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THE GALLERY at the Visual & Performing Arts Center presents “Dante Vaghi: UFO Pioneer” curated by independent curator, Richard Klein. The exhibition, on view Oct. 15 though Dec. 6, 2026, gathers works created by Bethel native, Dante Vaghi, UFO enthusiast.
Dante Vaghi (1921-2011) was a self-taught, visionary artist who lived in nearby Bethel, Connecticut. His work was based on a series of UFO experiences he had starting in 1950 that continued into the 1990s. Vaghi created drawings, sculpture, signage, and clothing reflecting his view that there was intelligent life in the universe and that contact with alien civilizations was imminent. The exhibition also includes work by the artist’s father Guiseppe Vaghi, who was fascinated by flight and claimed to have envisioned the helicopter in 1907, decades before it was perfected by Igor Skikorski.
The family business, Vaghi Woodworking, was located in the building directly across the tracks from the former location of the Bethel railroad station. From 1970 through the time of his death in 2011, Dante made large signs for the exterior of the building, including sentiments such as “WELCOME all PEOPLE from OTHER PLANETS to BETHEL, CT., U.S.A.” that were seen by riders on the Danbury branch of Metro North.
Dante Vaghi was a well-known local character, who put UFO-themed floats in both the Bethel and Danbury Memorial Day parades, as well as the Barnum Festival parade in Bridgeport. A vigorous advocate for belief in extraterrestrial life as well as the United States space program, Vaghi always wore a jumpsuit with “Dante Vaghi: UFO Pioneer” embroidered across its chest.
This will be the first exhibition to look critically at this unique artist and his legacy. The exhibition is organized by artist and independent curator Richard Klein, with the assistance of the Vaghi family, including the artist’s daughter, Maureen Norris.
Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday 12 - 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 1- 4 p.m. Admission to the reception, exhibition, and gallery talk is free and open to the public; donations to support the programs of the Department of Art will be accepted. Reservations to attend the opening reception or artist talk should be made online at www.wcsupac.eventbrite.com.
Abstract artists Meg Lipke and Zuriel Waters create sewn fabric constructions coupled with vibrant color palettes to upend the usual convention of paintings hanging on a wall. Each artist crafts shaped works that may riotously spill their contents onto the floor or morph into supple, organic shapes. These large-scale, complex compositions invite observers to actively participate in the viewing experience.
