Student Commissions

New work by UChicago students

The Smart recognizes the wealth of creativity on the UChicago campus and the capacity for students to expand their academic work into original works of creative scholarship.

Working with curators and arts organizers on the Student Advisory Committee, the Smart Museum partners with UChicago students and local artists to develop original works of performance art, spoken word poetry, experimental music, and dance, inspired by the work on view.

Student programs at the Smart are supported by the UChicago Arts Pass.


Past student performances

Some recent examples of new work created by UChicago students at the Smart

Plate und Marginalia
June 6, 2018
Composer Jonathan Gardner and his group “Botany Pond” present a work inspired by the etchings of Félix Buhot.

Soundscapes of Color
June 3, 2018
An original avant-garde opera composed and produced by University of Chicago student Michał Dzitko.

A Classical Ballet
April 22, 2017
Dancer and choreographer Magdalena Glotzer developed and presented an original ballet inspired by the themes and artwork in the exhibition Classicisms.

Monster Poetry
February 10, 2016
Three student poets from the literary magazine, Memento, wrote and performed original poems based on paintings and assemblage works in the exhibition Monster Roster.


Student-curated Performances

Some recent examples of student-curated performances and events

Dialogo Dialogo
October 6, 2018
Premiere performance of Dialogo Dialogo, a new improvisatory dance installation choreographed by Irene Hsiao and set to a carillon composition by Joey Brink.

Darmiyaan
May 27, 2018
Artist Sabba Elahi and dancer-choreographer Ahalya Satkunaratnam premiered their new, collaborative work, Darmiyaan. The performance explored the global war on terror through meditative drawing, repetitive newsreels, and physical, visual, and sonic movements. It will be followed by a brief discussion with the artists.


Photos by Erik L. Peterson.