Current Exhibition

Motion/Emotion: Exploring Affect from Automata to Robots

This interdisciplinary exhibition investigates the emotional qualities of automata and robots by pairing the Museum’s permanent collection with the work of contemporary artists and scientists. The exhibition opens with the Barry Art Museum’s collection of historical automata before shifting to the work of contemporary artists Elizabeth King and Joseph Morris. The gallery also features a selection of actual robots created in the Hampton Roads area. By highlighting the intersections between art, science, and emotion, this exhibition connects the Barry Art Museum’s historical automata to 21st-century interests while also asking how robots can help us better understand our humanity. Curated by Sara Woodbury, Ph.D. Candidate in American Studies, William & Mary