Curated by Zoë Elena Moldenhauer and James Horner, Avant-garde Right Now! looks at art that challenges society today.

What does it mean to be “avant-garde” today? The term originates from the French military term “advance guard“ meaning to scout terrain and the 19th century French left-wing political reformists known as "vanguard,” a movement of political and social change that challenged society. “Avant-garde” refers to art, literature, or ideas that are experimental, innovative, and pushing the boundaries of what is accepted, often breaking with tradition.

Amos Eno Gallery presents original works of nine artists from around the country that push boundaries, explore new themes, and feature subject matter that challenge U.S. society today.

Brit Block’s look at our time and invitations to connect with the deep goodness that resides within each of us beyond our need for individual affirmation.

Moss Collins who explores surroundings and machines, industrial equipment and systems of transport and is heavily influenced by Neo-Dada, meme culture, glitches and the urban and suburban landscape.

Lainie Ettema’s elements of play, absurdity, and the surreal – and what it means to inhabit a female body in the 21st century, probing the intersection of childhood innocence and adult trauma.

Florence Alfano McEwin and her concerns of the limited control over socio-political conditions, the denial of the climate crisis, and political decisions that neglect common decency and engenders an indignation.

Noah Pesante’s radical approach to figurative abstraction, taking notes from Cy Twombly and introducing intentional gestural mark making while remaining grounded in the subject and emotion.

Jessica Swank, who considers what it means to inhabit a body and form with authentic connections in an era increasingly shaped by automation, artificial intelligence, and post-biological ideals.

Rafael Santiago and his exploration of identity, fantasy and queerness.

Terry Tapp, who explores a search for form and being. The elements of the paintings and drawings are engaged in a struggle of seeming, all of them floating below or to the side of a complete resolution.

Carol Updegrave’s intersection of emotional interior landscapes and experimental work, unconcerned about beauty and outcome, and absorbed in process and materials.

For the exhibit, the curators reviewed the curious practices of these nine artists from around the country and presented what is Avant-garde today.