Tattooed ultimate fighters sharing gallery space with figurative representations of Spanish ladies is just one of the provocative groupings in "Pittsburgh Now."

The exhibition, at the SPACE art gallery, Downtown, features new work by local artists, including Angelo Ciotti. Ciotti is well-known for his house in Allison Park, which he constructed almost entirely from found objects and experimental poly-urethane materials.

The house is represented in the exhibition by six large-scale, color prints showcasing exterior and interior spaces. Viewers may be surprised to see how modern and refined the Ciotti home is inside, in contrast to its unconventional exterior. (A tour of the home will be given at 1 p.m. Saturday. For reservations for the free event, call 412-456-2962.)

Ciotti's sculptural memorials, also on display, warrant attention. Drawing on news coverage of mining and logging accidents in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the artist uncovers capitalism's ruthlessness in discounting the lives of workers who perished. While company foremen focused on the cost of replacing mules that died in such accidents, the human cost was typically overlooked.

Similar to the way Ciotti constructed his home, the artist selects found materials -- coal, wood, moss -- and fashions them into memorials dedicated to women who lost loved ones in these accidents. His work is original because the memorials are not monuments made from polished marbles or bronzes. Instead, they are spiritual, organic creations of modest scale that communicate the power of nature to take and renew human life.

The diverse subject matter included in "Pittsburgh Now" is enhanced by thoughtful design details. George Lipchak's site-specific wall painting creates an eye-catching backdrop for his abstract drawings. And steel supports anchor Renee Rosensteel's photographs of ultimate fighters to the wall.

Ultimate fighting is an intense sport in which competitors use boxing, jujitsu, wrestling and other martial arts techniques to compete in supervised matches. The presence of officials and the enforcement of rules are a testament to the discipline (rather than the blood and gore) of ultimate fighting.

Steel, says Rosensteel, is "a reflection of the guys in this sport." Her photographs are graphic and difficult to look at. Some of the men she captures look downright scary, while others just looked scared.

To balance this work, Philip Rostek's meditative paintings, some incorporating literary themes, such as William Blake's poetry, are placed nearby. The result is a cohesive group show that sensitively displays the individual artists' works.

"Pittsburgh Now" continues through June 13 at 812 Liberty Ave., Downtown. The free exhibition is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For information visit spacepittsburgh.org or call 412-325-7723. An exhibition catalog will be available June 2 ($8).

Down the street at Wood Street Galleries, "Text Memory" presents two installations by Jim Campbell and Mark Scheeff.

Both artists draw on their mathematics and engineering backgrounds to infuse their art with the mechanical and the emotional. Using light and words, Campbell and Scheeff explore the highly charged themes of loss and human desire respectively.

Campbell's "The Last Day in the Beginning of March," documenting the last day of his brother's life, consists of 30 customized lights (installed in the gallery's ceiling) that create periodic patterns on the floor. The spotlights pulse to reflect not a musical beat, but a visual rhythm reminiscent of a distinct memory.

The lights are complemented by sparse text that translates the lighting into specific events that viewers can interpret, such as "Convulsions" and "Heart beat." The mood is somber and eerie -- particularly because the gallery is nearly pitch-black and the only sound is that of hard, beating rain.

"thankyou God for Helens outcome Amen" is one of the many printed text messages in Scheeff's "Want (continuous)."

Every 20 seconds, thermal receipt printers drop paper slips from the ceiling that contain messages gathered from dating and prayer Web sites and a database of individuals waiting for organ donations.

Scheeff's installation is interactive, encouraging viewers to grab, read and take home a "want."

The accumulation of paper on the gallery floor underscores the possibilities for hope, forgiveness and companionship in a clever way that 21st century viewers will appreciate.

"Text Memory" continues through June 21 at 601 Wood St. above the T station, Downtown. The free exhibition is open 11 a.m. 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For information visit www.woodstreetgalleries.org or call 412-471-5605.