NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY.- This holiday season, Castellani Art Museum invites you to experience Beyond Numbers: Mathematical Patterns, Shapes, and Flow, a captivating exhibition that explores the profound connection between art and mathematics. Curated by Niagara University students from Dr. Maritza M. Branker’s Foundations of Mathematics (MAT 227) and Senior Mathematics Seminar (MAT 499) classes, the exhibition opened on December 5, 2024, and will remain on view through March 30, 2025. Featuring selections from the Museum’s permanent collection, including works by renowned artists such as Barbara Hepworth, Charles Ephraim Burchfield, Frank Stella, Alexander Calder, Ellsworth Kelly, and Sol LeWitt, Beyond Numbers reveals the beauty, creativity, and wonder embedded in mathematical principles. Often seen as abstract or intimidating, math is reimagined here as a source of inspiration, artistry, and discovery.
Through the lens of student curators, Beyond Numbers bridges the perceived gap between mathematics’ logical rigor and art’s free-flowing creativity. By showcasing the aesthetic and structural parallels between these fields, the exhibition invites visitors to rethink math as a creative force that shapes how we understand and interpret the world. “Art and mathematics are both necessary for human flourishing,” explains Dr. Branker. “They satisfy our desire for play, exploration, and beauty. Mathematical concepts have greatly influenced how we view, create, and value art, while mathematicians often describe their work with notions of beauty, simplicity, and order.”
The student curators drew inspiration from readings in their coursework, including Letters to a Young Mathematician by Ian Stewart and Mathematics for Human Flourishing by Francis Su. These books explore how mathematical thinking enriches daily life and helps us see the world through a lens of beauty and meaning. The students’ work reflects these themes, offering a fresh and accessible perspective on math’s role in art.
“In Beyond Numbers, the artworks showcase the profound connection between mathematics and art, each revealing the hidden beauty of mathematical principles in creative expression,” explain the student curators. “Jensen’s Family Portrait transforms fractals into vibrant designs, illustrating self-similar patterns across scales. Hepworth’s Four Hemispheres explores topology with striking clarity and layered precision. Balla’s NU00405 invites a closer look at symmetry, encouraging viewers to uncover hidden patterns through careful observation. Surls’ intricate spiral of wooden feathers evokes inspiration from nature and cultural celebration, creating a harmonious celebration of form and geometry. Together, these pieces redefine how we experience math through the lens of art.”
Beyond Numbers is a testament to the dedication and creativity of student curators, including Patrick Balcacer, Ella DiFlavio, Morgan Fitzpatrick, Jeffrey Koch, Madison LaPenta, Maia MacLean, Madison Manzella, Allison Mariglia, Michael Mayer, Julie Myers, Soley Peart, Madelynn Zilka, Paige Bronson, Malarie Carroll, Dominic Ciraolo, Kristen Coghlan, Anna Esposito, Alana Hall, Samantha Hare, Justiss Kovack, Thomas Latimer, Adrian Martinez, Kyle Mullin, Nicole Peunic, Matthew Ponce, Gavin Rice, Gabriela Vaquero, Dean Walck, and Jeremy Waters. Under the guidance of Dr. Branker and Michael Beam, their insights provide a fresh and engaging perspective on the interplay between art and mathematics.
21 Featured Artists: Herbert Aach, Richard Joseph Anuszkiewicz, Giacomo Balla, Feliciano Bejar, Max Bill, Charles Ephraim Burchfield, Alexander Calder, Genevieve Claisse, Betty Gold, Dwayne Hatchett, Barbara Hepworth, Alfred Jensen, Ellsworth Kelly, Sol LeWitt, Andrew Topolski, Henk Peeters, Kees Schippers, Frank Stella, James Surls, Ernest Trova, and John Willenbecher.
