On the wall lies a large oil painting, depicting the journey that Mr. Richard C. Colton went through during his surgical operation. Blues and reds invoke a warm yet sterile atmosphere, with a composition that emphasizes the intensity of the operation. This piece is one of the focal
points of the Sonoma State Art Gallery’s first Spring Semester exhibition, entitled In Vivo: Within the Living.
On display through March 14, the exhibition encapsulates the story of the human body, not through its faults, but its resiliency. The exhibit features the works of artist Taryn Möller Nicoll, as well as faculty and graduate students from John Hopkins University’s School of Medicine. These artists came together to create an interdisciplinary relationship between science and the arts.
The exhibition opened on Thursday, Feb. 5 at the Sonoma State Art Gallery, with an event where attendees got a more in-depth understanding of the vision behind the artworks featured.
Chief curator and artist Taryn Möller Nicoll hosted the event, which was attended by art connoisseurs and SSU students who wanted to learn more about the exhibition.
Walking through the exhibition is meant to invoke a certain feeling for visitors. Artistic elements were used to intensify these effects, such as color, which Nicoll focuses on using dynamically throughout the gallery to create an immersive experience.
“Color can elicit an instant emotional reaction,” said Nicoll. “Its important to have moments of intensity and moments of rest and relaxation. That kind of rhythm reflects the way we experience life too. These moments of intense study and then moments to let your body, your eyes, and your mind relax and take in the information in front of you.”
One notable piece in the gallery is “Time Out: in Tufaro, Cooney and Colton,” includes a visual narrative through patient Richard C. Colton Jr.’s battle with cancer. The focus on color and emotion is on full display, with contrasting warmths and hues emphasizing the emotional and physical intensity of surgery.
“My medical portraits invite conversation,” says Mr. Colton. “These paintings of my medical journey document the procedures in which my most life-threatening battles were fought and my most valuable property – my body and spirit – were valiantly defended.”
In Vivo: Within the Living also features artwork from graduate programs at John Hopkins University, which collaborated with SSU to make the gallery come to life. Some pieces, such as “Finger Prosthesis (Suction Retained)” by Juan Garcia and Cherise Masuda, are focused on clinical anaplastology. Works such as these from John Hopkins University highlight the ingenuity and high level of research of the institution.
According to Taryn, collaborating with John Hopkins University School of Medicine required constant communication between the university and the SSU Art Gallery. “We worked with them as consultants, so that members of the public, doctors, nurses, or students studying biological sciences can verify that information is correct and that it holds the same academic weight as any other research they would encounter in their fields”, Taryn said.
“The extra steps taken to ensure accuracy by collaborating consistently with the staff and professionals at John Hopkins as Art Applied to Medicine department took a lot of time, but it was worthwhile.”
The exhibition “In Vivo: Within the Living” will be on display at the University Art Gallery until March 14th, 2026. Admission is free.