Senior Exhibition Catalogue [S24]

ALYSSA LETENDRE

Lil Guys is a going to be a series of works that shows creatures with random attributes from different animals and mixing them together to get a new ‘fantastical’ creatures.

VALERIE WEST

I see jewelry as a unique way to display a person’s personality and believe you can tell a lot about a person by the jewelry they wear. I create fine jewelry and small sculptures from sterling silver, copper, and bronze. My work represents my culture and the things I would like to see represented. I work with a strong emphasis on urban culture, Pan-African symbolism and the colors associated with the diaspora. (Red- to symbolize the bloodshed of Blacks throughout history, Green- for Africa’s land and natural resources, Yellow- for minerals and wealth, Blackfor the people).

TRIP SHERIDAN

ADRIYANNA PEET

Blood Bound is a comic that sees a detective dying at the hands of a corrupt system and then being brought back to life by a demon who becomes her partner in her mission to uncover the corruption of the police and the government. The comic takes the hard-boiled detective and places her in a world full of magic and the occult, presenting a fresh take on a genre that can be rather oversaturated with straight, white men. It’s always nice to see a genre that exhibits very little diversity get new life breathed in to it. This specific piece is a prologue, showing what led up to her dying and becoming the halfhuman truth-seeking detective of the story proper.

ALIZA SHALVI

Need a good laugh? You’re in luck! My goal as an artist is to make others smile and step out of reality to connect to the unique characters I create. Growing up, I have always enjoyed playing Monopoly, among many other board games. “Will They, Won’t They?” allows players to compete and see who can be the first one to plan a successful wedding for their animal couple. I love planning events and I wanted to apply my experience into this game. Digital art is my preferred method because of the different tools and software provided to create colorful illustrations and animations. “Will They, Won’t They?” enables a character-driven narrative to be played into anthropomorphic animals. This game provides some insight into what it’s like to be a wedding planner- going to different stores, dealing with obstacles and miracles, and putting together many lists to prepare for the big day.

ARIANNE ROSE

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you”- Maya Angelou, I know why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969. I believe we are all in charge of writing our story. Stories are a living body and when we share our stories, we give birth to the essence of life. Stories are how we as human beings have come together and shared ideas and strengthen bonds throughout our species existence. They motivate us, inspire us, and define us as people, giving us culture and a variety of vibrant color to our world. It is stories that are the foundations of every great civilization whether it be from religious text, folklore, or legends of our past heroes. The Vikings had a belief that true immortality comes from the bards telling your stories long after you’re gone, so you become legend. The book “Stories Can Inspire” is about a young boy who moves to a new town and struggles to find where he belongs. Selfisolating in the attic of his new home, he discovers a giant bookcase covered in dust. Upon a shelf, a magical book glows, drawing the boy closer. Through the spirit of the book, he discovers many whimsical worlds. The

boy is then inspired to find a place in his town and along the way inspires other, making new friends and finding his passion as the leader of a book club. At the end, he starts a new journey by becoming a writer himself. The book “Stories Can Inspire” was written by my best friend, Tobias Vogelstein. He had many struggles through his life. At a young age, he had developed a brain tumor. It took his sight and most of his hearing, but it never took his spirit and zest for life. Reading and writing were his way of interacting with the world around him. He put his heart and soul into his works, and I believe hold pieces of his spirit. It was his dream to be an author and bring entertainment to everyone. Stories gave him comfort and meaning, and through illustrating his stories, I intend to immortalizes my friend, so he will live on and continue his dream to entertain and inspire others.

ASHTON TAYLOR

“Memento Debes Mūtāto” Translated from Latin, the title is “Remember You Must Change”. It delegates “change” as something you must do, creates an obligation, a sense of responsibility. Of course, things “will” change, but that is just a vague prediction without regard to the cause. “Must” is an active command. A command for the participation in your own life, an exploration of the different forms you could become. There is a small, stuffed lamb swaddled in the space above the screen. I carried her around when I was half the size I am now. As a child I was convinced she was alive; I was so sure when I stitched her arm back on, she could feel the pain. I may be unrecognizable now to the kid who held that lamb - but, when I secured her to the frame, I made sure not to use any pins.

