Exhibit Pairing Paintings and Sculptures Leaves Viewers Pondering Connections

Wesleyan's Zilkha Gallery showcases the works of Robert Lostutter and Kristi Cavataro, inviting visitors to explore the juxtaposition between the figural and the geometric.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery at Wesleyan University's Center for the Arts is currently hosting an exhibit featuring the works of artists Robert Lostutter and Kristi Cavataro. The exhibit pairs Lostutter's imaginative figural paintings with Cavataro's geometric freestanding sculptures, creating a thought-provoking experience for viewers as they explore the connections and contrasts between the two bodies of work.

Why it matters

The exhibit challenges viewers to consider the relationship between the human form and abstract geometric shapes, inviting them to ponder the deeper themes and questions that arise from the juxtaposition of the two artists' styles. The curation of the show also highlights the gallery's role in providing a platform for both established and emerging artists to showcase their work.

The details

Lostutter's paintings, which span from the 1960s to his more recent 'Songs of War' series, showcase a progression in his techniques, color palette, and subject matter. His earlier works feature contorted human figures, while his later pieces adorn the figures with elements from the natural world. Cavataro's sculptures, on the other hand, are grounded in a systematic language of geometric forms, with a focus on multiples and ambiguous shapes. The placement of the sculptures on the gallery floor, in contrast to the paintings on the walls, creates a dynamic viewing experience as visitors move around the space.

  • The exhibit opened on February 10, 2026.
  • The exhibit will be on display until March 31, 2026.

The players

Robert Lostutter

An artist whose work has been featured in the exhibit, spanning from his early works in the 1960s and 1970s to his more contemporary 'Songs of War' series.

Kristi Cavataro

A Connecticut-born artist and a graduate of The Cooper Union, whose geometric freestanding sculptures are featured in the exhibit alongside Lostutter's paintings.

Ben Chaffee

A Visiting Professor of Art and the Associate Director & Curator of Visual Art at Wesleyan University, who curated the exhibit and discussed the curatorial process.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like there's three things that kind of call out to me to be addressed in the space with every exhibition. One is the verticality of the space, its monumental vertical volume. The other is the horizontal, like the horizontal line across the space. That's often just addressed by putting pictures on the wall right there in the line. The other is the floor, because I think activating the floor is really important for the viewer to feel like they're also in the same space as the artwork. And I think there's still something a little radical about that.”

— Ben Chaffee, Visiting Professor of Art and Associate Director & Curator of Visual Art (The Argus)

“The parameters for which I thought to define the sculpture was that it needed to be free standing and that it needed to be warm, have some warmth to it, and probably not be figurative because then the viewer would start comparing the sculpture to the figures in the paintings. So actually [the choice was] led more, maybe, by contrast than similarity.”

— Ben Chaffee, Visiting Professor of Art and Associate Director & Curator of Visual Art (The Argus)

“I trusted that something else would happen in the space once their works were there together, and I think that's true, and I'm not sure I can yet articulate what that is.”

— Ben Chaffee, Visiting Professor of Art and Associate Director & Curator of Visual Art (The Argus)

What’s next

The exhibit will be on display at the Zilkha Gallery until March 31, 2026, providing visitors with ample time to experience the juxtaposition of Lostutter's and Cavataro's works.

The takeaway

This exhibit at Wesleyan's Zilkha Gallery invites viewers to engage with the interplay between the figural and the geometric, challenging them to explore the connections and contrasts that emerge when these two distinct artistic approaches are placed side by side. The curation of the show highlights the gallery's role in fostering dialogue and exploration around contemporary art.