From timeless mathematical patterns to bold contemporary murals all over Stony Brook University, each piece tells a story of the campus’s history and culture. This guide explores the diverse artworks that shape the University’s visual landscape.
“Zebra Path”
Artist: Kim Hardiman
Location: Academic Mall
Year of Installation: 1981
The “Zebra Path” was hand-painted in 1981 by Kim Hardiman ‘82 as part of her public art seminar. Measuring 232 feet long and 12 feet wide, the black-and-white design symbolizes balance and harmony, inspired by the yin-yang theory. In 2007, the University repainted the walk path to red and white for its 50th anniversary but was later reverted to its original colors in 2001 by an Undergraduate Student Government at-large senator to “save Stony Brook history.” To this day, the Zebra Path occasionally receives a new coat of fresh paint.
“Korean Village”
Artist: Chang-Hee Kim
Location: Engineering Quad
Year of Installation: 1993
This bronze installation featured in the Engineering Quad symbolizes the importance of community in Korean culture and reflects a shared sense of belonging and connection. Installed to promote diversity and inclusion, the intricate design captures the essence of a traditional village. The sculpture was donated by the work’s artist, Chang-Hee Kim.
“Memorial Arch”
Artist: Milton Glaser in collaboration with Nicholas Fasciano
Location: Outside of the Humanities Building
Year of Installation: 2002
Also known as the 9/11 Memorial, this campus landmark was donated by the Stony Brook Alumni Association in memory of the 21 alumni who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks. Each year, the University pays tribute to their memory in the September 11 Memorial ceremony.
“Umbilic Torus”
Artist: Dr. Helaman Ferguson
Location: Outside of the Math and Physics Buildings
Year of Installation: 2012
The Umbilic Torus is a 24-foot tall, nearly 10-ton bronze sculpture installed as an artistic gateway to the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics. Commissioned by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the piece fuses mathematics and art, featuring a continuous, donut-shaped surface embellished with a space-filling curve. Ferguson and his team spent nearly two years crafting the sculpture using advanced mathematical modeling, robotics and traditional sculpting techniques. The intricate design evokes ancient artifacts, with its patinated bronze resembling a relic from a forgotten civilization. The space-filling curve flows seamlessly across the torus, embodying unity, timelessness and the elegance of mathematical forms.
“Tabler Piano Steps”
Artist: Naveen Mallangada
Location: Tabler Quad
Year of Installation: 2015
The “Tabler Piano Steps” is a striking public art piece transforming the entrance to Tabler Quad into a grand piano keyboard. Originally conceived by Naveen Mallangada ’17 in HON 201 (The Arts and Society), the project highlights Stony Brook’s commitment to both academic and artistic expression. With support from University staff and over 150 student signatures, Mallangada led a team of volunteers to repaint the steps and gold-prime the railings. Completed in 2015, the design enhances the visual appeal of the area while symbolizing the harmony between science and the arts.
“Earth, Air, Fire, Water”
Artist: Toby Buonagurio
Location: Simons Center for Geometry and Physics
Year of Installation: 2011
Commonly referred to as the “Butterfly Wall,” Professor Toby Buonagurio was commissioned to create this sculpture back in 2010 to be permanently displayed in the central lobby of the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics which was set to open in 2011. This installation features 11 large, hand-crafted ceramic butterflies, each uniquely glazed and lustered, ranging in size from two and a half to four and a half feet. Each butterfly is adorned with imagery representing earth, air, fire and water elements, interpreted in a style that reflects Buonagurio’s signature ceramic artistry.
“The Iconic Wall”
Artist: Nina Douglas, Anthony Phillips and Christian White
Location: Simons Center for Geometry and Physics lobby
Year of Installation: 2015
“The Iconic Wall” is a monumental artwork made out of limestone, spanning 279” x 240” x 2”, covering 465 square feet total. With detailed visuals of mathematical and physical milestones, this installation presents a historical timeline through intricate equations and diagrams that have shaped our understanding of the universe. The wall features fundamental mathematical concepts such as the visual proof of the Pythagorean theorem and the five regular polyhedra — a convex polyhedron with identical faces. It also showcases groundbreaking physics equations like Newton’s laws of motion and the Schrödinger equation.
“Heartbeats of Stony Brook”
Artist: Naveen Mallangada
Location: Nicolls Road underpass tunnel
Installation: 2017
The transformation of the underpass tunnel symbolizes the connection between East and West Campus through two heartbeats. Designed by Naveen Mallangada ‘17, the project began in 2016 but was completed years later after hospital construction delays. The artwork visually links the University’s academic and medical communities, mirroring Mallangada’s own journey from an undergraduate student to medical school. Inspired by his earlier project, “Tabler Piano Steps,” Mallangada views public art as a form of public medicine — enhancing shared spaces and enriching daily life.
“Spread Your Wings”
Artist: Xiaohui “Katie” Wang
Location: Wall adjoining West Side Dining and West Side Market
Year of Installation: 2023
Positioned in an often-visited spot on campus and conveniently located close to the University’s LGBTQ* Center, the mural, by Katie Wang ‘20, features bold imagery and meaningful messages that reflects the University’s commitment to diversity. The mural’s LGBTQ+ themes are woven into its design, symbolizing acceptance and community. The artwork’s message is hopeful and clear, according to the University: “You are welcome here. You belong here.”
“Le Judicieux”
Artist: Norah Allam
Location: Endeavour Hall lobby of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
Year of Installation: 2024
Norah Allam, a junior double majoring in biomedical engineering and applied mathematics and statistics, created this life-like octopus mural in the Endeavor Hall lobby that brings marine life to the heart of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Created in partnership with the Campus Beautification Committee, the intricate artwork was completed over several months using a meticulous pointillism technique.