EMMA ARROYO

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been creating characters and telling their stories. The Art of HAVEN is an art book for one such story; namely, a video game concept I’ve been co-developing with my partner, Michael Williams, for two and a half years. Collaborating with someone on a project this big has felt like a stepping stone to where I ultimately want to end up professionally: working as a concept artist for a AAA game studio. Some of the most affecting moments I’ve ever had with art were ones I experienced through the medium of games. I’ll never forget being brought to tears more than once by my favorite game, Portal 2— how viscerally I felt like I had experienced the personal journey of one of its characters; how immersed I was in its environment... Chasing the highs of those experiences is what drives me to create.

EMILY SCHLOER

Emily Schloer The Rediscovery – Artist Statement Illustration bridges the gap between my imagination and reality. It allows me to explore the wonders of the world. Through creating I can express the parts of stories and myths that are the most meaningful to me. Unfortunately, mythology no longer feels mythical. The current fantasy genre is oversaturated with repeated imagery pulled from ancient Greek and Norse culture. This world is rich with varying myths, magic, and stories. I wanted to explore outside the western hegemony of myths and characters. I was the most interested in exploring elements of general Chinese mythology. It’s fascinating to see how differently creatures like dragons are portrayed in other cultures. The research for this project really tapped into my nostalgic love for magic. I got to rediscover dragons and unicorns.

ERICKA NGUYEN

“Minimalism is overrated.” says I. My art practice stands as a testament to a diverse range of skills—from character design and digital illustration to graphic design and website development. Crafted for the dynamic teen spirit, ‘The Fluff and the Furious’ (FnF) is a kaleidoscope of fun, color, and vibrancy, interspersed with unexpected moments of gravity. With anthropomorphic characters that evoke ‘90s nostalgia and a style that fuses anime with American animation, it represents my personal journey across cultures. FnF transcends the concept of a mere comic book; it’s an immersive experience tailored for the tech-savvy generation. From an interactive website to captivating merchandise, embark on an adventure where the furious fluff meets digital rebellion!

ERIK YUILL

When I was 6 years old Optimus Prime told me to watch Gundam, so I did. Growing up in the early 2000s exposed me to a massive amount of Japanese media. After school Toonami played Gundam, while the movie theater had a Marvel vs Capcom 2 machine.Fighting games and anime grabbed my attention and never let go. My brain is stuffed with robots, power armor, and super moves. The explosions and motion got me in, but all these years later it’s the depth of the messages these stories tell that keeps me here. I design and animate 2D characters that lead action packed, dramatic lives set in science fiction worlds. A fantasy story with elves, cat people, and magical prophesies, but with a 1970’s flare in both visual and political elements. Or a space courier traipsing around the galaxy while blasting dance music riding on his flying surfboard.

GABRIEL BROADWATER

JANIYA FOREMAN

As a multi-disciplined artist, I am fascinated by the intricacy of human experiences. Through my work, I seek to translate the raw essence of emotions into tangible forms, capturing the moments that define our existence. Whether through traditional or digital mediums, I strive to evoke a visceral composition that resonates with the viewer’s own journey. Each abstracted form, color and line serves as expression, inviting contemplation and introspection into the depths of the human spirit. My primary pursuit is to explore the multifaceted dimensions of our mind, body and spirit. I believe that within everyone lies deep emotions, memories, and perceptions waiting to be unveiled and understood. My installation serves as a conduit for connection, inviting the viewer to immerge themselves in a space for reflection and introspection. Through the lens of art, I hope to foster empathy, understanding, and connection, ultimately enriching our experience of what it means to be human.

LUNA NOVARA

My animation Pain By Numbers is about my emotional and mental state from the past year or so of my life. To communicate conflicting thoughts and parts of my identity, the character in the animation morphs between four distinct forms who all have their own unique approach to coping with existence. The animation exhibits my frustrations regarding existentialism, selfdestruction, art institutions, manic obsession, internet culture, and self-objectification. I am passionate about heavily textured experimental digital art, especially that of other young artists who have grown up around obscure internet subcultures. Rather than a specific moral or a meaning that I am hoping for anyone to get out of this work, I am hoping that people who feel similarly to me about life will feel seen or understood by it. In return, I get to feel seen and understood by them.

