USF's College of The Arts
Senior Thesis Exhibition
of 2023
When:
Opening Reception:
Friday, April 14th
6:00 - 8:00 pmClosing Reception:
Friday, April 28th
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Where:
Carolyn M. Wilson Gallery
3801 USF Holly Dr.
Tampa, FL 33620
Gallery Hours:
Monday - Thursday
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Artists:
Friday, April 14th - 19th
Friday, April 24th - 28th
Adriana Uruena Vargas
Adriana is a photographer who uses a blend of technical skills and an artistic eye to create memorable images. Adriana Often uses projection art in her work, which allows her to incorporate memories and experiences into her photographs. Her work explores themes of femininity, the relationship between humans and nature, and personal spaces. Adriana wants her art to elicit a reaction from viewers and make them question their surroundings. Adrian believes that photography can be more than just a record of reality; it can be a powerful tool for self-expression and social change.
Adriana Uruena Vargas
I am a photographer with a blend of technical skills and an artistic eye to create memories. In my work, I use projection art and I include memories and experiences in my images. My photographs are about femininity, the relationship we have with nature, and our personal spaces. With my art, I want to get a reaction from the viewers and make them question their surroundings. I believe photography should surpass itself and its medium, to have its own impact on the viewers.I adapt my photography to each project’s demands using a DSLR camera, tripod, flash, color gel for flash, and a projector. To capture memories with models in the studio, I use backdrops and different flashes. I draw inspiration from legendary photographers such as John French and Claude Cahun. French was gifted at projecting the illusion of texture and patterns onto his models using light. Cahun's pioneering self- expression through self-portraits captures femininity, identity, emotion, and memories.
In my series, Bedrooms and Gardens, I used French’s projection art and transformed a gardens and a bedrooms. This allowed me to create an illusion of idealized spaces and represent our interaction with nature.My images explore the often-overlooked challenges of caring for those with memory loss. Using Lumen prints, I highlight how these diseases deteriorate memories. Lumen images are continue fading over time, creating a sense of loss throughout my exhibition. My series emphasizes the importance of learning and losing the fear about neurodegenerative disorders and empathizing with members and caregivers.
Adriana Uruena Vargas
Fading Memories, 2023
Gelatin Silver Print
11"x14"
Illustrating the delicate state of our memories and how they fade away using unfix
lumen prints.
Fading Memories, 2023
Archival Inkjet paper
24"x16"
Alexus Oehler
Alexus Oehler is an animator and illustrator. Growing up, they took inspiration from the cartoons they saw on tv and decided to take the long, tedious journey of artistic development and eventually pursue a career in the animation industry. Hoping to make cartoons of their very own one day...
Alexus Oehler
I am an animator. The medium of animation compelled me more than drawing because of the rewarding results after finishing a time-consuming project, seeing the characters I created move on a screen, bringing my creations to life like actors in a play. Over the years of watching these shows and seeing the art, I got inspired to start creating my own stories. Much of my own style derives from shows I use to watch as a kid and even now as an adult, especially early 2000’s cartoons that are stylistically sharper like Dexter’s Lab and The Powerpuff Girls.Digital programs such as Toon Boom, Procreate and various Adobe software’s are what I regularly use in my animation process. In these projects, much of the time is made up of creating the puppet than animating. This includes creating the puppets assets, all the little pieces like hands, forearm and upper arm that make the whole arm piece. The second portion of building a character is working with the nodes, essentially the skeleton of every Toon Boom puppet and the coding of a character. While it is still time consuming, the projects I have worked on have given me a better understanding of the principles of animation that would previously give me trouble. Applying these principals, I have been able to work much more efficiently.While animation used to have more of a threshold to enter, it is now more accessible than ever with the help of rigged animation. Rigging has allowed for higher quality and quantity output. In my own work, spending hours creating a good rig to be used in a project always leads to better outcomes overall. Besides higher output, I am also able to keep a consistent style throughout all my projects, keeping my work stylistically cohesive.
Alexus Oehler
Spellbound, 2023
Video
Analiese Melendez
Analiese is a Tampa-based artist focusing on installation work and sculptural practices. Their work often explores themes of identity, community, and healing. Analiese’s body of work is made up of mixed medias ranging from woodworking to performance art to digital medias, and an ever expanding array of skills.
