An ecofeminism exhibition titled “Gaia Commons” opened on October 26, 2025, at NYU Shanghai and will be on view through November 26 at the E3F Semi-Enclosed Exhibition Space and Outdoor Terrace. The month-long exhibition brings together artists, scholars, and educators from Duke Kunshan University, Duke University, and NYU Shanghai to how care, collaboration, and creative practice can regenerate relationships among humans, plants, and the Earth.
Curated by Prof. Liangliang Zhang (NYU Shanghai) and AH faculty Dingyi Xu (DKU), “Gaia Commons” extends the dialogue initiated by “Flora and Feminists”, an exhibition first presented by DKU’s Humanities Research Center in September 2025. Both exhibitions are part of the Inclusive Ecology Collective’s “Gaia Series,” which connects feminist ecologies with the everyday labor of regeneration in schools, communities, farms, and art spaces.
The exhibition features digital prints, film, and plant-based artworks by DKU Arts and Humanities faculty member Dr. Erin Wilkerson. Dr. Renee Richer (DKU) and Dr. Aunchalee E.L. Palmquist (Duke University) also contributed through research and ecological collaborations.
At the venue, visitors are greeted by preserved plant specimens, seeds, and leaves, alongside related photographs and books that highlight the intersections between art, science, and feminist care. Together, the works transform the space into a multisensory experience that blurs boundaries between research, artmaking, and environmental stewardship.
Written by Yiya Wang, Class of 2028
