The Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College in Lynchburg will open its 115th Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Art with a reception on August 30 for 'American Solastalgia,' a group exhibition centered on climate change and the emotional language used to describe environmental loss. The reception runs from 2 to 4 p.m., and the show will remain on view through March 5, 2027. Admission is free and open to the public.
According to the museum, 'American Solastalgia' gathers artists whose work asks viewers to reflect on “solastalgia,” a term described in the exhibition materials as the sense of loss and longing experienced when environmental change reshapes home beyond recognition. The museum says the exhibition considers how climate change is rapidly and irreversibly transforming what it means to live in the United States.
The presentation is organized as the museum’s 115th annual contemporary art exhibition, continuing a long-running series at the Maier. The exhibition is framed by guest curators Charlotte Hecht and M. Stang, who describe the project in language that emphasizes both grief and hope, and the invitation to reflect on how environmental change shapes homes, communities, and futures. The museum’s email announcement notes that the show is part of its fall programming, alongside other exhibitions and events.
Artists included in 'American Solastalgia' are Hannah Chalew, Nancy Cohen, Kate Greene, Abbey Hepner, Nathalie Miebach, Cara Romero, Jon Verney, and Joshua Villalobos. The museum’s materials highlight Nathalie Miebach’s 2023 work 'Ian and Nicole' in an image credit accompanying the announcement. No further individual work details were provided in the source material beyond that title, date, medium, and dimensions.
The Maier Museum’s announcement positions the exhibition within its broader public programming for late summer and fall 2026. The museum’s newsletter also notes a separate exhibition, 'Crossing the Line: The Passport Re-Imagined,' on view from July 1 to October 4, 2026, but the opening reception on August 30 is specifically for 'American Solastalgia.' A volunteer recruitment event is scheduled for the day before, on August 29, though the museum keeps that program distinct from the exhibition opening itself.
The museum lists the venue as the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College, 1 Quinlan Street, Lynchburg, Virginia, and states that museum hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. The 115th Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Art: 'American Solastalgia' opens August 30, 2026 and remains on view until March 5, 2027.