MEGAN LOPUS

My short film “Work of Art” is about struggling with artist block, procrastination, and the invisible labor of generating creativity. As a person with ADHD, I am constantly trying to find the balance between productivity and my own mental wellbeing. Often it feels as if there is never enough time for both in my life. Lately, when I get frustrated or stuck in my work, I will go on walks to ground myself. In doing so, I’m often reminded just how much beauty is in the world around me. My goal is to create relatable and enjoyable content through 2D hand drawn animation. I enjoy working with bold, smooth lines, vivid colors, and high contrast. I enjoy the practice of hand drawn animation because the only limitations to what I can create are my own two hands. In that way, I can let my imagination run wild.

PARKER KEISLING

As a digital artist, I’m constantly drawn to my screen, creating worlds that blur the lines between 2D and 3D mediums. Using programs like Blender 3D and Clip Studio Paint, I craft images and videos, often with comedic, yet sad, themes layered with my hyper-interests and personality. My passion lies in character-driven storytelling through digital animation, alongside the entire process breakdown. Inspired by my identity as a Non-Binary Half-Nicaragüense American, I aim to share my experiences and reach a global audience. With franchises like Star Wars and shows like ‘Smiling Friends’ and ‘The Amazing World of Gumball,’ I engrave that into my creative process. Having lived a bi-coastal life, I understand the struggles of isolation and self-identification and finding comfort in the digital art world. My ultimate goal is to create work that resonates with others, bridging the gap between my distant family and myself through my creations.

RYAN YEARICK

My work includes digital illustration and sculpture, but working with miniatures and dioramas is where I thrive. For this piece, I decided to take a myth from Arthurian legend that’s less known than others and adapt it to this format: The Fisher King. In short, it’s a tale of an old king who is the last to guard the Holy Grail, more dour than others from the Round Table, with the injured king waiting for a hero knight to arrive and save his kingdom. My work tends to have a grim style, echoing the atmosphere of the original tale. I achieve this by using muted colors, contrasting shadows and highlights, and a rough painting style. Creating the story in a diorama format forces the viewer to have a more personal experience with the piece. Through this diorama, I hope to immerse viewers in this somber tale through my similar style.

SARA STANLEY

I believe that everything in this universe happens for a reason and that everyone is interconnected in one way or another. This idea presents itself in my work through inspiration from my own experiences in life, both the good and the bad. My art is a combination of the gut-wrenching human experience and the feeling that things can always get better. My animation Succumb is the epitome of how every event you experience, from huge life changes to the smallest instance can affect you and wear you down over time. Through Succumb, I have portrayed the effects of too much negativity and the outcome where the individual gets consumed by it.

SYDNEY HOTCHKISS

I often find it hard to express myself through words, so I use art as my outlet. Art is important in my life because it allows me to be heard without sacrificing my anonymity. I enjoy creating figurative paintings with a twist of abstraction to convey a multi-layered meaning. I paint abstract forms, corrupted by their emotions, expressed by body language and color theory to convey this destruction. Nothing Left, showcases the feelings of emptiness and grief after losing someone. Art like this visually communicates what I find hard to put into words. This art is very personal to me, as the only reference for the subjects is myself, but the faces are obscured in a way in which anyone can see themselves in these figures. I want to provide a place of comfortable vulnerability within my work. I hope my legacy will be one that lets people feel seen.

TYLER OGLESBY

I believe that everything in this universe happens for a reason and that everyone is interconnected in one way or another. This idea presents itself in my work through inspiration from my own experiences in life, both the good and the bad. My art is a combination of the gut-wrenching human experience and the feeling that things can always get better. My animation Succumb is the epitome of how every event you experience, from huge life changes to the smallest instance can affect you and wear you down over time. Through Succumb, I have portrayed the effects of too much negativity and the outcome where the individual gets consumed by it.

VANESSA DAELEMANS

I’ve always been visually oriented: a visual thinker, learner, and of course, an artist. While I typically stay within my comfort zone of character animation, illustration, and world building, recently I’ve started to visualize my inner world rather than inventing new ones. “The Other Face” – based on a series of sequential illustrations by the same name – explores my experience with mental health, particularly dissociation – the feeling of being disconnected from reality. While illustrating the series I found myself picturing it in motion, and I knew it had to be animated. The body language, environment, and line quality are all brought to life by frame animation in ways that static images cannot. Even the ever changing colors of the background, reminiscent of impressionist paintings, create movement and energy. Each of these elements seek to portray the dreamlike, semi-surreal experience of dissociation in all of its pain, beauty, and complexity.

