LCCC spring exhibition offers a contemporary look at the American West

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – Sculptural forms emphasizing balance, structure and spatial relationships will anchor the first art exhibition of the spring semester at Laramie County Community College.

“Bustles of Modernity: A New Look at the West,” featuring the work of sculptor and gallery director Laura Phelps Rogers, will be on display Jan. 22–Feb. 23 in the Esther and John Clay Fine Art Gallery on LCCC’s Cheyenne campus. The exhibition is free and open to the public. A public reception is set for 2–3 p.m. Feb. 11 in the gallery and adjoining lobby, followed by an artist talk at 3 p.m. in the auditorium. Both events are free and open to the public.

Working as a metal caster, the artist uses a labor-intensive process that echoes both the physical demands of the medium and the work historically associated with life in the West. The sculptures are presented through non-traditional installations that challenge familiar expectations and invite viewers to consider their own memories and interpretations. “The labor intensity of metal casting ties to the labor intensity living in the West was known for,” Rogers said.

Having previously exhibited and lectured in Wyoming, Rogers said she’s excited to work with community college students, shaped by her own academic experience.

“I received my AA from a community college and was always impressed by the commitment of the students and the way instructors went the extra mile to support them,” she said.

Rogers is based in Denver, where she maintains an active studio practice while also serving as a gallery director. Her work reflects a strong emphasis on process and precision, pairing industrial materials with a restrained visual language that highlights balance and tension.

The Esther and John Clay Fine Art Gallery is located in the Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium on LCCC’s Cheyenne campus and is open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday.