The MetroScope - A visionary look into art and creativity

Kent Behrens' work occupies a position within contemporary photography's ongoing dialogue between traditional processes and digital innovation . His commitment to silver print photography and darkroom techniques represents more than personal preference; it reflects a broader movement within contemporary art that values craft knowledge and physical processes as essential components of artis...

In the rapidly evolving landscape of contemporary digital art , few movements have captured the intersection of technology and human emotion as authentically as Techspressionism. Coined by artist Colin Goldberg in 2011, this movement represents a fundamental shift in how artists approach digital mediums—not merely as tools for creation, but as vehicles for profound emotional expression. While majo...

The Bauhaus school stands as the most influential art and design movement of the 20th century, fundamentally transforming museums, galleries, and artistic education worldwide. Founded in 1919 in Weimar, Germany, by visionary architect Walter Gropius, this revolutionary institution operated for just fourteen years before Nazi pressure forced its closure in 1933. Yet its impact on modern art, archit...

Don't let your art knowledge be abstract. Follow The MetroScope for a clear picture. Discover the world of Bauhaus art and design through the masterful works of Wassily Kandinsky at Metro Gallery Nebraska. This episode of The MetroScope podcast explores the transformative artistic movement that fundamentally changed modern art, architecture, and design from 1919 to 1933. The Bauhaus movement,...

Welcome to The MetroScope, Nebraska's premier art podcast, where we explore the revolutionary world of the Bauhaus movement and its profound impact on modern art, design, and culture. Today we're examining how this German art school transformed the way we understand creativity, functionality, and beauty in the modern world. The Bauhaus , founded in 1919 by visionary architect Walter Gropiu...

Welcome to The MetroScope, Today, we're examining one of history's most dramatic and influential artistic movements: the Baroque period, spanning from 1600 to 1750. Artists like Caravaggio pioneered chiaroscuro lighting techniques, while sculptors like Bernini brought marble to life with breathtaking psychological depth. What makes Baroque art so compelling is its commitment to total senso...

Don't let your art knowledge be abstract. Follow The MetroScope for a clear picture. We're examining the fascinating world of Richard Mupumha, a master Zimbabwean sculptor whose extraordinary work "Faces" graces the collection at Metro Gallery Nebraska, bringing the ancient traditions of Shona stone carving to Nebraska. Richard Mupumha's story begins in 1963 in Makoni, Zimbab...

Your cat called. It said to tell you to stop staring at a blank wall and follow The MetroScope. Welcome to The MetroScope, where we explore the remarkable artists and cultural treasures housed within Metro Gallery Nebraska's exceptional collection. Today, we're taking a look into the world of Roger T. Flythe , a masterful American artist whose three stunning paintings currently grace our g...

Welcome to The MetroScope, where we explore exceptional art discoveries at Metro Gallery Nebraska. Today we're featuring Henri Maurice d'Anty's mesmerizing "Harlequin and Dancer," a masterwork that brings École de Paris sophistication to Lincoln's vibrant art scene. Henri d'Anty, born in Paris in 1910, represents the international spirit that defined the École de Pari...

Welcome to a fascinating exploration of James Wyld's extraordinary cartographic legacy, featuring two exceptional 19th-century maps now available at Metro Gallery Nebraska. This episode delves into the life and achievements of Britain's Royal Geographer, whose innovative mapmaking transformed Victorian understanding of the world. James Wyld (1812-1887) inherited a distinguished cartographi...

Welcome to The MetroScope, exploring art and history through exceptional Nebraska galleries. Today we examine Matthäus Seutter's antique 18th-century Bohemia map at Metro Gallery Nebraska in Lincoln. Matthäus Seutter represents one of European cartography's greatest success stories. Born in Augsburg, Germany in 1678, Seutter transformed from brewery apprentice to Imperial Geographer, becom...

Joanna Tyka is an internationally acclaimed contemporary artist whose vibrant, expressionistic paintings have captivated art collectors and museum visitors across the United States and Europe. Currently featured at Metro Gallery Nebraska in Lincoln, Tyka's dynamic artwork "The Tango" exemplifies her signature "Tyka-style" - a distinctive artistic approach characterized by b...