ANNA-SEWELL KILLINGSTAD

Theya is a platform in the form of a print magazine collection, offering inspiration, self-expression, and joy to marginalized young adults from the ages of 18 to late 20s in the form of photography, writing, and design. It is a conceptual series, this is the first issue, focusing mainly on queerness, blackness, femininity, and growing older. For marginalized youth specifically, I think people often forget that we are more than the injustices we face, contrary to what mainstream media highlights. We have passions, hobbies, and interest. We love, we create, and we’re analytics. Theya reads as a collective community diary, documenting and celebrating the lives of young adults.

CHRISTOPHER MBAH

Every great campaign has a face. Something for people to attach themselves to, hang banners all over and outside of their homes, and show up to bars and argue back and forth for hours on end. The culture and team identity is encapsulated in the franchise’s visual oneness, and in a reciprocal nature, they sometimes influence each other.

Baltimore is one of the few major cities in the US that doesn’t yet have an NBA team representing them. The Baltimore Corsairs are born from the city’s deep history as a port city and its involvement in the War of 1812, in which Baltimorean privateers (essentially pirates supported by the U.S. government) played a decisive role in winning the war.

Designing a franchise from the ground up gives me the opportunity to work with two of my biggest passions of graphic design and sports to create branding for a team that is substantiated with the rich history and culture of the city of Baltimore.

ELEANOR DAVIS

In my work Beyond the Labels, I explored the relationship between societal constructs of gender roles and stereotypes, specifically those shown in advertisements of the 1950s. My work comments on the general sexism that was engrained in the culture during that era and how it still influences society today. Through my work, I wanted to challenge these outdated roles by incorporating satire and symbolism. I want to depict to viewers the ridiculous expectations that these advertisements and gender stereotypes continue to have on women. By taking inspiration from the Pop Art movement, I created my illustrations digitally and then screenprinted the imagery to imitate the advertisements from the 1950s.

ELIZABETH MCFADDEN

With Ringos, I invite you to express yourself with sustainable style, preserving the past while embracing the timelessness of retro-inspired jewelry. My mission was to transform antique spoons into unique rings, giving a new life to forgotten treasures. Inspired by the 70s era, Ringos embraces psychedelic, groovy and retro influences, giving each piece a nostalgic charm. The decision to use polaroids and film inspired digitals for the advertisements underscores the commitment to a hands-on, authentic approach, capturing the essence of an era of genuine craftsmanship. While creating this project, I was inspired by Ringo Starr, the Beatles drummer known for his distinctive jewelry style. Ringo’s passion for wearing unique rings is a testament to self-expression and individuality; values that I wanted to represent in these designs. Overall, this brand is a blend of sustainability, creativity and retro aesthetics.

EVANTHIA KAMINARIS

I’ve always been fascinated by the sports world, especially their rich histories. Growing up in a family with strong ties to Baltimore, the Baltimore Orioles have been more than just a baseball team; they are an integral part of our collective identity. In my painting, I aim to capture the Orioles’ history through the lens of a timeline in collage form. From historic victories to the dedicated players who have left a mark on the franchise. In the past months, I have spent hundreds of hours researching Baltimore Orioles baseball through books and articles. I pinpointed important moments, and chose corresponding images that have essence of both fan and player emotions. Next, I meticulously cut out each player or moment and stitched them together using Adobe Photoshop to make a historical collage. And, finally over the past months, I painted this collage on 7 by 5 foot duck cloth canvas.

JACOB ELLIOTT

As a graphic designer, it is important to specialize in one skill and be good at many others. However, design is more than having technical skills and making something look pretty; it’s how the designs relate to an audience.

Verna is a streetwear fashion brand with a target audience from ages 18 to 28. They use poplin fabric as their primary material. Poplin is a higher-quality woven cotton created with a horizontal weave that makes it much smoother, more comfortable, and just as durable. The brand utilizes a trending design style called Maximalism. Maximalism uses varying visual elements, such as textures, shapes, and a vibrant color scheme. These elements gain and retain the audience’s attention, creating returning clients. The final project consists of three shirt designs, and a fully developed website featuring photos and a video, shot, and edited by yours truly.

