USJ Art Museum Exhibit
By: Caroline Bucari
The Art Museum at the University of Saint Joseph is currently presenting “An Eye for Abstraction,” a two-part photography exhibition running Jan. 15 through March 28, 2026. The show features work by photographers Brett Weston and Mark Citret, highlighting how photography can transform everyday subjects into abstract visual experiences inspired by nature.
Drawn from recent gifts to the museum collection, the exhibition explores how photographers use light, shape, texture, and perspective to reveal patterns that often go unnoticed in daily life. The works remain closely connected to nature while avoiding direct representation. Rather than documenting recognizable scenes, the images encourage viewers to slow down and see familiar environments in new and unexpected ways.
Part I of the exhibition focuses on Brett Weston (1911–1993), an influential American photographer known for pushing photography toward abstraction. Weston, the son of famed modernist photographer, Edward Weston, began photographing as a teenager after a trip to Mexico with his father and quickly gained international recognition, exhibiting in major shows before the age of 20.
Weston’s work is celebrated for its sharp detail and strong contrasts, often turning natural subjects such as dunes, rocks, and architectural forms into bold graphic compositions. Photography historians credit him with helping make negative space and abstraction central subjects in modern work, bridging photography with modern art movements.
Part II highlights Mark Citret (b. 1949), a contemporary American photographer whose work captures quiet moments and overlooked details of ordinary environments. Citret began photographing seriously in the late 1960s and developed a style rooted in observation and contemplation. His images often depict where people are notably absent, creating a subtle sense of absurdity
I visited the art gallery to see these wonderful photographs, and I was taken away by their history, reflecting on the passage of time and the absence of human presence within these spaces. Many of the images capture vast environments devoid of people, while others present nature in striking, close-up detail
It was a beautiful exhibit to view in person, so don’t miss your chance to visit. The Art Museum at University of Saint Joesph is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m.-4:00p.m.
