CHICAGO--The Renaissance Society at The University of Chicago (5811 S. Ellis Ave.) mounts a solo exhibition of photographs by Chicago-based artist Anna Shteynshleyger '99 (photography). The self-titled exhibition will be on display through Feb. 14.

The exhibition features approximately 20 works that document Shteynshleyger's life over the past several years. Originally from Moscow, Shteynshleyger moved with her family to the Maryland suburbs and soon became an observant Orthodox Jew at age 16. This transformation, and subsequent years questioning her identity, led Shteynshleyger to use her artwork as a way to find herself. "It's ironic that the word 'spirituality' is largely taboo in the art world," she said. The New York Times ran an extensive article about her journey on Jan. 21.

"After several years of spiritual and emotional turbulence, Shteynshleyger needed to craft a mirror in order to psychologically ground herself. Her photographs represent people, places, things and moments that are her life, making the practice an exercise in the 'othering' of self," the Renaissance Society says of the artist.

"Shteynshleyger belongs to a generation of photographers whose work is notable for its formal beauty and technical execution," the society says. Shteynshleyger's work spans a variety of genres--portraits, still-life, landscape and interiors--all of which will be included in the exhibition.

Founded in 1826, MICA is among the top visual arts colleges in the nation. It enrolls 1,714 undergraduate and 218 graduate students from 48 states and 52 foreign countries, offering programs of study leading to the bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.), master of arts (M.A.), and master of fine arts (M.F.A.) degrees. It also offers post-baccalaureate certificate programs and a full slate of credit and noncredit courses for adults, college-bound students, and children. MICA is recognized as an important cultural resource for the Baltimore/Washington region, sponsoring many public and community-outreach programs-including more than 100 exhibitions by students, faculty, and nationally and internationally known artists annually-as well as artists' residencies, film series, lectures, readings, and performances.