Join The Art Galleries at TCU for the opening of “Do You Really Believe That?,” a group exhibition in honor of the late Frances Colpitt, Ph.D., professor emeritus and former Deedie Potter Rose Chair of Art History at Fort Worth Contemporary Arts.
The exhibition will be on view from Aug. 30-Nov.16, 2024. Other programming and live events throughout the exhibition will be announced soon.
Frances Colpitt’s Impact on Art History and Education
Frances Colpitt stands facing a large canvas. Photo credit: Allison V. Smith
Colpitt assumed the inaugural Deedie Potter Rose Chair of Art History in 2005, a role she embraced with passion and dedication.
“Dr. Colpitt was a revered colleague in the School of Art,” said Richard Lane, director of the School of Art. “When she arrived here, she had already established herself as one of the preeminent scholars of contemporary art in the United States.”
During her time at TCU, Colpitt instructed both undergraduate and graduate courses in contemporary art. She also taught seminars covering a wide range of topics, from abstraction to minimalism to art in the age of entertainment, in addition to her roles as chair and committee member for numerous art history and studio art thesis committees.
Throughout her impressive 17-year tenure, she played a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of creative leaders and artists. Recently, her legacy was honored with the donation of her invaluable papers to the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution.
Celebrating Colpitt’s Enduring Influence
The exhibition, “Do You Really Believe That?,” is named after a phrase Colpitt often used to inspire critical thinking and discussion in her students. This show honors her distinguished scholarship, innovative pedagogy and deep respect for artists and critics alike.
Focused on abstraction, minimalism and conceptual art, the exhibition highlights themes from Colpitt’s career and her impact on the Texas arts community. Featured artists include those she mentored, such as students, colleagues and artists from her personal collection. The exhibition also includes ephemera and documentary items that further highlight the critical influences and relationships Colpitt nurtured for decades.
“The exhibition was organized with the desire to celebrate and highlight the extraordinary impact of Dr. Frances Colpitt’s scholarship, critical writing and curatorial practice in Texas,” said Sara-Jayne Parsons, director of The Art Galleries at TCU. “It is a testament to her care and encouragement that many TCU students who studied with her are successful, practicing artists or working in key roles in the professional art world as curators, writers and teachers.”
“Do You Really Believe That? will travel to the Main Art Gallery at University of Texas at San Antonio for presentation Jan. 22-Feb. 28, 2025. The two exhibition locations reflect Colpitt’s impact in Texas academic institutions where she taught and created exhibitions as a tenured professor.
Free admission.