DANBURY, Connecticut — The Gallery at the Visual & Performing Arts Center (VPAC) at Western Connecticut State University, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury, presents “Dante Vaghi: UFO Pioneer” organized by artist and curator, Richard Klein. The exhibition, on view Oct. 15 though Dec. 6, 2026, gathers works created by Bethel native and UFO enthusiast Dante Vaghi.
Dante Vaghi (1921-2011) was a self-taught, visionary artist who lived in Bethel. 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 Sikorski.
The family business, Vaghi Woodworking, was located in the building directly across the tracks from the former 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.
An opening reception is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday 12 – 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 1- 4 p.m. Richard Klein will deliver a talk in the gallery at 11 a.m. on Oct. 15, in conjunction with the MFA Visiting Artist program. 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 on the WCSU VPAC Eventbrite.
For more information, contact the Department of Art at robeaul@wcsu.edu or WCSU Communications and Marketing at pr@wcsu.edu.
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