KELLY WANG

7Slimes is a business that releases a new collection of seven slimes per week. Each set focuses on a theme, for the purpose of this project I am only focusing on one theme which is beverages. There are seven containers of “flavored” slime stacked up in a pyramid. Alongside is a box containing seven empty containers along with miscellaneous items as a representation of how an order would be packaged. This collection includes the flavors: Sweet Strawberry Milk, Whipped Orange Creamsicle, Sour Lemon Crush, Tangy Lime Magarita, Fizzy Ramune Soda, Jelly Grape Crush and Crazy Citrus Craze. These slimes come in various textures including: glossy, jelly, clear, butter, and slush slime. Our mascot Bloobie the Slime Blob is an adorable pudgy purple slime that everyone absolutely adores. This slime set is catered towards people of all ages and provides a fun sensory experience!

NINA CAJIC

In my project, I aim to spotlight the often overlooked, yet remarkable and interesting stories of women in sports. Focusing on volleyball, tennis, and swimming. I got three of my friends I met while being in Towson to share their stories and talk about not only the highs but also the lows and struggles of being a female student-athlete. To showcase the strength, resilience, and determination of women in sports, I am highlighting their achievements both on and off the court by telling their stories. My goal is to spark a conversation, get you thinking outside of what you already know, and celebrate the diversity of women’s experiences in sports. This project is a tribute to Aayinde, Lea, Tiffany, and all those women who wanted to tell their stories but never had the words or voices loud and proud enough to say anything.

RAINA IBRAHIM

Is Water Wet? is a card game designed to create fiery conversation and arguments between friends with pointless, silly debate topics.

Many people have frequent pointless arguments on the internet, but it can quickly become toxic and stale behind screens and usernames. This game was created to replicate that energy in a fun, harmless way in real life. This game challenges you to properly verbalize your opinion and successfully argue unnecessary and hilarious points within a given time limit. The questions for the game were collected and pulled from various internet threads and discussions that sparked the most debates between strangers online. This game is a fun new way for young people to reconnect with their peers face to face again, and learn things about each other.

SAFIYAH ADAM

What can it look like when you start to view things from a different perspective? It’s easy to get stuck in a mindset where you look at something in the same way for a long period of time. I created a piece that reminds people that things aren’t always how they seem. I made a website for photos that I took of household objects from unique angles to show how different they can look under certain circumstances. I wanted the website to serve as a digital gallery for the photos, and for it to be designed in a way that was different from the traditional photo grid that’s usually used for displaying photos on a site. Color is also an important part of this piece because it helps the viewer see these objects in a different light. At its core, this piece is a testament to the power of shifting perspectives and embracing the beauty in things.

TAYLOR RARIG

As the creator of the Social Media Survival Guide my journey is intertwined with my younger sister’s navigation of social media. I felt a sense of responsibility inspiring me to address the pressing challenges faced by preteen girls as digital natives. Every decision in the creation process, from selecting topics to shaping the content’s tone, is guided by a desire to contribute meaningfully to the mental resilience and empowerment of young girls. This project is an artistic expression of care and concern, reflecting my decision to provide resources, insights, and support tailored to the unique journey of my sister and her peers. The Social Media Survival Guide serves as a beacon of support, shaping a safer, more positive online space where the younger generation can embark on their digital journeys with resilience, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

COURTNEY GEHR

As an artist who loves comics and storytelling, I finally made this piece to take the plunge myself. These characters are a family I’ve been developing for many years, and it’s been surreal to see them finally come to life. In my work, I like to use vibrant colors and promote diversity and mental health, and I will continue this path in my subsequent pieces. This project taught me much about the comicmaking process, lighting, and color, and I can’t wait to continue learning in the future. I want to also give credit to Shea Thayer for designing the mother of this family and supporting me through this process. Lastly, thank you to all my family, friends, professors, and peers for believing in me and pushing me to keep growing and learning each year. I couldn’t have gotten here without you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

CITLALLI ISLAS

Mi cultura has often been a source of inspiration for my colorful life. As a 1st gen Mexican-American I often find myself incorporating specific details of Mexico in my art as a way to learn more about my origins and to spread my love and appreciation to my heritage. There is this fun energy that I like to portray through line work and abstract shapes to portray the noises, colors, and emotions. I utilize fun and dynamic lines/shapes with a bright color palette to capture this. I chose to draw about my first time visiting Mexico and how I found my love and passion for Mexican folk dancing. I am a part of a dance group called Bailes de mi Tierra and through them I’ve been able to reconnect with my culture to which I’m eternally grateful for.

