The Sears Art Museum at Utah Tech University presents Daniel Ray: Found/Framed, a major exhibition of new works exploring the extraordinary potential of ordinary objects. On view September 4 through October 30, 2026, the exhibition features photographs, ceramics, prints, sculptural assemblages, video, and original music in an immersive installation that invites viewers to reconsider the familiar through fresh eyes.
Ray transforms overlooked everyday materials into layered compositions that blur the boundaries between photography, painting, sculpture, and design. At the heart of the exhibition are sculptural assemblages and their photographic counterparts, demonstrating how commonplace objects can be reframed into works of unexpected beauty and meaning.
Growing up in San Diego, Ray discovered his fascination with photography while wandering a local junkyard, captivated by the interplay of light, composition, and discarded materials. That early experience shaped an artistic philosophy centered on revealing beauty in the overlooked. After studying painting, sculpture, and design at the San Francisco Art Institute and ArtCenter College of Design, Ray built an international career as an advertising and editorial photographer for clients including Pepsi, MTV, Toyota, and Vogue.
While commercial success defined much of his professional life, his personal work remains rooted in experimentation. By combining photography with paint, ceramics, silk-screening, and sculptural processes, he reconstructs familiar imagery into layered compositions. Rather than prescribing meaning, the works encourage viewers to discover beauty, humor, or significance in unexpected places.
“Found/Framed is about looking again,” Ray said. “Objects we pass every day carry histories, textures, and personalities that often go unnoticed. By changing their context, I hope viewers pause long enough to see them—and perhaps the world around them—with renewed curiosity”.
An opening reception with the artist takes place Friday, September 4, from 6:30–8 PM. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit searsart.com.
