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Erik LaGattuta, "Zach Hates Robots."
You never really know what to expect when strolling into the Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery on campus. Alien-shaped statues? Maybe. Portraits? Sometimes. Yarn structures? Why not? Exhibits can be any or all those things at once. The current exhibit brings the future to life through a unique story told in a comic book.
Erik La Gattuta, professor of art and visual arts coordinator, is the latest artist to display his work in the gallery. He created 鈥淶ack Hates Robots鈥 during his sabbatical from teaching in fall 2025. But really, the seeds for his story were planted in 2007.
During his reception for the exhibition on Feb. 5, La Gattuta explained to a crowd of family, students and coworkers that this first issue of his comic book series was a way for him to process the daily news cycle, which can be depressing 鈥 never mind that New York City blows up in a nuclear explosion in his story. Although a work of fiction, La Gattuta鈥檚 comic he devised about the advances of artificial intelligence (AI) in 2007 eerily resembles the technology鈥檚 2026 capabilities.
While explaining his writing and drawing process to eager attendees, La Gattuta implored students who draw comics or write tales to create backstories first. 鈥淭he stories you think of are the ones you know, so how do you make a story that isn鈥檛 just clich茅s from other stories you know? Create a backstory first that won鈥檛 directly be in the story you create,鈥 he said.
Across the cozy gallery space, 34 comic pages stand out against the center line of each white wall. The story begins to the left of the gallery entrance and, in chronological order, follows the story of an angry man and hedonistic robot in a futuristic, divided U.S., where many people live in decadent cities while others have created tech-free, rural townships. This is the first in the series of four comics to tell the saga. Only the first eight pages are in full color, but La Gattuta plans to colorize the rest this summer.
It was easy to snack, saunter around the room and read the adventurous tale 鈥 a cup of hot cocoa and cookie in hand 鈥 while celebrating the exhibit鈥檚 opening. Upon reaching the opposite side of the room, however, you are left asking more questions.
鈥淣ot a lot of questions are answered by page 34, but it does have an ending, and I know the story and the why,鈥 La Gattuta explained.
Just past the final page is a small TV monitor that scrolls through La Gattuta鈥檚 sketches and months-long process of devising the artwork. Altogether, fully engaging with the exhibit should take no more than 20 minutes, even as you ponder or question the power of AI.
鈥淶ack Hates Robots鈥 will be on display through March 1. The gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
