Schelfhaudt Art Gallery at University of Bridgeport
Located in the Arnold Bernhard Center for the Arts and Humanities, the Schelfhaudt Art Gallery is a vibrant cultural hub on University of Bridgeport’s campus. Named after renowned artist and curator Peter Schelfhaudt, the 3,200-square-foot gallery showcases innovative and thought-provoking exhibitions that reflect the intersection of art, technology, and community. The gallery reopened in October 2025, signaling a renewed commitment to the arts and creative expression at UB.
Current and upcoming exhibitions
Winter in America
January 29-March 15, 2026
Curator: Peter Schelfhaudt
Reception: January 29, 2026, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
For some, the phrase “Winter in America” conjures up sipping hot chocolate by a warm crackling fireplace on a snowy winter’s eve. For others, winter could imply a harsher reality of food scarcity and biting cold, or a metaphorical period of frozen dreams, frozen ideas, and frozen inspiration, cultural decline, political malaise, or chilling of free speech?
For Peter Schelfhaudt, curator of the exhibit, winter is a time for reflection, assessment, recalibration, preparation, and transition. “We’ve had an overwhelming response from artists expressing a wide variety of perspectives from whimsical to worried, but it’s not all Norman Rockwell.” Sheryl Renee Dobson, one of the artists in the show, adds, “I am honored to exhibit works in the groundbreaking ‘Winter in America’ exhibition at University of Bridgeport’s prestigious Schelfhaudt Gallery. I believe that art can be transformative, and it is my hope that my works encourage connection, reflection, and critical thought.”
Other featured artists include a variety of local, national, and international artists, including Sandra Cavanagh, Carin Kulb Dangot, Laura Heijn, Monica Tiulescu, and Rick Shaefer.
The exhibit runs from January 29 through March 15, 2026. An opening night reception will be held from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on January 29. No RSVP is required.
Artist Talks
March 1, 2026, 1-3 p.m.
Curator: Peter Schelfhaudt
Come hear some of the great artists from the current Winter in America exhibit speak about their work. Attending artists will include Sandra Cavanagh, Sheryl Renee Dobson, Don Keene, Gina Marie Whalen, Daniel Lanzilotta, and others.
Winter in America explores the spectrum of the season and of our times. For some, the phrase “Winter in America” conjures up sipping hot chocolate by a warm crackling fireplace on a snowy winter’s eve. For others, winter could imply a harsher reality of food scarcity and biting cold, or a metaphorical period of frozen dreams, frozen ideas, frozen inspiration, cultural decline, political malaise, or chilling of free speech. Come see and hear how various artists have interpreted the theme in their own unique way.
Previous exhibitions
The Schelfhaudt Gallery has a rich history of exhibitions that span decades, including solo and group shows featuring painting, sculpture, mixed media, and digital art. Prior to its 2025 reopening, the gallery hosted numerous exhibitions of some of the most important artists in American art, like Robert Motherwell, Red Grooms, Louise Nevelson, and Alice Neel. Photos from the gallery archives are being digitized and will soon be available for public viewing.
The BIG Beautiful Bridgeport Art Trail Show - Connections
November 8-January 15, 2025
Curator: Suzanne Kachmar
Reception: Saturday, November 8, 5:30-8 p.m.
As part of the annual Bridgeport Art Trail, this large group exhibition titled Connections celebrates the diversity and reach of the local art community. Featuring fiber art, sculpture, drawings, paintings, photography, and interactive installations, the show includes works by artists such as Carlos Biernnay, Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, Rick Shaefer, and many more. The Artists Collective of Westport also presents a multimedia showcase in the adjoining gallery space.
AI: Co-Create
October 2-November 7, 2025
Curator: Peter Schelfhaudt
The gallery’s reopening exhibition, AI: Co-Create, explored the dynamic collaboration between human creativity and artificial intelligence. Featuring sculpture, photography, digital art, and multimedia installations, this show challenged traditional boundaries and invited viewers to consider how technology can enhance artistic expression. Paintings, sculptures, poems, and videos by artists like Yuliya Lanina, Horst Weber, Alison Pasquini, and Claudia Conroy were complemented by the illumination of the famous dome on the exterior of the building, featuring the artwork of Bridgeport resident Phillip Baldwin.