classical Greek and Roman periods to the Post-Modern Era.
A highlight of this semester is the inclusion of the entire first-year class in the museum experience through the Moreau First-Year Experience Seminar. This seminar encourages first-year students to explore fundamental questions about their values, purpose, and relationships with others, the world, and God. Rooted in Notre Dame’s Catholic mission and a sacramental vision of divine presence in human interactions, the seminar invites students to reflect on their life at Notre Dame and engage in the lifelong pursuit of living well.
Among the notable works on display is W. Eugene Smith's "T.D. Luckey Feeding ‘Milk-Rats’" from the series “Life without Germs,” a 1949 gelatin silver print. This piece is on loan from the Laboratory of Bacteriology at the University of Notre Dame, adding a unique historical and scientific dimension to the exhibition.
The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art offers free admission to all visitors, making it an accessible cultural resource for the community. For details on visiting hours, current exhibits, and upcoming events, guests are encouraged to explore the museum's official website.
About the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
Established in 1875, the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, formerly known as the Snite Museum of Art, stands as one of the oldest and most esteemed university art museums in the United States. The museum is founded on the belief that art is crucial for understanding the diverse and shared human experiences and beliefs. It promotes close observation and critical thinking, aiming to inspire inquiry, dialogue, and wonder among audiences from the academic community, the local area, and beyond. The museum's renowned permanent collection boasts over 31,000 works, representing a wide array of cultures and historical periods, all in alignment with the University of Notre Dame’s Catholic mission.
For media inquiries, please contact Gina Costa, Communications Program Director at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, at 574-631-4720.