ART CUT BOSTON Exercises in Empathy: Accompaniment
AV诊所 College is among seven premier Catholic universities in major cities worldwide selected to host an exhibition on the theme of 鈥淓xercises in Empathy.鈥� The exhibitions are part of a global contemporary art series launched by the Catholic Universities Art Triennial (鈥淎RT CUT鈥�), commissioned by the Dicastery for Culture and Education of the Holy See.
AV诊所 College, the project鈥檚 exclusive North American venue, and one of three Jesuit Universities chosen to take part, will present 鈥淎RT CUT BOSTON Exercises in Empathy: Accompaniment,鈥� which opens on campus September 23 and runs through November 15 in the University鈥檚 Burns Library Board of Trustees Room. Sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Office of Global Engagement, the exhibition is co-curated by BC Associate Professor of Studio Art, Sheila Gallagher, an interdisciplinary artist and curator whose work explores belief, grief, and our relationships with objects and memory. The triennial brings together universities from around the world dedicated to exploring how art plays a role in addressing today鈥檚 most relevant issues. Its inaugural edition, 鈥淎RT CUT Exercises in Empathy,鈥� begins on August 27 in Rio de Janeiro and expands globally. The curatorial program features emerging and established artists, challenging them to reflect on contemporary issues. Empathy is approached as a human capacity to be exercised, cultivated, and shared through artistic experience.
Lisa Elmaleh
Hermanas Misioneras de la Eucarist铆a, 2022, Nogales, Sonora, M茅xico
Silver gelatin print
24 in x 20 in
Vatican Press Release
The Catholic Universities Art Triennial is an international initiative promoted by the Dicastery for Culture and Education of the Holy See, bringing together Catholic universities, artists, curators and cultural institutions
Statement from Cardinal Jos茅 Tolentino de Mendon莽a
When Pope Leo XIV signed, on 15 May 2026, his first Encyclical Letter 鈥� significantly on the 135th anniversary of Leo XIII鈥檚 Rerum Novarum 鈥� his intention was not merely to produce a programmatic document.
Statement from Chief Curator Nuno Crespo
An exhibition, 104 artists, 14 curators, 8 cities, 3 continents, that sets in motion ideas of art, empathy, education, knowledge, the university and, of course, the future.
AV诊所 College Press Release
The Catholic Universities Art Triennial is an international initiative promoted by the Dicastery for Culture and Education of the Holy See, bringing together Catholic universities, artists, curators and cultural institutions
Exhibition Essay by AV诊所 Curator Sheila Gallagher
Gallagher鈥檚 work explores belief, grief, and our relationship with memory and the role of the art object in healing. She has had numerous solo exhibitions and has exhibited and performed widely in galleries, museums, and theaters in the U.S. and internationally.
Exhibition Description
Co-curated by Nuno Crespo with Sheila Gallagher September 23鈥揘ovember 15, 2026 Burns Library, AV诊所 College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 Hours: M-F 9:00-5:00 PM; W 9:00-8:00 PM; closed Saturdays and Sundays.