“Second Nature,” an exhibition created by senior fine arts major Gabrielle Henderson, explores themes of human connection and isolates them into visual narratives. The student exhibition consisting of ceramic artwork is held by USC Roski School of Art and Design and currently open at the Helen Lindhurst Fine Arts Gallery on the ground floor of Watt Hall.
When entering the exhibition, visitors can find a book including spectator reactions to the artwork – bringing the heart of the exhibition’s meaning to life: human connection. Henderson encourages visitors to bring the exhibition theme into fruition by detailing their understanding of the artwork in a written statement.
“Ever since I was a freshman coming to USC and going to exhibition openings. I’ve seen every single student show a notebook on the table with the titles and a little excerpt about the show or the artist,” Henderson said. “I think, just based off that tradition, that’s why I wanted to do it.”
“I think it’s a good way to communicate to an artist how you perceive their work because I’m not going to be in the gallery from nine to five every single day, waiting for people to come in and hearing their opinions about the show,” Henderson said.
Next, visitors see the exhibition name in bright pastel colors and the title “Second Nature.” Pink, greens and browns are frequent colors seen throughout the project. Starting with the flowers on the table, then the color of the table itself, the ceramic piece by the sign and finally the ceramic plant by the swans.
The swans are perhaps the most visually enticing aspect of the space.
One of the pieces showcases two swans set facing one another, as if having a lovers’ spat. One is sculpted with its neck hitched back, beak open wide as if shouting while the other swan is curled in on itself, appearing to be hurt by the supposed sounds.
According to Henderson’s artist statement on the USC event calendar, “Second Nature” is an exploration into the complex dynamics of our relationships with others, which shows how things such as conflict and human imperfection can cause change important for a fulfilling life. By capturing moments of human nature and isolating them into visual narratives, the exhibition depicted what connects people to each other.
Max Shen, a junior majoring in game design, provided his own interpretation of the theme after visiting the exhibition.
“The theme explores human connection and how connection and conflict kind of gives life its fulfillment individually and how you can grow from it,” said Shen.
Henderson also said the exhibition being developed and run by students inspired her to create this artwork.
“I think ultimately what inspired [Second Nature] like a lot of other student-run exhibitions is my own experience, especially through college, just because it is such a defining time in someone’s life,” Henderson said.
“I think also in the past four years, I’ve really experienced a lot of change in myself, and also change in the people around me,” Henderson said. “Whether that’s people coming into my life, people leaving my life, and I use the show as a way to kind of encapsulate those feelings because each one was very different, and using that to hold them in a space of like visible time.”
In this fine arts gallery, students can also explore other student exhibitions like Adrian Della Rossa’s “A Dream,” Alice R. Branicio and Alyssa C. Antig: “SuperFormal Memoria” and Sandra Iraheta’s “Like Draining Water From the Sea.”
“I just saw [the exhibition] and it caught my eye because I thought the details were very intricate, and I really like the size of it,” said Anna Stempien, a sophomore public relations and advertising major. “I thought it was just a nice contrast from the rest of the room because the rest was all white, so it made you want to look at [the exhibit] in specific.”
The exhibition is open for viewing for the USC community, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., until November 10, 2026.
Edited by Fashion Castillo and Leo Li