Veronica Ryan: Unruly Objects / Jess T. Dugan: I’m right here with you

This spring, the Pulitzer Arts Foundation presents two exhibitions, Veronica Ryan: Unruly Objects and Jess T. Dugan: I’m right here with you. These exhibitions bring together decades of artistic exploration—from Ryan’s sculptural works that reimagine everyday materials to Dugan’s meditative botanical drawings, marking their first foray into this medium.

As Ryan’s first comprehensive solo exhibition in the US, Unruly Objects is co-organized by the Pulitzer and the Wexner Center for the Arts and curated by Tamara H. Schenkenberg, Curator, with Molly Moog, Curatorial Associate, Pulitzer Arts Foundation.

Among the more than a hundred sculptures, textiles, and works on paper are objects made of traditional art materials—i.e., bronze, marble, and plaster—as well as others sourced from such unexpected everyday items as seeds, pods, mango stones, orange peels, bandages, and plastic bottles. Ryan’s thoughtful reuse of organic materials in combination with mass-produced items suggests concerns around excess and consumption while also recognizing the unrealized potential of discarded objects.

“Veronica’s meticulous handicraft transforms quotidian materials into precious vessels that carry her own memories, as well as evidence of such global realities as the legacies of diasporas and environmental threats,” says Cara Starke, Executive Director, Pulitzer Arts Foundation.

Following the Pulitzer, Veronica Ryan: Unruly Objects travels to the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio, where it will be on view August 22, 2025–January 11, 2026.

Jess T. Dugan: I’m right here with you features 25 pencil drawings made by Dugan, created over the course of the last year, as a part of their daily meditative practice.

The series marks the artist’s first foray into the medium of drawing. Although primarily known as a photographer, Dugan considers this new body of work an extension of their previous practice in its contemplative expression of the ephemerality of life.

Some of the flowers and plants depicted are store bought, such as bouquets of tulips and lilies, while others—like sweet gum balls, crepe myrtle branches, and wild grasses—are clipped from the artist’s backyard. Dugan states, “The process of carefully observing flowers and their life cycle allows me to reflect on things that are difficult to comprehend when thought about directly: time, impermanence, mortality, and love.”

The exhibition features a selection from this ongoing series, which captures the subtle changes and fleeting beauty of plants as they bloom and wither. Dugan’s quest for presence is reflected in the series’ title I’m right here with you—something they say to their daughter at bedtime.

Jess T. Dugan: I’m right here with you is organized by Tamara H. Schenkenberg, Curator, and Stephanie Weissberg, Senior Curator, Pulitzer Arts Foundation.

About the Pulitzer
The Pulitzer Arts Foundation is an art museum devoted to presenting the art of today and works from the past within a global context. Located in the heart of St. Louis for more than 20 years, its home is an architectural landmark designed by celebrated architect Tadao Ando. Open and free to all, the Pulitzer is a cultural and civic asset to the St. Louis community and a popular destination for visitors from around the world.

The Pulitzer campus is located in the Grand Center Arts District of St. Louis, Missouri, and includes the museum, the Park-Like garden, a tree grove, and the Spring Church. The museum is open Thursday through Sunday, 10am–5pm, with evening hours until 8pm on Friday. Admission is free. For more information, visit pulitzerarts.org.