“There is no pattern. (Each) one has been different," Mercuro said. "I think we've had 39 different exhibitions so far."

The idea to bring art to the law school occurred to Mercuro at an event, after he overheard a conversation about art displays potentially being implemented across campus. At the time, several pieces were being shipped back to MSU from a competition, and were set to be collected by the artists. However, with Mercuro’s assistance, the pieces were instead displayed throughout the College of Law for several months.

From there on out, he has rotated different displays and worked with local, national and international artists to bring in different mediums of art. He said the reputation of the law school has helped attract this niche gallery and bring in a lot of talent.

“In the law school, you want things about fundamental rights,” Mercuro said about the various pieces the college displayed in the past. Previous pieces included themes of human trafficking, court evidence, ISIS destroying art in the Middle East and race.

A recent collection was provided by Brigitte Freed, widow of the renowned photojournalist Leonard Freed. The collection is a series of 15 photos taken by her husband during his travels in 1994 South Africa. The donation came about when Brigitte Freed learned former South African Justice Albie Sachs would be a guest lecturer at MSU.

Jessica Martin, a librarian in the MSU Department of African Studies, helped coordinate the handling of the photos — which have since been added to the special collections division of the MSU Library. 

“I'm working to figure out how to get more of these photographs from this particular collection on exhibit," Martin said, "to commemorate the anniversary, and to also celebrate the end of the thematic year of 'global Africa’, which all of this — the exhibit and Justice Sachs’ visit — all fit into."

Art decorating the walls of the College of Law stays up for only a certain amount of time, ranging from just a few weeks to an entire semester. The art — which Mercuro said is oftentimes by Michigan artists — is displayed on the third and fourth floors. 

“(It) adds a historical element, and you’re reminded of the people that came before you," First-year law student Elizabeth Krochmalny said. "And that's always a really important thing to remember."

Current displays include duplicates of the Magna Carta that were provided by the American Bar Association and the U.S. Library of Congress, as well as a series of music-themed paintings by Julian Van Dyke.