EM ANCHECTA

Music has been so important to me throughout my life. It’s always been something that I surround myself with and this project just highlights a FEW of the thousands of songs that have stuck with me throughout the years. They are: -”Broken Home” by 5 Seconds of Summer” This was the song that played through some really dark times when I was younger. -They Don’t Know About Us” by One Direction Despite this song being a love song, I always viewed it as a song that resonated with having to hide myself. -”She’s So Gone” by Naomi Scott (Lemonade Mouth Soundtrack) Such an empowering song that just makes me feel like I can do it all -”Champagne Clouds” by Malia Civetz This song was playing when I had my first kiss, very special moment.

SILAS BOLD

Within my work I explore various topics regarding memory and nostalgia. Much of my work is a personal reflection on my own upbringing, as a way to process topics that I did not have a chance to as a child.

JONATHAN DELA PAZ

In an era of exploration spurred by war reconstruction, two teenagers try to prove themselves as explorers as they enter a mysterious dungeon.

This is a comic I drafted the summer of ‘23 as a prototype for a series I wanna write. Two teens enter a dungeon to prove themselves as adventurers.

JORDAN PAUL

Everyone’s thought about what it would be like to be an animated character, right? I certainly have, enough to make it a reality! My Super Awesome Motion Capture Model lets people experience being animated in real time! By illustrating the character in separated pieces, I can move them around each other and assign what they’re supposed to look like during a particular action—like when the head turns side to side. When you pair that with a camera that can detect the facial movements of the viewer, the character knows how to mirror their actions by referencing what it’s been told that those action looks like. This can sometimes be a tedious, lengthy process but it’s worth it for a piece that can reflect people’s smiles back to them!

JUSTIN ZHAO

I never had an appreciation of my own culture growing up. The comics I read and the cartoons I watched never had a reflection of myself. With Portrait of Heaven, I want to create a world for fellow Chinese Americans to find themselves in and love their own rich culture.

KATE KUC

Leaning into playful color palletes, energetic abstracted forms, and comforting representational imagery, I create space for psychological processing to honor connection with self, others, and the space around me. I allow my abstract oil paintings and representational illustration work to inspire each other which helps strengthen my curiosity, wonder, and acceptance of the human experience.

KAELAN SPEIRS

For this illustration, I am working with expanding my environmental work. I am influenced by east Asian architecture & culture and combining it with a fantasy twist. Since I was younger, I was always influenced and drawn to fantasy animation and books. Along with the movie production of Studio Ghibli. I hope to explore and learn more about environmental art.

LEONA MONTVILLO

This series is a reflection on the fixation of personal connection I have, my ineptitude around socialization, and the inner conflict I feel stemming from the two that I can’t articulate. It’s an attempt to convey myself and feel closer to the people who might see it but at the same time, it’s a tangle of words and thoughts that pushes them away.

SONATA ALLEN

Flower Boyz Hangout! takes on the style of an early 2000s flash game to tell the story of four friends that call themselves the Flower Boyz. Focusing on the literal flower boy himself, Felix, the video starts off innocent, but gradually delves into horror as Felix’s insecurities and fears about growing up and his friends leaving him behind grow stronger. This video uses a nostalgic medium to also show the darker side of nostalgia itself and how we often cling so desperately to the past that we’re willing to abandon the present in pursuit of an idealized, bygone era.

VINZE PAUL LAURDEN

Flower Boyz Hangout! takes on the style of an early 2000s flash game to tell the story of four friends that call themselves the Flower Boyz. Focusing on the literal flower boy himself, Felix, the video starts off innocent, but gradually delves into horror as Felix’s insecurities and fears about growing up and his friends leaving him behind grow stronger. This video uses a nostalgic medium to also show the darker side of nostalgia itself and how we often cling so desperately to the past that we’re willing to abandon the present in pursuit of an idealized, bygone era.

