The USC Roski MA ’27 Cohort in Curatorial Practices and the Public Sphere presents the very
substance of ourselves. The exhibition traces the connective tissues that bridge our physical
bodies and interiorities with the constructed and natural landscapes that we inhabit. Grounded in
posthumanist philosopher Stacy Alaimo’s concept of transcorporeality, the exhibition theorizes
human bodies as deeply enmeshed in an active and lively world of matter, rather than sole actors
in an inert environment. The included artists explore many forms of transformation—from
invasive to intangible—as they relate to physicality, embodiment, memory and identity across
time and space. The very substance of ourselves invites viewers to consider how the self is
continually reshaped through contact with others, extending outward and merging with the world
around us.
Featured Artists
Ophelia Arc • Isabel Avila • Brenda Barrios • Jay Carlon • Alexandra Carter • Tracy L. Chandler
• courtney coles • Olivia Rae Harris • Shana Hoehn • Maria Maea • Yong Soon Min • Debra
Scacco
MA 2027 Curatorial Team
Meg Burns • Sam Garduño Marin • Anabelle Gunderson • Eunice Han • Courtney King • Jiwon
Lee • Lexi Myrie • Jialiang Wang
Opening Reception
Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
