Iowa City, IA – The Stanley Museum of Art recently launched a site-specific poetry installation that is the latest expansion of the Thresholds series that highlights the creative contributions of Iowa-affiliated artists working in a range of media. On view March 31, 2026 – September 28, 2026, the inaugural installation features the work of acclaimed poet and University of Iowa faculty member Donika Kelly, whose poem “Dear—” will be displayed prominently in the museum’s lobby space. The series will feature rotating works by poets affiliated with the University of Iowa, with a focus on the institution’s esteemed writing faculty.

This series builds on the museum’s commitment to celebrating artistic practice across disciplines by bringing literary art into a visual and spatial context. By presenting poetry scaled up and in the style of visual art on museum walls, it invites visitors to engage with language as both an intellectual and sensory experience.

“Poetry usually lives in 10-point font on a piece of paper,” says Donika Kelly. “To see a poem take up this much room—to stand in front of it rather than just sit with it—is a rare experience. It allows the work to take on a life of its own as a physical piece of art.”

Beyond serving as a supplement to the museum’s permanent collection, the series is designed to function as an active teaching tool for the University of Iowa curricula. Faculty members across campus will utilize the installation for exercises in ekphrastic writing, defined as a literary response to a work of art.

The inclusion of literary work in Thresholds is the latest in a series of initiatives led by the Stanley Museum of Art to promote artistic practice across disciplines, reflecting a broader shift in modern museum practices. Other projects at this interdisciplinary intersection include the museum’s groundbreaking ekphrastic catalog, In a Time of Witness, and its 2025 NEA Big Read program that brought the Iowa City community together to read Toni Morrison’s Beloved in conjunction with the exhibition, it’s a fine thing.

Spearheaded by Derek (DK) Nnuro, award-winning author and the museum’s curator of special projects, his dual expertise exemplifies the museum’s mission to serve as a crossroads for different creative forms.

"The Stanley is uniquely positioned to foster these dialogues,” says Nnuro. “By bringing literary art into a physical space of the museum, we aren't just displaying text – we are inviting a deeper, more experimental engagement with the creative process. This is about creating a space where the boundaries between disciplines dissolve.”

In a community celebrated worldwide for its literary excellence, the Stanley Museum of Art serves as a vital bridge between the writing and visual art scene, honoring Iowa City’s identity as a place where writers and artists have long worked in tandem to push the boundaries of their respective crafts.

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About the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art 

The University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art is a leading university art museum that serves as a focal point for members of the public as well as a multi-disciplinary tool and creative hub for students across campus. The Stanley has one of the most important university-owned art collections in the country, including significant holdings of African art, 20th-century painting and sculpture, works on paper, textiles, and ceramics.