VALERIJA NAUMOVA

“His desire for loyalty was naive, he hadn’t understood that being loyal wasn’t so tidy, being loyal means being disloyal to everything else,” wrote Clarice Lispector, but if I am naive, then isn’t it the essence of loyalty, choose one over all? What is the irony? — the moment when the one you are loyal to will make a mistake.

ALLISON HOPKINS

I create prints that explore classical narratives in a contemporary way. This body of work consists of linocut prints depicting the modern mythos of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth to explore religion’s impact on historic iconographic creation. I reference historical modes of visual language in these illustrations as a way of emphasizing the communication and glorification of important religious events. These linoleum carvings utilize Tolkien’s creation story of the Dwarves, influenced by Abrahamic tradition to explore this idea. I have imagined that the Dwarves have a geometric, abstract art style based on their history and culture, so I use linoleum block printing to simulate that approach. I carve my designs from linoleum as a modern method of stone relief, and as a representation of Tolkien’s written description of the Dwarves as stubborn, unyielding, and enduring. Stylistically, the prints contain blocky shapes and straight lines to mimic the strong unyielding nature of stone.

EMILY SETH

Growing up is something that everyone does at some point. However, growing up does not always have to mean letting go. Growing up undiagnosed neurodivergent, people were constantly telling me to let go of my childishness, my enthusiasm, and my creativity. This collection of pieces, Grown-Ups Forget, is the start of what I would one day like to turn into a book: a story about color, and life, and relearning to see the color that was stripped of us growing up. Follow the Grey family- exhausted but loving mother Rory, strict but stressed father Viktor, and little chaotic but creative Skyler- as a child teaches their parents for a change. Sometimes, you just need to look at a mess from a different angle in order to see a masterpiece.

KELLAN MARRIOTT

I’m an Asian American oil painter who makes photorealistic oil paintings depicting fabricated scenarios of people in precarious situations. These compositions are based off of reference photos I have taken from fabricated scenarios meant to symbolize mutually shared issues that we all face as humans. These constructed compositions capture intimate moments of individuals in utter despair from predicaments arising from the structural failures of society. This concept expresses my own perception in how our societal structures are destroying our individualism. My work is also meant to symbolize how we as humans must embody the qualities of resilience and perseverance to prosper within the boundaries of these inequitable systems. In my most recent work, I’ve become more introspective, addressing my own precarious situation as an artist within a society that consumes art without seeking to adequately support artists.

KELLY BOYER

My latest collection takes the viewer through a rollercoaster of emotions that reflects what it is like to do something scary on your own. In January of 2024, I studied abroad through an out of school program by myself. I don’t know why I was so confident it would be easy, but it was overwhelming to say the least. The biggest thing to remember is that you are not alone in your emotions. My artwork is of different medias. Some showing the views and scenery seen on my trip and then sculptural works to show the emotions felt when abroad. These types of art will be intertwined in one big display. It will be hard to take in and hard to enjoy at first, but the more you look at it the more the detail and beauty will stand out. This is exactly how the trip felt. Overwhelming until I had time to breath and really take in the views.

KELLY HALL

My work features a developing visual language that engages viewers on an intensely optical, physical, and psychological level. I explore the complex emotional and physical feelings that stem from living with eczema by utilizing a varied combination of vibrant, fluorescent, neon colors with paint, patterns, and texture. This highly visual and playful color placement, as well as slightly uneven patterning, creates a unique dichotomy in the viewing experience. What results is a reaction that places a physical strain on the eyes when viewing the work, while still engaging the audience in a way that makes it difficult to look away. This phenomenon is similar to personal experiences in being unable to disengage both visually and physically from an eczema flareup. The ringing sensation from the resulting visual stimulation creates a challenging perspective that mimics the burning and obsessive sensations while battling eczema symptoms.

LAUREN POLLOCK

In my body of artwork, I use acrylic, desaturated, cool colors, so then that it is well incorporated in the use of fabric as well as let the fabric come through the paintings more. The reason I am working on fabric is to incorporate the idea of the fabrication of fantasy, being able to transport it to a world for it to be easily removed. It is also excellent for the large size I have decided to do my paintings, my first being 60 x 58 inches. This emphasizes the idea of being able to walk into the fantasy world shown. I focus mostly on fantastical scenes to paint, because of my history of using escapism as a coping mechanism, reading fantasy books to escape from the real world. My goal is for the audience to want to go into these mystical worlds and feel as if they are indeed portals to them.

