Printmaker John O’Donnell will be at Ohio State Lima for the opening of his show The False City at the Farmer Family Gallery from 4-6 p.m., Thursday, February 5, 2026. The False City is part of a long-term printmaking project made in response to the legacy of a 16th-century print series known as The Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae (Mirror of Roman Magnificence), a portfolio of etched and engraved prints depicting the monuments and ruins of ancient Rome.
The opening, book signing and exhibition are free and open to the public. The False City will be in the Farmer Family Gallery from February 5-March 12. The gallery is located in Reed Hall. Regular gallery hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Thursday, with further visitation by appointment. Contact breidenbach.44@osu.edu.
This project builds on the existing Renaissance project by creating copper plate etchings of archaeological sites. Each print reflects an attempt to update and extend the original Speculum through traditional and contemporary etching methods, combined with modern approaches to book design, visual narrative and site-specific research.
This work functions both as a tribute to historical printmaking and a reactivation of its purpose. Through archival research, site visits, and studio practice, the project contributes to an ongoing conversation about how we see, preserve and respond to the remains of the ancient world.
