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The Jane L. and Robert H. Weiner Lecture in the Arts: Roberto Lugo

April 2, 2025

Roberto Lugo is an artist, ceramicist, poet, educator and social activist whose work explores themes of poverty, inequality and racial injustice.

Roberto Lugo

Courtesy of the artist, Roberto Lugo.

Drawing on his Philadelphia roots, Lugo blends traditional European and Asian ceramic techniques with modern street sensibilities and elements of hip-hop culture. He uses hand-painted surfaces adorned with classic decorative patterns, urban graffiti and portraits of historically underrepresented figures such as Sojourner Truth, Dr. Cornel West, The Notorious B.I.G., and even his own family members.

Lugo holds a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA from Penn State, and his work has been exhibited at prestigious institutions including the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York and the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. His honors include the 2023 Heinz Award, a Pew Fellowship and a Rome Prize, and his works are held in the permanent collections of more than 30 institutions, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

This lecture is sponsored by the Department of Art & Art History.

Learn more about this semester's exhibitions at Dickinson.
View more upcoming Calendar of Arts events.

Further information

  • Location: Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium
  • Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Calendar Icon
  • Cost: $0.00