---
title: The Buzz on a New Art-Science Insect Exhibition
date: 2026-10-21T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/the-buzz-on-a-new-art-science-insect-exhibition"
section: Articles
---
# The Buzz on a New Art-Science Insect Exhibition

*October 21, 2026* — by [Sala Levin ’10](/author/sala-levin-10)


> Terps and community members celebrate the state's biodiversity in sculpture, paintings, drawings and more.

*Exhibition Another Look, Another World being installed in the Herman Maril Gallery on Friday, October 9th. The exhibition will be on view from Oct. 14th - Nov. 6th, Mondays - Fridays, 9AM-5PM. — Jerry Romanow and Olivia Marinucci '30, right, hang pieces for "Another Look, Another World," an exhibition featuring artwork based on six insects found on Maryland's list of rare, threatened and endangered animals. The exhibition, funded by an Arts for All ArtsAMP grant, is on view in the Herman Maril Gallery through Nov. 6. (Photos by Stephanie S. Cordle)*

<span>The Newman’s brocade moth sounds more like something your grandmother would try to keep out of her closet than the inspiration for a gallery-worthy work of art—but a new University of Maryland exhibition asks students to find beauty in this and other insects native to the state.</span>


*Yellow, blue and white geometric butterfly art — Shohag Sen &#039;29 was inspired by the Northern oak hairstreak butterfly.*



*Sculpture of a bug — Alani Koeiman &#039;29 modeled her piece after the puritan tiger beetle.*
*Painting of fireflies in the grass and woods — Lights flicker on and off in this piece inspired by the mysterious lantern firefly, created by Nikki Israel &#039;27.*




The pair teamed up with Mollye Bendell, assistant professor of art, to work on creating the call for submissions and, ultimately, assembling and judging the exhibition. (A first-prize winner receives $1,000, and a second-prize winner receives $750; they will be announced at the opening reception.)

Entrants could choose the Newman’s brocade moth, the golden-winged skimmer dragonfly, the mysterious lantern firefly, the black-and-gold bumblebee, the Northern oak hairstreak butterfly or the puritan tiger beetle as their muse. They read scientific profiles of the critters, written by Potter, Barranco and Ren Ledet ’29, and reviewed by Maryland State Entomologist Max Ferlauto Ph.D. ’24, and created art based on what they read.


*A woman uses pliers on a sculpture in a workshop — Brianna Robinson &#039;28 used leftover wire from the A.V. Williams Building to create her version of the golden-winged skimmer dragonfly. (Courtesy of Robinson)*


**Sidebar note:**

“Another Look, Another World” is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 6 in the Herman Maril Gallery, 1309 Parren J. Mitchell Art-Sociology Building. An opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 21 will celebrate the 50-plus contributing artists**.** Light refreshments will be served, as will edible insect products, featured through a UMD Do Good Campus Fund-supported project. All are welcome.





**Topics:** [Arts &amp; Culture](https://today.umd.edu/tags/arts-culture), [Campus &amp; Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Arts for All](https://today.umd.edu/topic/arts-for-all), [Arts](https://today.umd.edu/topic/arts)


**Units:** [University of Maryland Extension](https://today.umd.edu/topic/university-of-maryland-extension), [College of Agriculture and Natural Resources](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-agriculture-and-natural-resources), [College of Arts and Humanities](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-arts-and-humanities)