ALTOONA, Pa. — “Unplucked Gems,” a body of work by Ivyside Juried Art Exhibition winner Taylor Pilote, will be on display Oct. 12 through Dec. 9 in the McLanahan Gallery of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

Born in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, Pilote holds a bachelor's degree in sculpture from the Lebel School of Visual Arts at the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and an master's in sculpture from the University of South Florida. His works have been exhibited internationally, including at the Canadian Sculptors Society and Birch Contemporary in Toronto, MOCA North in Miami, Florida, The Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. where Pilote also presented for TEDx TampaBay.

Pilote is a recent recipient of a grant from the Tanne Foundation and Philadelphia Sculptors. Now living in Philadelphia, he renovated a former beer distributor warehouse to found Pilote Studios, an artist studio building and project space.

Pilote’s artwork explores contemporary culture’s engagement with various symbols including independence and nostalgia, which are influenced by his upbringing in his father’s auto garage. “Unplucked Gems” reveals ties to notable aspects of car culture, both personal and industrial, using physically distorted recognizable vehicle features.

The galleries are open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For more information, call the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts at 814-949-5452.