Milligan University Students Showcase Art at Dos Gatos Coffee Bar

The "Two Cats + A Herd of Buffalo" exhibit returns to the popular Johnson City coffee shop.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Milligan University students will have their artwork on display throughout February as the "Two Cats + A Herd of Buffalo" exhibit returns to Dos Gatos Coffee Bar in Johnson City. The show highlights the creativity of Milligan students in art, graphic design, photography and interactive media design and will feature more than 30 works.

Why it matters

The annual exhibit at Dos Gatos Coffee Bar provides an excellent opportunity for Milligan University art and design students to showcase their work off campus and connect with the local creative community in Johnson City.

The details

The exhibit features a variety of student artwork including paintings, photographs, graphic designs, and interactive media pieces. The opening night reception will take place on Friday during downtown Johnson City's First Friday event, allowing the students to present their work to a wider audience of local artists and art enthusiasts.

  • The exhibit will open on Friday, February 4, 2026 and run through March 2, 2026.
  • The opening night reception will be held on Friday, February 4, 2026 from 6 - 8 PM.

The players

Milligan University

A private Christian liberal arts university located in Tennessee that offers programs in art, graphic design, photography, and interactive media.

Dos Gatos Coffee Bar

A popular coffee shop in downtown Johnson City, Tennessee that has hosted the annual "Two Cats + A Herd of Buffalo" student art exhibit for over 20 years.

Art Brown

Associate professor of graphic design at Milligan University who oversees the annual student art exhibit.

Eleanor Stoneham

A senior humanities major at Milligan University who shared her appreciation for the opportunity the exhibit provides students to connect with the local art community.

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What they’re saying

“'Two Cats + A Herd of Buffalo' is an excellent opportunity, and a fun one, for our students to exhibit their art and design work off campus. It's also a chance to showcase our academic programs in art and design and to be visible in the region's creative community. We are always thankful for the support of Dos Gatos and their owner, Dick Nelson, who has hosted our annual show for over 20 years.”

— Art Brown, Associate Professor of Graphic Design, Milligan University (johnsoncitypress.com)

“The Dos Gatos show is a really great way to get students comfortable with expanding their realm of influence. A lot of local and prominent artists display their work on First Friday. This show helps us see that we can contribute to, talk with and belong in the art community. It's also a very special thing to present work in a popular coffee shop in Johnson City.”

— Eleanor Stoneham, Senior Humanities Major, Milligan University (johnsoncitypress.com)

What’s next

The exhibit will remain on display at Dos Gatos Coffee Bar through March 2, 2026, providing an opportunity for the local community to view the student artwork over the course of several weeks.

The takeaway

The annual "Two Cats + A Herd of Buffalo" exhibit at Dos Gatos Coffee Bar demonstrates the value of providing art and design students with real-world opportunities to showcase their talents and connect with the broader creative community beyond the university campus.