The Aesthetics & Values seminar of the FIU Honors College examines the vital role visual art plays in the social and cultural dialogue surrounding controversial issues. It investigates how artists have challenged or enforced authority by creating new aesthetics. The heart of the course is the Aesthetics & Values Research and Exhibition Project. This annual project provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their resourcefulness and creativity through the research, curation, and organization of an on-campus exhibition of contemporary Miami artists.

Since August 2005, John William Bailly’s Aesthetics & Values of the FIU Honors College has immersed students in Miami’s contemporary art world. The class has curated 13 exhibitions, collaborated with multiple artists, and provided a museum exhibition platform for Miami’s exceptional artists. Aesthetics & Values 2018 marks the end of the A&V project.