“Water Droplet Sculpture”
Artist: Sy Lee
Location: Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library North Reading Room
Year of Installation: 2024
Suspended from the ceiling of the North Reading Room, “Water Droplet” by Sy Lee ‘24 captures the elegance and movement of a single falling droplet frozen in time. Its reflective surface and fluid form mimics the organic nature of water, ultimately creating a sense of motion and tranquility within the area surrounding it. The sculpture plays with light and perspective, drawing viewers’ eyes upward and transforming an ordinary ceiling into a point of artistic contemplation. As a permanent fixture, it invites students and visitors to pause, reflect and appreciate the intersectionality of creativity and academic exploration.
“SoCJ Mural”
Artist: Emma Ehrhard
Location: Educational Communications Center (ECC)
Year of Installation: 2024
A bold, colorful mural is displayed at the entrance of the ECC, visually representing the energy and creativity of the School of Communication and Journalism (SoCJ). Designed by Emma Ehrhard ‘24, the mural symbolizes the power of storytelling and the exchange of ideas. The design was carefully sketched to create movement, guiding the viewer’s eyes across the composition like the flow of communication itself. Painted with the help of students, faculty and staff, the piece transforms a once-unassuming wall into a statement for the SoCJ.
“Stony Bones”
Artist: David Krause
Location: Humanities Atrium
Year of Installation: 2006 in Administration Building, 2024 in Humanities Atrium
Emeritus Professor David Krause discovered the fossil skeleton of Majungasaurus crenatissimus back in 1996 while on an expedition to Madagascar. A replica was later made to honor the historical discovery and was nicknamed “Stony Bones.” Up until 2024, this artwork was located inside the Administration Building.
“For the Record and Quantumplation”
Artist: Anika Griffing
Location: Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Building and Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library’s Central Reading Room
Year of Installation: 2025
Anika Griffing ‘24 blends physics, astronomy, music and geometry into striking visual pieces. “For the Record,” a series of abstract art on vinyl records, won the Campus Beautification Committee’s ART Tank competition last semester and is now displayed in the Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library. “Quantumplation” inspired by unproven theories in quantum physics, features celestial “skyscapes” and is housed at CAPS, where its calming presence supports student well-being. Griffing, who created this work as a personal exploration of her autism diagnosis, hopes to inspire other student artists to share their artistic visions.
Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery
Located in the Staller Center for the Arts, the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery is a dynamic exhibition space dedicated to showcasing both professional and student artwork. Under the leadership of Karen Levitov, the Zuccaire Gallery fosters engagement with the campus and regional community through thought-provoking, museum-quality exhibitions and public programs. Admission to all exhibitions, programs and events is free and open to the public.
From Mar. 4 to Apr. 12, the Zuccaire Gallery will show “TRACES: MFA Thesis Exhibition 2025.” This exhibit will display the culminating works of the University’s graduating Master of Fine Arts students Ria Rajan, Hagar Masoud and Diana Solomon. Through drawing, sculpture, video, photography and sound, the exhibition explores themes of memory, identity and transformation. Each piece acts as a vestige of personal and collective histories — fleeting moments made tangible through artistic expression.
For its last exhibition of the 2024-25 academic year, the Zuccaire Gallery will present its annual “Senior Show & URECA Art Exhibition,” highlighting the creativity and talent of its undergraduate artists. It features a diverse range of works by graduating arts majors and minors as well as digital art minors, such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, digital media and mixed-media installations. Each piece reflects the artists’ dedication, experimentation and personal artistic journeys. Alongside the “Senior Show,” the “URECA Art Exhibition” showcases exceptional works selected by the Department of Art studio faculty, celebrating the achievements of outstanding undergraduate artists. This exhibition will be available from Apr. 24 to May 23.
Charles B. Wang Center
The Charles B. Wang Center is a cultural hub for Asian and Asian American arts and ideas. Opened in 2002, it serves as a bridge between tradition and innovation, hosting exhibitions, performances and programs that explore the richness of Asian cultures. More than just a gallery, this spot is an ever-evolving canvas, bringing Asian perspectives to the University.
Inside its Theatre Gallery, “The Studio: Through a Surrealistic Lens” transforms space into a cartoon-like dreamscape: flat, white and alive with absurdity. This immersive installation distorts perspective, inviting visitors to step into a hand-drawn world where logic unravels. Every detail — humble yet uncanny — feels like a memory from a dream, both familiar and strange. As visitors navigate the space, their sense of depth warps, blurring the line between the real and the imagined. Designed for both physical and digital realms, the exhibition thrives in the age of social media, offering a portal to the surreal with every snapshot. This is a long-term installation.
In a world overflowing with noise, simplicity speaks the loudest. “Simplicity Over Complexity” sits in the Center’s outdoor garden. This concept strips away the unnecessary, revealing the essence of form, function and feeling. It is not about absence but about intentionality — where every element has purpose, and empty space is just as significant as what occupies it. Whether in art, design or thought, simplicity invites connection, offering beauty in what remains. This is also a long-term installation.
The Charles B. Wang Center will soon feature another exhibition called “Cycles of Clay: The Ceramic Narratives of Sunkoo Yuh” from Mar. 7 to May 24 in its Skylight Gallery. This new exhibit transforms raw earth into towering narratives, where tradition and modernity collide. His ceramic sculptures, stacked with intricate figures and bold colors, weave together Buddhist cycles, Confucian ideals and contemporary social commentary. Through unpredictable glazing and experimental firing, Yuh embraces both chaos and control, creating works that pulse with energy and depth.
