Historically, many artists have used symbolism to tell stories and to impress upon their viewers cautionary tales of morality and guidance. Today’s artists, however, have largely redefined symbolism by assigning new, contemporary designations to traditional symbols and iconography, and by inventing their own.

This exhibition highlights the work of artists who employ these tactics in their work. Like the title of the exhibition suggests, these artists explore the connections between symbol and metaphor, letting traditional and contemporary iconography intermix, creating meanings that are no longer understood as universal, but instead, personal and often in flux. They do this in a number of ways; by juxtaposing, editing, or subverting iconography to create new meanings and associations, and by using examples from popular culture and historical sources. The artists in this exhibition celebrate the possibilities of open-ended meanings, creating a visual space for viewers where many stories are possible, if one only looks a little closer.