University at Buffalo (UB)
Gary L. Wolfe: Who Told You That You Were Naked?
Surveillance and Human Vulnerability
Courtesy of the artist
Who Told You That You Were Naked? Surveillance and Human Vulnerability is an interactive installation by acclaimed Western New York artist Gary L. Wolfe. The exhibition, which delves into themes of vulnerability, privacy, and surveillance, will be on view at both the UB Art Galleries Center for the Arts Gallery and Castellani Art Museum.
Gary L. Wolfe, a Buffalo native, has a rich history of artmaking in the region. With undergraduate degrees in Christian Ministries from Houghton College and in Psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a Master of Arts in Humanities, also from UB, Wolfe’s professional career spanned 28 years in health and human services organizations with Erie County. These experiences deeply influence his artistic work, focusing on the marginalized and exploring themes of pain, suffering, and vulnerability.
Who Told You That You Were Naked? integrates traditional paintings with video technology to create an immersive experience. The installation features 80 paintings—40 naked figures and 40 portraits—arranged to surround viewers, combined with hidden surveillance cameras, interactive digital elements, and a soundscape featuring the voices of the models. The figures are not idealized and often pose with an object or gesture that obscures and thereby protects their identities. Visitors will encounter the dual nature of surveillance culture through two distinct thematic experiences at each location: the “seductive” side at UB Art Galleries and the “sinister” side at Castellani Art Museum.
This exhibition presents a unique opportunity for scholarly dialogue through guest lectures and illuminating conversations across media fostering collaboration between the two institutions. Two lectures exploring surveillance culture will occur during the show’s run.