Analiese Melendez
My art is a vessel for understanding oneself and the world around us. I create installations using multiple medias, addressing the topics of identity, memories, trauma, healing, and the power of kitschy cuteness and adolescent wonder to talk about difficult topics. I make art to interpret my own experiences and to create a platform for those who can relate to them. By sharing my perspective, I help others who have had to go through similar situations find peace and clarity.Materials that I often use include wood, paint, and found objects and I tend to work with soft sculpture, makeup, and digital medias. My general aesthetic often includes round shapes, bright colors, and florescent materials to create interactive media, approachable to any viewer. One example of a successful piece of mine is Puzzle. I created it when I learned that I am a person with autism and had to recontextualize my lived experiences. I created a large-scale puzzle that was assembled by my peers and upon discussion, someone realized that they faced many of the same challenges I do and were able to pursue their own diagnosis. This piece reflects my earlier point of approachable materials due to the universal understanding of a puzzle mixed with the topic at hand. My art is important because it gives me the chance to communicate with others in a way that transcends my communication skills and allows for personal interpretation.
Analiese Melendez
Living On Purpose, 2023
Celebrating the Choice to Survive and the Power to Overcome
Fabric, XPS foam, acrylic paint, florescent acrylic paint, sand, acrylic orbs, stuffed animal, UV lights, fishing line, an audio file, wood. (90 sqft)
Daksh Kapoor
Daksh Kapoor is an aspiring Video Artist. Originating from India, he makes artwork that is highly based on motion-based live action videos that symbolize the word “Catharsis.” Through his work, he means to broaden this concept of “Catharsis” through portraying his devotion towards dancing.
Daksh Kapoor
My artwork is highly based on various forms of visual and motion arts. Consequently, I have engaged myself in making motion-based live action videos that symbolize the word “Catharsis.” Its literal meaning is an outburst of emotion through the means of performing a specific activity, however, I portray it as a “constant” in peoples’ lives: inseparable. The limitless reach of the word is what fascinates me the most. There is no bound to what can be considered as catharsis. Its meaning is as generic as feeling of happiness yet still complicated due to the boundless interpretations of its connotations.This feeling of catharsis is further implicated in my work through the means of personal experiences. I wish to symbolize not just my imagination but also my unshared individual connections to my “Catharsis”, i.e., Dance. Dancing has been the one and only constant in my life. It is also through dancing that I was able to meet one of the most inspiring people I have ever known: Jet Electus Phoenix. The first person who brought me into a dance organization, he helped me increase my dancing skillset and gave me valuable lessons that defined my personality.His influencing nature combined with my enthusiasm towards dancing has molded my art-making style. My work revolves around my feelings towards dancing and my respect towards Jet. Through my film, I also wish to emphasize the fact that the feeling of “catharsis” could be anything for anyone if it is substantial to them.
Daksh Kapoor
A.D.H.D: Always Damn Hype Dammit (2023)
Video
Denton Shields
Denton Shields
The contact between my medium and the and any surface I can make marks on has always been the driving force behind my work. What I create involves molding my medium to somewhat abstractly depict the symbols and energies that represent the way I have made connections. This comes to fruition in a very manual way that affects the meaning of my art; extending it from a decoration to something that invokes the essence of ‘drawing’ and pushes viewers to question the process and apply it to themselves.This process extends all the way from the destruction of forgotten papers sourced from my family’s past to the pulp I make from it in my studio. I mix and dye the pulp applying it to the surface. My upbringing in the Tampa Bay area has brought me to consider the specificity of the people I have been surrounded by and their affect on me. This compounded by the complicated and beautiful nature of the farms and waters I grew up in. Some work that represents this is a paper pulp piece of two cut out figures suspended over an abstract beach at sunset / sunrise. This piece unpacks the way I experience the night in Florida and the unique ability to view the sun sets over one coast and rises over the opposite, all in one night, through the marks movements and patterns the figures make in contrast to the scene.Having the privilege to explore myself as an artist is important to me and my ability to understand the world around me. I am currently exploring human interactions and bringing insight to how we connect physically, spiritually, and emotionally within the context of my geographical upbringing. Through work like this I will not only be able to better understand myself but will allow audiences to relate and explore their connections with others.