MORGAN HAY

Majoring in psychology as well as art has allowed me to have a creative and a humanistic viewpoint on the work I create. Through acrylic and oil mediums, I enjoy creating scenarios that are typically outside the realm of what we view possible. Whether it be with characters I have created or retellings of my own experiences, I would like my audience to think about why these scenarios do not make sense in the natural world and how we can attach these complex emotions of the human experience to other creatures as well.

OLIVIA COULSON

My oil paintings explore the concept of feminine rage in its extreme. Each of these paintings are bright and contain varying amounts of reds, which aid in depicting strong amounts of rage. These reds will be subtle in some paintings, while more prominent in others. Most pieces will also take inspiration from previous art historical paintings/scuptures, twisting their narratives to depict feminine rage. By exploring feminine rage through oil painting, it will allow the audience to experience these emotions in a unique way, and to better understand how men feel in terms of their mistreatment. Depicting it in its extreme draws the viewers attention the subject, creating a lasting affect and allowing the viewer to experience women’s rage in all of its rawness.

PARIS MARINO

Majoring in psychology as well as art has allowed me to have a creative and a humanistic viewpoint on the work I create. Through acrylic and oil mediums, I enjoy creating scenarios that are typically outside the realm of what we view possible. Whether it be with characters I have created or retellings of my own experiences, I would like my audience to think about why these scenarios do not make sense in the natural world and how we can attach these complex emotions of the human experience to other creatures as well.

SIERRA LOLA

SYDNEY DESIMONE

I am a painter from New Jersey based in Maryland who has been creating art ever since I could grasp a pencil. I like to experiment with many mediums including found objects, watercolor, acrylic, wood, silk screen, and more, but my main focus is on oil painting. I find joy in painting things that bring me comfort, and I find lots of comfort in my past and in the people I love. My art reflects this; most of my subject matter is people close to me or of locations or objects that bring me a sense of longing and nostalgia. I aim for my viewers to feel transported to the exact moment I choose to portray in my paintings, and hopefully they experience the same emotions I experienced at that same moment in time.

PHOTOGRAPHY

GRAPHY

TEDDY OKERSON

In the kaleidoscope of life, I am a storyteller with a lens, capturing the symphony of everyday smiles and moments that define the human experience. My journey as a photographer began in the vibrant landscapes of Liberia, West Africa, where the sun painted golden hues on the faces of people whose stories begged to be told. From the outset, my lens became a bridge connecting the tapestry of my childhood daydreams to the tangible reality of freezing those moments of happiness. With over four years of honing my editing skills and two years of navigating the intricate dance between light and shadow, I have found my passion in outdoor portraits. As a rising freelance photographer, each snapshot is a testament to the blend of culture and individuality that defines the people I encounter. Beyond the technicalities of photography, I am a curator of emotions, shaping narratives that resonate with authenticity. In this semester of exploration, I have delved deeper into the artistry of outdoor portraits, experimenting with perspectives that push the boundaries of conventional frames.

LOGAN SCHOOLEY

WALTER SOSA

Walter, a DMV native and first-generation American of Guatemalan descent, weaves narratives through his photography, revealing his cultural roots and the stories of others. His images celebrate the resilience and vibrancy of Guatemala, reflecting its rich tapestry of traditions amidst historical challenges. Through his lens, Walter honors the people and spaces that shape his identity, capturing the essence of Guatemalan life with authenticity and depth.

ARIEL TUGADO

This series covers the concept of physical liminal spaces through the means of photography. My interest in liminal spaces was recently piqued due to my own mixed feelings about graduating college soon. With that, I took a dive into learning what defines a liminal space. After this research, I decided to take this knowledge and translate it into a collection of photos. I create my work by looking for transitional periods in life. This can include the changes in seasons, weather, time, and busyness in a space. Once I find a scene that appeals to me I tend to take a far out shot as the large area helps create that liminal space feeling. After that, I take the photo into photoshop and remove unnecessary objects in order to further shape my liminal space narrative.

Art + Design, Art History, Art Education