ArtCenter College of Design will offer a preview of alumnus Devin Troy Strother’s first major institutional solo exhibition, “Dancing in the Dark,” during ArtNight Pasadena Spring 2025 on Friday, March 14.
The exhibition, which opens on March 22, represents a milestone in Strother’s 15-year career and will span two gallery spaces at the institution.
Visitors can experience the preview at ArtCenter’s Mullin Gallery, located at 1111 S. Arroyo Parkway at the South Campus, from 6 to 10 p.m., showcasing works that critique the art world through humor and cultural references.
This marks the first time ArtCenter has presented a solo show across both the Mullin Gallery and Williamson Gallery, creating a conceptual arc that mirrors Strother’s evolution from student to established artist.
“We’ve been following Strother’s work for many years and are thrilled to be able to present his first solo exhibition at a U.S. nonprofit space,” said Julie Joyce, Vice President of Exhibitions and Director, ArtCenter Galleries.
The exhibition’s dual-gallery format allows for a presentation of Strother’s approach, which spans painting, neon, and immersive installations.
The exhibition, curated by Emily Sudd, employs what she calls “critical levity” – using humor to unpack themes of racial representation and artistic labor.
At the Mullin Gallery, visitors will encounter video works and installations that deconstruct the mythos of artistic genius, including “Name Drop (Literally)” – a suspended neon piece satirizing art-world celebrity culture.
“His work has remained relevant during his 15-year career, making him not just an important artist but also an ideal role model for our students,” Joyce said.
The decision to preview Strother’s work during ArtNight was driven by ArtCenter’s appreciation for this community event, which provides free access to arts venues across Pasadena.
The exhibition title draws from Bruce Springsteen’s anthem and Bruce Nauman’s performative interventions, reflecting Strother’s navigation of art world hierarchies as a Black multidisciplinary artist.
“The title resonates with my journey of sustaining a practice outside institutional validation while grappling with the paradox of returning to my alma mater as exhibitor rather than student,” Strother explained.
ArtNight attendees will participate in live interactions, including a collaborative mural project, reinterpreting Strother’s signature dotted portraits and democratizing the artistic process associated with gallery spaces.
“What we hope visitors will take away is the value of looking at issues with an alternative point of view – in Strother’s case, one that can be hilariously disarming,” Joyce said.
The preview offers the Pasadena community a glimpse of the exhibition before its formal opening on March 22.
The exhibition runs through June 21 at Mullin Gallery and July 26 at Williamson Gallery. It will feature Strother’s chosen media across both spaces, with an emphasis on paintings and collages, creating a structure that mirrors his trajectory from student to established artist.
“At the most basic, we want as many people as possible to recognize his passionate and unrelenting inventiveness,” Joyce concluded.
The Mullin Gallery’s participation epitomizes ArtNight’s curatorial philosophy, bridging academic rigor with public engagement. The exhibition highlights ArtCenter’s commitment to showcasing alumni while making art accessible through ArtNight, Pasadena’s cultural event produced by the Cultural Affairs Division in partnership with Pasadena organizations.