Denton Shields
Animals with Long Tongues like Giraffes 2023
Paper Pulp and Acrylic Dye on Foam Board
Erin Ageeb
Erin Ageeb is a portrait photographer that is also drawn to documentary work, relationships, and expressivity. When she is not photographing relationships she has with friends, family, herself, and other loved ones, she is exploring how to convey emotions with her unique voice. By utilizing multiple techniques such as self-portraits, landscapes, motion blur, and studio space, she can create projects with a wide range of emotion and open interpretation.
Erin Ageeb
I continue electing photography to convey compelling messages for myself and others because it is the medium I feel most free with. Also, it is a form that is extremely accessible and can disperse my work through networks galore. Art is therapy for creators to process, express, visualize, conceptualize, break down, and connect with viewers. Feeling connectedness in these networks is an unparalleled human experience. By creating emotional cryptic projects that revolve around relationships, emotion, and introspection, everyone can find significance.An artist I draw inspiration from for my current work is Roni Horn. She explores the variable nature of art and the cyclical mirror-like relationship between humankind and nature. I have turned to Horn for inspiration as I make my first work that features landscapes and creates images that describe isolation. Loneliness Keeps Change Company exemplifies this as I use space transformation, self-portraiture, and distortion to depict the cycle of loneliness that many people suffer from, which will create a safe space for these people to feel heard. I explore my journey with grief and loneliness that consumes me while trying to still make space for gratitude. The cycle I experience depression to euphoria can be visualized by gravitating towards the power of nature and one of my biggest fears: bodies of water. The parallel of immense beauty in water while there is so much uncertainty and distress within describes my struggle.I began university with my first works of photographic art: documentaries of loved ones and creating familiar places in a new city. I've always developed my concepts to involve myself and involve a tie to relationships, universal experience, distortion, and raw emotion with open interpretation. Even if my introspective refuge moves just one person, the art is worth putting together and sharing. I feel that each work pushes me to tackle my next expressive concept.
Erin Ageeb
Loneliness Keeps Change Company, 2023
Archival Inkjet Paper 20"x30", 28"x42"
“I asked [Grief] what drowning feels like and she said not everything feels like something else” -Unkown
Fenix Lobo
Lobo is a surrealist artist who works with charcoal and soft pastels. Inspired by the chiaroscuro technique from the Baroque period, she combines dream-like imagery with high contrast between light and dark. Her works typically focus on the nightmare aspect of the subconscious and the torment of anxiety; nonetheless, she wants to show the beauty and horror of vulnerability.
Fenix Lobo
As a charcoal artist, I create high-contrast drawings that depict the surrealistic elements of anxiety regarding my personal experiences. Making art about this topic has allowed me to grasp a better understanding of the impact this mental conflict can have on an individual's growth and relationships with other people. I reflect on the sensations that terrorize me the most so I may draw them and face them in the process. I would like to share these stories so that those who see my artwork can evaluate the beauty and horror of vulnerability.I have found that charcoal is an effective medium to express both the extremity and subtleness of emotional responses that derive from mental battles through its range of light and dark values. My compositions vary depending on the perspective of my audience; however, all of my pieces contain traditional and surrealistic qualities. My dreams influence my work due to their vivid imagery, most of which reflect on my inner fears. I make my art to achieve closure with my past and open new possibilities for me to move forward. I hope to offer a connection with others so that they can also accept what they are going through in their lives and utilize it to
grow.
Fenix Lobo
Dead Meat (2023)
Charcoal, soft pastels, kraft paper, cardboard.
Gia Davila
Gia Davila
Coming Soon!
Gia Davila
Self Portrait (2023)
Oil on Canvas and Wood
Izzy Zayas
Isabella Zayas, or Izzy for short, is a studio art major with a concentration in photography at the University of South Florida. She will be graduating in May 2023 to complete her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree with the intent to find a job in the photography field. She is an artist and photographer working in digital, analog, and alternative process photography while occasionally intertwining sculpture. Isabella makes silver gelatin prints, archival inkjet prints, lumen prints, and cyanotypes. She makes sculptures from metal and wood. Her work explores the nature around us, personal experiences, and any form of growth, in us or in nature but she will always love photographing anything that catches the eye. Isabella finds joy in photography because she has the ability to capture a variety of moments and use a variety of materials to achieve her desired outcome. She believes in becoming the storyteller of the world around and are granted the power for others to see it through my eyes. Isabella’s photographs have been in five art shows, four at USF and one at the Morean Arts Center.
Izzy Zayas
Coming Soon!
