The line between the ordinary and the phenomenal is nonexistent for West Michigan artist Ari Norris. His solo exhibition, “The Enormity of an Atom,” opens the spring semester at the Western Illinois University Annex Gallery this Tuesday, Feb. 17. An opening reception will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, giving visitors a first look at Norris’ exploration of scale and substance.
Primarily a sculptor, Norris deconstructs the mundane. By manipulating everyday materials into meticulous duplications of real-world objects, he challenges viewers to reconsider the boundaries of the physical world. His work transforms the familiar into the otherworldly, proving that even the most overlooked materials can carry immense weight and wonder. The 2025 Luminarts Visual Arts Fellowship recipient has showcased his work in galleries across Chicago, New York, Florida, Texas, Michigan and Gyeonggi- do, South Korea.
“The Enormity of an Atom” will remain on display through Friday, March 13. The Annex Gallery, located on the ground floor of the Heating Plant across from the University Art Gallery, is open from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free and open to the public.
