Patterns permeate our lives—so much so that we might not even notice them as such. Visual patterns abound in textiles, décor, and architecture. Natural patterns define the branching structures of trees, the migratory treks of animals, and the cycles of the seasons and the weather. Mathematicians work with number patterns, chemists study bonding patterns, psychologists discern thought patterns, and musicians arrange melodic patterns. Whether we see, think, feel, or hear them, patterns shape our experiences of the world.
This exhibition features artworks from the Weatherspoon’s collection in which artists explore the power of patterns. Collectively, this work highlights the ways in which patterns can provide both stability and activation and register both familiarity and surprise. We hope that, as you explore the installation, you will find works that resonate with your own experiences but also, perhaps, provide the opportunity to consider those experiences from a new perspective.
Pattern Recognition is the result of generous collaborations. The Weatherspoon thanks the following UNCG faculty for sharing insights that helped to shape the selection of artworks: Dr. Greg Bell, Mathematics; Melanie Carrico and Trish Kemerly, Consumer Apparel-Retail Studies; Dr. Kimberly Komatsu, Biology; and Clarice Young, Dance. We also thank interns Allison Cambra ’25 and Gabrielle Peaks ’25 for their contributions to the artwork labels.
