The Troy University Art and Design Department and Malone Gallery will host a reception for artist Michael Aurbach at 3 p.m. today. The reception will be held in conjunction with the artist’s lecture and the opening of his show, which features a selected work from “The Secrecy Series.”

Aurbach has taught sculpture at Vanderbilt University in Nashville for almost 25 years.

Duane Paxson, gallery director, said Aurbach embraces art as a transformation vehicle for enabling students to think critically and become active citizens.

“Aurbach, a Kansas native, is masterful at finding metaphorical potential in things associated with religion, architecture and the world around us,” he said.

He began his journey into the art world in response to a dare from a jogging partner.

On that dare from a University of Kansas art professor, Aurbach took is first studio class. He later studied with highly regarded sculptors, Richard Gillespie and James Holmes, at the University of Kansas.

Aurbach’s work maintains a political edge and often addresses matters related to death, identity and the plight of socially disenfranchised group.

“Michael Aurbach is an outstanding lecturer and artist,” Paxson said. “We invite the community to join us for the lecture and reception. I think everyone will find his work fascinating.”