"Polar Expressions: Finding Beauty in the Coldest Regions on Earth" opens Feb. 21 at The Ohio State University Libraries’ Thompson Library Gallery. This free, family-friendly exhibition features photography, painting, sculpture, writing and music inspired by the world’s polar regions.
Curated by Laura Kissel, Polar Archivist and Curator of the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, the exhibition draws from the Polar Archives, a collection of more than 200 items dating back to the late 1890s, to explore how extreme environments have inspired artistic expression and shaped climate history.
"Polar Expressions" offers visitors the opportunity to experience the beauty and significance of some of the planet’s most remote regions without leaving Columbus. Learn more on the event webpage.
Dates: Feb. 21 – Aug. 2, 2026
Location: Thompson Library Gallery, 1858 Neil Ave., Columbus, Ohio
Admission: Free and open to the public