Amado Maurilio Peña Jr., born in 1943 in Laredo, Texas, stands as one of America's most celebrated Southwest artists and a master of Native American cultural expression. This distinguished Mexican-American artist of Yaqui ancestry has captivated art collectors, museums, and galleries nationwide for over three decades with his bold, dynamic compositions that capture the essence of the American...

Welcome to The MetroScope, where Metro Gallery Nebraska brings you closer to exceptional artists and their timeless works. Today we explore the captivating world of Hungarian painter Karoly Krusnyak (1889-1960), whose intimate domestic scenes and masterful technique exemplify the rich tradition of Central European art. Krusnyak emerged during Hungary's golden age of painting, following in the...

Raúl Alejandro doesn’t make art to belong—he makes it to disrupt. Born in Mexico City and now exhibiting in the American Midwest, Alejandro has never followed the well-lit path. “Doing what others did was never my loticwtilb ,” he says, using his own term for modus operandi . “I have no instinct to belong.” That defiance pulses through his work, which often features animal skeletons rendered on di...

Metro Gallery Nebraska’s latest MetroScope podcast, L ega Art of the Bwami Society : Ivory and Bone , dives into the captivating realm of traditional African art and the profound cultural significance of the Bwami Society. This society, integral to the Lega peoples in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , uses meticulously carved ivory and bone sculptures as both artistic expressions and moral sy...

The MetroScope’s latest podcast, Mastering Light and Shadow: Sfumato and Chiaroscuro , explores two of the most influential techniques in Renaissance art— sfumato and chiaroscuro —which revolutionized the way artists depicted depth, realism, and emotion. Sfumato , famously perfected by Leonardo da Vinci , involves the delicate blending of tones and colors to create soft transitions between light a...

The Medici Effect on Renaissance art highlights the transformative power of patronage , showcasing how the Medici family's financial and intellectual support fueled artistic innovation. The MetroScope podcast explores how the Medici dynasty cultivated a thriving environment for visionary artists like Leonardo da Vinci , Michelangelo , and Sandro Botticelli , enabling them to push creative boun...

George Kountoupis is a celebrated American artist known for his expressive plein air paintings and emotionally resonant landscapes. A native of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Kountoupis began his artistic journey later in life, dedicating himself fully to painting at the age of 40. His studies at the Frank Reilly School of Art in New York City and his travels with renowned artists like Milford Zornes and...

Lawrence Bradford Hinckley was a visionary artist, ceramic designer, and gallery founder whose impact on California’s art scene remains profound. Born in Fillmore in 1900, Hinckley’s artistic journey led him to the Otis Art Institute, where he honed his craft before establishing The Artists' Barn —one of the first galleries in the region. His work , spanning landscape painting, portraiture, an...

Robert Esquivel’s mixed-media artistry defies convention, blending influences from Art Brut, Dada, Indigenous Art , and Magical Realism into vibrant, unconventional compositions. A Lincoln-based artist with a background in education, Esquivel’s creations pulse with energy, layering bold colors, raw textures, and whimsical storytelling. His work reflects the rebellious spirit of Jean-Michel Basquia...

Hank Ball is an award-winning artist and designer whose work spans digital media, interactive installations, speculative design, and film. Currently pursuing a BFA at the Johnny Carson School of Emerging Media Arts, Ball has developed a distinctive approach that blends emerging technologies with artistic storytelling. His projects explore themes of sustainability, human interaction, and the evolvi...

George Tuck’s photography captures the essence of the Great Plains and the people who inhabit them, blending documentary precision with artistic depth. His renowned exhibition, Flat Places and Interesting People , emerged from a 10,000-mile journey across the Midwest, where he documented striking landscapes and compelling portraits . His black-and-white compositions emphasize contrast and texture,...

Thomas Coleman (1935–1971) was a distinguished printmaker and educator whose work was deeply rooted in Midwestern traditions. After earning his graduate degree at the University of Kansas, he joined the University of Nebraska art department in 1963, where he established the intaglio program and later expanded it to include lithography. His artistic approach was methodical and persistent, reflectin...

David Brownlow (1915–2008) was a self-taught artist who became a key figure in the North Texas art scene, particularly as a member of the Fort Worth Circle. Raised in Tarrant County, Texas, he developed his artistic skills by studying books from the Fort Worth Public Library and drawing inspiration from local artists like Pattie R. East. His early career included working in aviation and engineerin...