Izzy Zayas
Sunflowers For Papi, 2023
Archival inkjet prints, lumen prints, cyanotypes. Various sizes ranging from 4"x5"-32"x44"
Jessica Mockapetris
Hello, I'm Jessica Mockapetris, a 23-year-old artist who began my creative journey with digital art and later developed a passion for oil painting during my college years. I use the latest technology to inspire and create my artwork, blending traditional and modern techniques to achieve unique and captivating results. Growing up as an only child in Massachusetts and North Carolina, and now living in Florida since 2017, I draw inspiration from my personal experiences and introspection to create art that reflects my inner self. Painting allows me to express my emotions and experiences in a way that words cannot describe. In the future, I aspire to teach art, travel abroad, and pursue a master's degree within the next three years.
Jessica Mockapetris
I am an artist that uses art to make sense of the world around me and process things that have happened to me, most recently in a humorous way. I feel that painting is very healing for me and allows me to take something more negative and turn it around and make sense of It in a more positive way.I have produced a wide array of artistic works across various media, including digital media, charcoal drawings, and mixed media. Presently, my artistic pursuits have focused on experimenting with oil painting over a diverse range of substrates. I draw inspiration from other artists such as Lisa Yuskavage, whose use of color and subject matter greatly resonates with me. My works are characterized by their introspective nature, seeking inspiration from the imagination and past experiences to create visual landscapes of daydreams and memories, each articulated through the human figure. In my most recent artworks, I have incorporated humor as a means of conveying my message. In my most recent work, I have drawn inspiration from the symbolism of trucks, which are often associated with concepts such as masculinity and freedom and utilized these associations to generate comedic effect. By employing humor, I aim to engage the viewer in a more lighthearted and approachable manner, while still conveying a deeper meaning. Emphasizing color and seamless transitions, I employ texture and brushstroke to generate works that vigorously convey their themes and moods to the viewer.For me, art is a way to express myself and connect with others on a deeper level. Through my work, I hope to inspire others to embrace their individuality and find the beauty in imperfection. My current projects include a series of paintings exploring the relationship between humor and healing. I believe that art has the power to inspire and uplift, and I am passionate about creating
work that resonates with others and brings joy to their lives. My hope is that my art will not only be interesting and visually appealing, but also make a meaningful impact on those who experience it.
Jessica Mockapetris
My Inner Demon is a Hello Kitty truck, 2023
oil paint 36"x48"
MotherTrucker, 2023
oil paint 60"x72"
Insane Truck Posse, 2023
oil paint 41"x42"
Jonix Granado
Jonix is a Puerto Rican artist with a focus in portrait photography! The work he makes now is influenced by past experiences and by other entities such as gender euphoria, complex love, emotional wildfires, etc. One of his recent explorations focuses on toxic masculinity and how it affects men that lean towards a more feminine-coded personality. These conditionings have affected his own life, and thus the images he constructs capture that vulnerability as well. He creates photographs that allow visual expression during moments of human intimacy which may often be invalidated.
Jonix Granado
As an artist, I strive to embody a piece of myself in every photograph I create with self-reflection at the core of my creative process. The motivation comes from personal experiences that I can visually narrate through either photography or sculpture. Most of my topics discover that I am human with tons of emotions, like belonging to a constant expression of my feelings and experiences. This leads to me creating work that represents how I make myself feel and/or how others around me make me feel.I mostly focus on doing film photography, documenting human interaction and human emotion. As for influences, my grandma is my biggest inspiration and motivation. When I create art today it’s like going back in time to little Jonix feeling special while painting a little hat with my grandma. For my process, I like to write out all my thoughts in my journal as I ask myself “What is in me that I would like to give the microphone to?”. From there I brainstorm events or traumas that changed my way of being at any point in my life. In this piece, “the daytime owl and its sweat falling onto my ears”, I take us back to around the time I painted that little hat. A time when I was struggling with being self-conscious of my body image. In this series you can see as I stretch out that confidence I crumpled and put away for so long, now embracing what I was once embarrassed about. The dirty shirts in the dresser make a reference to the sweat stains I left on my middle school uniform shirts, which I was bullied for since the other boys didn’t have sweat stains on our sleeves as I did.When I create art, I like to think I do it for my grandma and hope that she will enjoy my work. The goal has become to make my projects as emotional as possible, and this became important to me when I discovered I can use my art to navigate through my inner feelings until reaching a point of healing. What matters to me the most is creating photographs that allow visual expression during moments of human intimacy which may often be invalidated.
