Heart of Hearts, our fall 2026 exhibition of archives and special collections materials, opens on Oct. 5, 2026. Curated by English Department graduate student, Ava Lehrman, this exhibition invites visitors to reflect upon the human heart as a timeless icon that transcends familiar recognition as holiday greeting card imagery. Ava’s research reveals symbol, ceremony, science and coded messages that span cultures and centuries.
Visitors will encounter a wide variety of historical objects, from ancient artifacts, early printed books and manuscripts to art works, postcards and ephemera, each providing examples of the “Heart as Sacred and Immaculate,” the “Heart as Soul,” the “Heart as the Seat of Emotions,” the “Heart as a Window into Human Nature” and the “Heart in Human Anatomy.” This exhibition asks us to consider the heart as an essential representative of human connection and values.
Heart of Hearts also includes several ancient Egyptian objects, generously loaned to the exhibition by the LMU Institute for Archaeological Studies. The library thanks the experts, both on and off campus, who shared their time and thoughts in support of the exhibition curator’s work, including:
- Karen Rapp, director, Laband Art Gallery
- Caroline Sauvage, director, LMU Institute for Archaeological Studies
- Eric Swanson, LMU Theological Studies
- Robin Choudhury, Biomedical Sciences, Oxford University
- Maya Gonzalez, artist
We also thank the graduate program of the English Department for the internship opportunity that made this exhibition possible. Heart of Hearts will run through March 5, 2027 in the Terrance L. Mahan, S.J. Gallery (library level 3) and is open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. There will also be an opening exhibition on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 5:30 p.m. RSVP here.