Commerce, TX, August 21, 2025
News Summary
The University Gallery at East Texas A&M University presents a solo exhibition titled ‘Library of Partial Things’ by artist Dan Jian, showcasing her collage-based drawings and monochromatic compositions. Running from August 25 to October 24, the exhibition explores themes of fragmentation and duality. An opening reception with a Gallery Talk by the artist is scheduled for September 2. The event highlights Jian’s artistic focus on moments of contrasting feelings and unresolved relationships, inviting viewers to engage with her innovative approach to visual arts.
Commerce, TX — The University Gallery at East Texas A&M University opens Dan Jian: Library of Partial Things, a solo exhibition of collage-based drawings and monochromatic compositions, running from August 25 to October 24. The show will be on view in the University Gallery at 2005 University Dr., Commerce, TX, with an opening reception scheduled for September 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. A Gallery Talk by the artist will begin at 5:30 p.m. during the reception.
What the exhibition includes
The exhibition presents collage-based drawings, wall drawings, and works on paper that emphasize themes of fragmentation and multiplicity. The artist’s monochromatic compositions explore paradoxical states and dualities, capturing moments in which opposing feelings coexist. Key conceptual threads include the interplay between the intimate and the vast, the permanent and the fleeting, and a recurring sense of dwelling without a ground.
Artist background and professional context
Dan Jian, born in 1986, is a visual artist working in painting, drawing, and animation. Originally from the mountain region of Hubei, China, she moved to the United States at age 19. Jian earned a B.F.A. from Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University in 2012 and an M.F.A. from The Ohio State University in 2016. She currently holds a faculty position as an Associate Professor of Art at Texas Christian University and maintains a studio practice in Fort Worth, Texas.
Her work has been exhibited across the United States and internationally in China, Italy, and Korea. Jian’s professional experience includes residency programs at the Ragdale Foundation, the Vermont Studio Center, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and Organhaus Contemporary Art Space in Chongqing, China. Recent recognitions include selection as a Carter Community Artist by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in 2022 and an Artist Grant from the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas in 2023. Jian is represented by Cris Worley Fine Arts in Dallas.
Gallery and visiting information
The University Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is available by appointment outside posted hours. The University Gallery is one of three exhibition spaces maintained by the university, alongside the President’s Gallery in the Business Administration Building and Gallery 219 Project Space in the Wathena Temple Fine Arts Building. Exhibitions at the University Gallery include works by East Texas A&M students as well as nationally and internationally recognized artists and designers.
In addition to exhibitions, the university’s gallery programming supports academic activities such as graduate critiques, thesis reviews, and the Annual Juried Student Art Show held each spring. The Department of Art at East Texas A&M University emphasizes student preparation for careers in art and the cultivation of a lasting appreciation for visual arts.
Practical details for visitors
Visitors planning to attend the opening reception on September 2 can arrive between 5 and 7 p.m.; the artist’s Gallery Talk will begin at 5:30 p.m. Regular gallery hours apply for viewing the exhibition between August 25 and October 24. Appointments for special visits can be arranged through the gallery, which also hosts academic and student-focused events tied to gallery exhibitions and programs.
Additional context
The exhibition’s title, Library of Partial Things, reflects an artistic focus on pieces and fragments rather than continuous narratives, creating a visual environment where fragments suggest broader, unresolved relationships. The monochrome and collage formats used throughout the show foreground structure, negative space, and the tension between composition and incompletion. The exhibition situates Jian’s recent practice within ongoing conversations about materiality, memory, and psychological space in contemporary drawing and installation work.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the exhibition open?
The exhibition is on view from August 25 to October 24. The University Gallery’s regular hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment.
Where is the University Gallery located?
The gallery is located at 2005 University Dr., Commerce, TX.
When is the opening reception and Gallery Talk?
The opening reception takes place on September 2 from 5 to 7 p.m., with a Gallery Talk by Dan Jian beginning at 5:30 p.m.
What types of work are included in the exhibition?
The exhibition features collage-based drawings, wall drawings, and works on paper in monochrome, with themes of fragmentation, multiplicity, and paradox.
Who is Dan Jian?
Dan Jian is a visual artist born in 1986 from Hubei, China. She holds a B.F.A. from Tyler School of Art and Architecture and an M.F.A. from The Ohio State University, serves as an Associate Professor at Texas Christian University, and works from a studio in Fort Worth, Texas.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exhibition Title | Dan Jian: Library of Partial Things |
| Dates | August 25 – October 24 |
| Location | University Gallery, 2005 University Dr., Commerce, TX |
| Opening Reception | September 2, 5–7 p.m. (Gallery Talk at 5:30 p.m.) |
| Gallery Hours | Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; by appointment |
| Main Themes | Fragmentation, multiplicity, paradoxes (intimate/vast, permanent/fleeting, dwelling without ground) |
| Artist | Dan Jian (b. 1986) — painter, drawer, animator; Associate Professor at Texas Christian University |
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HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- East Texas Radio: ETAMU University Gallery Hosting International Artist Exhibition
- Wikipedia: Drawing
- East Texas Radio: Dan Jian Exhibition Opening Reception at ETAMU University Gallery
- Google Search: Dan Jian artist
- BYU Arts: Dan Jian Exhibition
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