New Works, New Voices: Artists in Conversation on Joining the Collection

New Works, New Voices: Artists in Conversation on Joining the Collection brings together Johnny Floyd, Richard Pasquarelli, Lien Truong, and Vadis Turner—four artists whose work has recently entered the Taubman Museum of Art’s Permanent Collection in honor of the Museum’s 75th Anniversary. 

In this panel discussion, the artists will reflect on their creative practices, the ideas and materials that shape their work, and what it means to see their work enter the Taubman’s Permanent Collection at this moment in their careers. Together, they will explore themes of legacy, representation, and the evolving role of museums in preserving and interpreting contemporary artistic voices.

The panel features artists working across a range of media and approaches. 

Johnny Floyd is a self-taught painter whose work examines Black experience, memory, and history.

Richard Pasquarelli is a painter whose work examines perception and systems of order.

Lien Truong is a painter whose layered practice explores belief systems, migration, and cultural history.

Vadis Turner is a mixed-media artist whose textile-based assemblages and installations engage labor, material culture, and identity.

Each brings a distinct perspective to the conversation, reflecting the diversity of voices shaping contemporary art today.

Curator of 75th Anniversary Gifts to the Collection Laura Higgins will moderate the panel.

You’re invited to visit the galleries before or after the discussion to see these artists’ works along with others newly acquired in honor of the Museum’s 75th anniversary.

Free and welcoming to all, though registration is required to reserve your seat.

The Taubman Museum of Art’s Permanent Collection reflects a commitment to collecting art of the highest quality, with particular strength in American art and the artistic expressions of the Southeastern United States. Spanning historical and contemporary works across media, the collection continues to grow through thoughtful acquisitions and generous gifts. 

These new additions, celebrated during the Museum’s 75th anniversary year, underscore the Taubman’s ongoing dedication to preserving, presenting, and interpreting art that speaks to both its regional community and broader national conversations.