October 27 - December 7, 2023

The JORGELUCEROSTUDYCOLLECTION is a modest art library and ephemera archive assembled by Mexican-American artist and educator Jorge Lucero during his various teaching appointments across the American Midwest. Most of the time the STUDYCOLLECTION is housed at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and it is open to the public once a week when classes are in session. Browsing, study, quiet reading, sitting, and open discussion is encouraged during a visit to the STUDYCOLLECTION.

The STUDYCOLLECTION is non-circulating. It is the primary mission of the STUDYCOLLECTION to be a forum for conviviality, especially over these unique items within this particular place and time, therefore its holdings are rarely lent individually. In 2017, the STUDYCOLLECTION was borrowed in its entirety by the University of North Texas for the duration of their spring semester.

The University of Tennessee is only the second institution to perform this gesture.

Lucero’s exhibition was presented by the UT Downtown Gallery in collaboration with the Tennessee Art Educators Association annual conference. Funding was generously provided by the Arts & Culture Alliance, Knox County, the Department of the Treasury, Tennessee Art Educators Association, the East Tennessee STEM Hub, and UTK co-sponsors from the Center for Enhancing Education in Mathematics and Sciences and the Department of Theory & Practice in Teacher Education.