Exhibitions on View This Fall
Article by Jamie Washington | Photo illustrations by Jaynell Keely and Kris Raser
Explore sci-fi, the brilliance of lead minerals and the dazzling Jazz Age
The University of Delaware’s Library, Museums and Press invites you to explore three exhibitions on view this semester in gallery spaces across UD’s campus.
Visitors will:
- Ignite curiosity with the Icons of the Fantastic, the two-gallery exhibition showcasing 80 original works of art by 50 celebrated illustrators whose visionary work helped shape the genres of science fiction, fantasy and adventure.
- Be dazzled by the hidden brilliance of lead minerals at the The Vibrant World of Lead Minerals exhibit, showcasing specimens from Australia, Namibia, Morocco and the United States.
- Travel back into time in An Age of Excess: Art, Technology, and Style of the 1920s.This exhibit captures the iconic spirit and style that defined the Jazz Age — an era of glamour, rapid change and enduring cultural impact.
All exhibitions are free and open to the public. In addition to these special exhibitions, visitors can view a display of objects from the Museums Collections in the Old College Main Gallery and selections from the Mineralogical Museum’s permanent collection in the Mineralogical Museum in Penny Hall. There are also many online exhibitions available for exploration and discovery.
Read on for more information about each exhibition.
Icons of the Fantastic: Illustrations of Imaginative Literature from the Korshak Collection
Visual artwork draws readers into imaginative realms, ignites curiosity and allows stories to transcend the boundaries between text and image — further transforming complex narratives and fantastical worlds into accessible experiences for all.
From the spellbinding covers of Amazing Stories, Weird Tales and the Tarzan novels to rare masterpieces that defined the visual language of beloved classics such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Lord of the Rings, Icons of the Fantastic was thoughtfully curated from the Korshak Collection to explore the evolution and enduring power of illustrated storytelling and inspire generations of readers and artists while seamlessly bridging literary expression and visual artistry.
This exhibit celebrates the groundbreaking legacy of Erle Korshak and Shasta Publishers in fantasy and science fiction worlds. The Korshak Collection has been carefully assembled over many years by Stephen Korshak, whose passion was ignited by the legendary art that filled his childhood home, and the home he currently shares with his wife, Alma Korshak. We invite you to immerse yourself fully into the collection and experience the lasting impact of illustrated literature: a legacy of wonder and boundless imagination.
It is accompanied by the catalogue Icons of the Fantastic: Illustrations of Imaginative Literature from the Korshak Collection, published by the University of Delaware Press. The catalogue features nearly 200 images of artwork by pioneering artists spanning over 160 years of published science fiction and fantasy, accompanied by essays on renowned illustrators like Aubrey Beardsley as well as understudied artists. Contributions include a foreword by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, a preface by bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson and an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Michael Dirda. For more information or to purchase the catalogue, visit udpress.udel.edu.
On view in Old College and Mechanical Hall galleries from Aug. 28 through Dec. 9, 2025. The Old College exhibit is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Vibrant World of Lead Minerals
Lead may be best known for its dull, gray appearance, but in the mineral world, it reveals a far more dazzling side. The Vibrant World of Lead Minerals invites you to explore the unexpected beauty of lead-based minerals — brilliant, colorful and captivating specimens that defy the element’s ordinary reputation.
From vibrant mimetite to sparkling galena, lead plays a surprising role in the formation of eye-catching minerals. Even in everyday objects, its influence is seen — like in leaded glass, or crystal, which owes its signature sparkle and weight to the presence of lead.
A highlight of the collection is a remarkable bright yellow mimetite from Mexico, sourced from the long-shuttered Congresso Mine. In 1968, mineral dealer Benny Fenn descended 900 feet into the abandoned site and discovered a hidden chamber, 40 by 20 feet, lined with vivid yellow crystals. After months of careful extraction, the mimetite specimens debuted at mineral shows by the hundreds — today, they are prized rarities.
On view in the Mineralogical Museum in Penny Hall from Aug. 28 through Dec. 9, 2025.The Mineralogical Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
An Age of Excess: Art, Technology and Style of the 1920s
Step into the vibrant world of the Jazz Age with An Age of Excess: Art, Technology and Style of the 1920s. Celebrating the infamous decade where hair and skirts got shorter, radio and silent movies captivated the masses, and automobiles brought energy to the streets, this exhibition explores the dynamic intersection of culture, innovation and design during one of the most transformative decades in American history. As author F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, “It was an age of miracles, it was an age of art, it was an age of excess.”
Organized in celebration of the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby, this exhibition draws from the University of Delaware Library’s Special Collections to showcase a dazzling array of books, fashion plates, trade catalogs, illustrations and advertisements.
On view from Aug. 26 through Dec. 19, 2025 in Morris Library’s Information Room. It can be viewed during Morris Library’s operating hours.