Northern Illinois University College of Visual and Performing Arts

09/23/2026

Join us Thursday, Sept. 24 for our Olmec Heads Experience Grand Opening Celebration!

This fall, the NIU Art Museum is presenting one of the most distinctive exhibitions ever hosted on our campus: The Olmec Heads Experience. The exhibition features twenty-five monumental, artist-designed sculptures inspired by the ancient Olmec civilization. The exhibition is open in the Art Museum South Gallery, and will run throughout the fall semester.

Visitors will discover colorful sculptures across campus while exploring an accompanying museum exhibition featuring educational displays, family activities, and an engaging graphic history of the Olmec civilization.

Be among the first to experience this remarkable exhibition by joining us for a Friends Preview and Grand Opening Celebration, Thursday, September 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Not only will you see The Olmec Heads Experience exhibition, but you’ll also be able to visit Celebrating 40 | Burma Art Collection, a retrospective of works from the NIU Center for Burma Studies’ extensive collection.

09/16/2026

The NIU School of Art and Design hosted visiting artist Melanie Yazzie September 14-16, where the indigenous Navajo artist met with Printmaking and Visual Arts Education students, and is presenting "Stories That Shape Us" in Jack Arends Hall Room 100 at 5 p.m.

Yazzie resides in Colorado and works in a wide range of media including printmaking, painting, sculpture, ceramics and installation art. Her art focuses on connecting with and educating people about the contemporary status of one indigenous woman, hoping others can learn from her experience.

09/15/2026

Opens next week!

The first production of the season opens in just 10 short days. Get your tickets now for "Men on Boats" in the Black Box Theatre opening Friday, Sept. 25 with productions from Sept. 25-27 and Oct. 1-3. go.niu.edu/arts-tickets

09/14/2026

This week's NIU Arts Events newsletter features news on the Avalon String Quartet's performance of a new score for a French silent movie classic, a chamber opera hosted by the School of Music, the first of this year's International Guitar Series concerts and more. Sign up for the newsletter at niuarts.substack.com.

09/08/2026

This week's NIU Arts Events newsletter features information on existing and upcoming art exhibitions, a new score for a famous silent French film and much more. Sign up to get your newsletter at niuarts.substack.com.

09/03/2026

"Fuerza Regia" created by Miguel Angel Bravo Garica of Tlexcala, Mexico is another of 13 Olmec Heads currently on display on our campus. This head is located in front of Davis Hall. These heads are part of an exhibition that opens in the NIU Art Museum, Wednesday, September 16, and is free of charge. Learn more at go.niu.edu/olmec

09/02/2026

"Fuerza Mexica Jr." created by Jose Manuel Jacobo Torrecilla of Mexico City, Mexico is one of 13 Olmec Heads currently standing guard on the NIU campus. This head is located just to the east of Davis Hall overseeing the open space between the building and the lagoon. These heads are part of an exhibition that opens in the NIU Art Museum, Wednesday, September 16, and is free of charge. Learn more at go.niu.edu/olmec

08/31/2026

Sign up for the NIU Arts e-newsletter and get regular updates about performances, exhibitions and more coming up in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The latest edition includes information on new exhibits in the Jack Olson Gallery and the NIU Art Museum plus season ticket information for concerts and theater productions. niuarts.substack.com

08/26/2026

As you "head" out on campus this first week of classes, have you noticed anything different on campus? You may have noticed some very cool pieces of art in front of the library, the art building, Altgeld Hall and Davis Hall. They are part of The Olmec Heads Experience, an exhibit opening in the NIU Art Museum on September 16. Learn more about it at niuarts.com.

08/21/2026

The schools welcomed our students back with fun events. Theatre and Dance students enjoyed Karaoke and Kiki, Music students had a jam session and Art and Design students showed off their skills making tape murals. Here's to a great fall semester!