UTRGV graduate student's 'Gradations' exhibition opens

Interactive art show explores relationship between visual and material value

Mar. 17, 2026 at 11:30pm

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Jose Angel Lozano, a UTRGV studio art graduate student, has opened an interactive art exhibition called 'Gradations' on the Edinburg campus. The exhibition features works created with unconventional materials that invite viewers to become participants and reflect on ideas of value and self-expression.

Why it matters

Lozano's exhibition challenges traditional notions of art and value, encouraging viewers to engage with the works in a more interactive and personal way. As a graduate student, this exhibition represents an important milestone in Lozano's artistic development and provides the community an opportunity to experience thought-provoking conceptual art.

The details

The 'Gradations' exhibition opened on March 2 and will remain on display through March 15 on the first floor of the University Library on the Edinburg campus. The exhibition features works created by Lozano using a variety of unconventional materials such as oil paint, acrylic, ink, and graphite. One of the centerpieces of the exhibition is an interactive installation called 'Words of Value' that allows attendees to create words using magnetic letters arranged at different visual values, encouraging self-expression and reflection on personal values.

  • The 'Gradations' exhibition opened on March 2, 2026.
  • The exhibition will remain on display through March 15, 2026.
  • A reception for the exhibition was held on March 11, 2026.

The players

Jose Angel Lozano

A UTRGV studio art graduate student who created the 'Gradations' exhibition.

Valeria Tokun Haga

A photographer for The Rider student newspaper who covered the 'Gradations' exhibition.

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What they’re saying

“It wasn't really too serious until I got to college. I continued my education there and learned from professors who kept the tradition of academic painting.”

— Jose Angel Lozano, UTRGV studio art graduate student

“So behind this exhibition, the title is 'Gradations,' and it presents some of my most recent conceptual and interactive works. They examine the relationship between visual value and material value.”

— Jose Angel Lozano, UTRGV studio art graduate student

“It's a way for me to learn about the community through the words they create. It allows participants to reflect on the ideas and values that matter the most to them.”

— Jose Angel Lozano, UTRGV studio art graduate student

What’s next

The 'Gradations' exhibition will remain on display at the University Library on the UTRGV Edinburg campus through March 15, 2026.

The takeaway

Lozano's 'Gradations' exhibition showcases the artistic growth and conceptual exploration of a UTRGV graduate student, providing the community an opportunity to engage with thought-provoking interactive art that challenges traditional notions of value and self-expression.