The Inoperative Community: Exhibition X Practice, UC Irvine 1965-2025

The Inoperative Community: Exhibition X Practice, UC Irvine 1965-2025 – an archival exhibition of the University Art Galleries (UAG) from 1965 to the present – provides an unprecedented look at the gallery’s evolving curatorial and artistic legacy, highlighting its significant role in shaping the artistic and academic communities at UC Irvine and beyond. The exhibition takes its title from Jean-Luc Nancy’s famed "Inoperative Community" essay, in which a non-hegemonic, fluid model of community is presented. In this context, the UAG's history is understood not as a linear narrative, but as an evolving, collective moment where diverse voices and practices converge and shift over time.