The Washington and Lee University Museums has received a $50,000 collection grant from the Terra Foundation for American Art (TFAA) to present the exhibition “Stephanie Shih: LONG TIME NO SEEN (好久不見)‘, which draws on the museum’s famous Reeves Collection of Chinese export porcelain. The exhibition opens on August 28 at the Reeves Museum of Ceramics and runs until June 7, 2025.
Stephanie Shih is a second-generation Taiwanese-Chinese-American photographer, visual artist, and linguistics professor who has been invited to explore the Reeves Collection and serve as the first artist-in-residence in 2022.
“LONG TIME NO SEEN (好久不見)“” is a new still life photography series comprised of 15 life-sized photographs and video installations inspired by the museum’s collection of Chinese ceramics, both export and domestic. In this series, Shih seamlessly blends still life traditions with Asian American perspectives, juxtaposing altered still life photographs with ceramics from the Reeves Collection, creating a dynamic interplay between the tangible and the photographic. Shih’s work interprets these coveted ceramics as vessels of diasporic history, prompting reflections on belonging, migration, and cultural identity in the United States. Shih’s thought-provoking series encourages visitors to consider the complexities of ownership, desire, and cultural heritage.
“LONG TIME NO SEEN (好久不見)“” was organized by Isra El-beshir, director of the art museum and galleries at W&L, and Shih. They worked on the exhibition and accompanying publication in collaboration with Nalleli Guillen, associate director for curatorial affairs; Elizabeth Spear, former curator of academic engagement; and curatorial advisors Rachel Du, a specialist in Chinese art and history, Kelly Fu, a Stanford doctoral student in history, and Jacqueline Chao, Cecil and Ida Green curator of Asian art at the Dallas Museum of Art.
Founded in 1978 and with offices in Chicago and Paris, the Terra Foundation for American Art supports organizations and individuals locally and globally to foster cross-cultural dialogues and support transformative practices that expand the narratives of American art through the Foundation’s grantmaking program, collection, and initiatives. Terra Foundation’s collection grants support organizations to reinterpret and re-present their collections through temporary installations or exhibitions from their permanent collections.
The funds received from the TFAA will help the museums develop an interdisciplinary and cultural perspective to interpret the legacy of the Asian ceramic export trade. They will be critical to expanding the programs and workshops surrounding Shih’s exhibition and will contribute to the production of digital and print exhibition guides and an exhibition catalog.
“We are deeply grateful to the Terra Foundation for their generous support of Stephanie Shih’s residency project.LONG TIME NO SEEN (好久不見)‘,” said El-beshir. “Shih’s residency project brings new knowledge and a fresh perspective to our famous collection of Chinese export porcelain, makes Asian stories visible and embodies the bold and innovative spirit that the Terra Foundation represents.”
The exhibition creates a transformative narrative that reflects the diversity of American art and its history, centers marginalized voices, and actively advocates for inclusive and equitable practices in art interpretation and curation. TFAA grant support enables the museums to advance their mission of fostering interdisciplinary engagement with the permanent collection, thereby deepening appreciation of art, history, and culture.
“Promoting engaged citizenship is essential to W&L’s mission,” said Provost Lena Hill. “We want to help students not only succeed personally, but also become engaged change agents in their communities. W&L’s museums and this important exhibition help us advance our mission, and we are deeply grateful to the Terra Foundation for their support and recognition of the importance of Shih’s artwork and our commitment to equity and inclusion.”
W&L’s museums consist of three locations: the Reeves Museum of Ceramics, the University Galleries and the Watson Galleries. They are open to the public Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on exhibitions and programs, visit the Museums on the W&L website.
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