Saginaw Valley State University is hosting an artist talk with Peter Bernal at Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum March 30, 2025, from 2 PM to 4 PM.
Bernal is an artist from Houston, Texas who graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting. He then moved to Rhode Island to continue his schooling. After that, he lived in Germany for a time but now resides in Detroit.
Maddison Whittaker, a Community Relations and Marketing Manager for the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, commented about the event taking place on campus.
“This event will be moderated by curator Isabelle Weiss and will include a discussion of Bernal’s creative process, inspirations, and the themes shaping his work. A Q&A session will follow, and light refreshments will be provided. The event is free, but registration is requested but not required.”
Emma Thelen, a freshman accounting major, plans to attend the event on campus.
“I am looking forward to seeing Peter Bernal’s artist talk. I think this is such an awesome opportunity for students to engage with such meaningful work. We may not all be artists, but we can all appreciate the story behind his art. Not everyone gets to ask the artist themselves to explain their art, so I am excited to see his thought process behind his creations.”
Not only will Bernal’s artwork be on campus on March 30, but his artwork will be showcased in the museum until May 24, 2025, called Searching & Finding Hidden Heritage. This is some of his most recent artwork that has been created.
Whittaker mentioned that his artwork being displayed “delves into the emotional weight of cultural displacement and the struggle to reclaim a lost identity. His work is deeply personal, inspired by the memories of his grandparents and the legacies they carried.”
“Through his art, Bernal reconstructs the lives of ancestors he never knew, addressing themes of alienation, history, and self-discovery. His works invite viewers to reflect on their own connections to heritage, identity, and belonging—universal experiences that resonate across cultures and generations.”
In her final remarks, Whittaker emphasized the thought behind Bernal’s art.
“Bernal’s work is not only visually compelling but also deeply meaningful, as it bridges personal and collective histories. The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to engage with themes of identity and heritage, making it a must-visit for anyone interested in art that tells powerful stories. The artist talk is a fantastic chance to gain deeper insights into his creative journey and the narratives behind his pieces.”
Digital versions of Bernal’s artwork can be found at peterdanielbernal.com. Not only does this website allow you to see his creations, but there is also information about his backstory as well as how you can get in contact with him.
To learn more about and see Bernal’s artwork that is located on campus, stop by the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM.
