WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Sept. 9, 2022 — The Nutting Gallery opens its season with a return of professor emeritus, Bob Villamagna, in his aptly named exhibition, “Return of the WV Tinman.”
Opening Wednesday, Sept. 7 with a free reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the exhibition features the assemblage work of this award-winning former WLU faculty member who is known for his mixed media artwork.
The exhibition remains on display in the Nutting Gallery until Oct. 4.
A native of California, Villamagna resided in both, Toronto, Ohio and Weirton, W.Va. over his childhood and his youth. He has lived in Wheeling for more than 25 years. He retired from active teaching at WLU in 2017.
He was 38 years old and a father of four when he began college. He also served in the United States Air Force after graduating high school after completing a manpower development and training program offered to high school graduates at the time.
Villamagna joined WLU in 1996 as an interim professor and remains an important part of the College of Arts and Communication, teaching studio art. He earned his master’s at Wright State University and his undergraduate degree at Franciscan University.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History chose him as the 2016 West Virginia Artist of the Year. Villamagna also received four individual awards from W.Va. Division of Culture and History at W.Va. Juried Exhibitions in 2015, 2013, 2009 and 2005. He also has served on the Wheeling Arts Commission
The Nutting Art Gallery is dedicated to educating, enriching, and engaging students and the public through art exhibitions of the highest quality.
For more information, please contact Nutting Gallery curator, Professor Brian Fencl at 304-336-8433 or via email at bfencl@westliberty.edu.
