John J. McDonough Museum of Art announces three exhibitions to open in 2026

The John J. McDonough Museum of Art, Youngstown State University's Center of Contemporary Art, will open 2026 with three exciting exhibitions. Misty Gamble's "Of Flesh and The Feminine", Hannah Parrett's "I Do Not Always Understand, But I Feel Desire" and "From WOMAN 19" curated by Mary Urbas will be on display January 20 through February 28. A closing reception for all the exhibitions will be held 2-4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28. 

Of her work for the exhibition, Misty Gamble states, “In the solo exhibition, "Of Flesh and The Feminine," I exhibit ceramic figuration, installation, ceramic cast multiples and sculpture that explore ideas about interspecies relationships, animal exploitation, and ecofeminism. This exhibition explores environmental issues through eco-social engagement that is anchored in community-led development and uses art to draw the community into talking about and acting on social, political or environmental issues.”

Currently, Gamble is 3D Area Head, associate professor of Art and the Steven Mayes Endowed Professor of Visual Arts at West Texas A&M University. She is the founder of Studio Nong: International Sculpture Collective and Residency Program and is also founder of TETRA: Women of Ceramics at the Texas A&M System. She has been the recipient of numerous residencies, grants, and fellowships, and her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.

Hannah Parrett is an artist and educator based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. While living in Columbus, she helped co-found Dream Clinic Project Space, an artist-run gallery and studio space. Her work has been exhibited locally and nationally, and she has had several artist residencies. In 2025, she was the recipient of an Ohio Arts Individual Excellence Grant. 

Parrett describes her work in "I Do Not Always Understand, But I Feel Desire," declaring, “My work pulls from the emotional and psychological experience of place, specifically the scale shift cadence between landscape, architecture, and domestic space. In looking to wilderness myths and science fiction narratives that explore landscape as a spiritual geography and utopian fallacy, I build layered tableaus that explore the distance between memory and desire in highly adorned scenes.”

Curator, Mary Urbas, states that "'From WOMAN 19' celebrates women and their art. I chose artists that are presenting fresh visual approaches to storytelling from the female perspective. Visual impact is key; the underlying inspirations and backstories are intriguing. Emotion with technique in balance." 

Urbas has over 46 years of experience in the professional art world as a gallery owner, curator, teacher, consultant, exhibition juror and prize judge and an award-winning exhibiting fiber artist.

Parrett will give a Department of Art Lecture Series (DALS) lecture on January 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Museum auditorium, and Misty Gamble will give a gallery talk during the closing reception at 2:30 p.m. on February 28. The exhibitions, lectures and reception are free and open to the public. The McDonough Museum is open 11 a.m - 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

These exhibitions are made possible in part by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

More information is available by calling the McDonough Museum at 330-941-1400.