Jonix Granado
the daytime owl and its sweat falling onto my ears, 2023
Archival inkjet prints / Wooden dresser and stained shirts
Karim Mossad
Karim Mossad is a 3D animator and world builder with a passion for bringing characters and stories to life. With years of experience in the field, Karim has honed their craft to create dynamic, visually stunning animations that capture the imagination and tell compelling stories.Drawing on a deep well of creativity and technical expertise, Karim is able to craft intricate, detailed worlds that are filled with nuance, emotion, and a sense of wonder. Whether it's through the creation of memorable characters, realistic environments, or stunning visual effects, Karim has a gift for transporting viewers to other worlds and immersing them in rich, imaginative narratives.
Karim Mossad
As an artist, I see myself as a storyteller who seeks to capture the essence of the human experience through my art. I primarily create works that incorporate a variety of 3D models and scans of found objects. My art is driven by a desire to express emotions and explore the complexities of the world around me. My core belief as an artist is that art should be a reflection of the world we live in and should serve as a means of connecting people to each other and to the world around them.My work often incorporates modeling, drawing, and painting techniques. I draw inspiration from artists like Clint Jones and Arran Baker, whose use of mixed media and storytelling continues to influence my work. I'm also inspired by the concept of Wabi-Sabi, the
Japanese philosophy of embracing imperfection, which I often incorporate into my pieces. For example, my piece "The Journey Home" is a work that features a map of a city layered over a painted background. The piece is meant to evoke feelings of nostalgia and a sense of longing for a place to call home, by having a detailed map over a colorful painted abstract background I hope to invite the audience to feel the connection I felt towards home.My work is important because it allows me to connect with others through shared experiences and emotions. I believe that art has the power to inspire change and to make the world a more compassionate and understanding place. By sharing my own experiences and emotions through my art, I hope to promote a greater sense of connection among people.
Karim Mossad
Dream Within Ad Dream, 2023
Animation
Kierra Amaral
Kierra Amaral is an aspiring character designer / animator currently attending the University of South Florida to earn her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. Her drive comes from being inspired by popular animated films created by studios such as Pixar and DreamWorks, and the works of professional animators / artists like Tim Burton, Don Bluth, and Tiago Hoisel. She started drawing at a very young age, after being taught by her sister and mother. From there, she took great interest in sharing her imagination with those around her. Her family is a big motivation in her life, and they are the foundation of her enthusiasm to succeed at her goals. Many times, they are even used as the inspiration for her characters. She describes her art style as lively, colorful, cartoonish, and detailed. She specializes in Digital Painting with intense focus on presenting her characters’ personalities to the audience.
Kierra Amaral
Through digital painting, I seek to express the personality of the characters I imagine. This provides me with different methods and techniques to experiment with ways of getting my message across as a character designer and illustrator. Whether it be saturated color schemes or exaggerated features, I like to make my images fun to look at. I want others to feel like they are in a different environment and inspire them, bringing back the exciting nostalgic feelings they felt when they were children.My fascination with characters stems mainly from observing people and their unique personalities. My process includes using pencil sketches and computer software to share the vibrant fantasy worlds from my imagination. My art style is cartoony and colorful, and it can range from the design of anthropomorphic creatures and quirky humans, to the environments they live within. My influences include Tim Burton and Don Bluth, whose characters are complex, physically and emotionally interesting, and drive the story. These components leave an audience wanting more and I hope to have that same effect.Although my previous focus was digital painting, I am becoming more interested in translating my 2D characters into 3D animation. For my current body of work, I intend to create an animated short that follows the narrative of Barry Manilow’s popular song “Copacabana (At the Copa)”. My work is important because it allows me to share my imagination with the world. Viewers can take a break from their reality and visually explore a bizarre and exciting environment. In the end, I aim to inspire and remind them of the good old days.
Kierra Amaral
At the Copa! 2023
Video
Ksenia Vandysh
Ksenia Vandysh
Coming Soon!
Ksenia Vandysh
Mystery of the Sky Village, 2023
Immersive Game
"Mystery of the Sky Village" is an immersive adventure game that transports players to an isolated magic village tucked away on a remote island in the Mediterranean Sea. As the player arrives at the village, they are met with an eerie sight - all the local villagers are gathered in the small church, participating in a strange ceremony. The village is shrouded in mystery, with various peculiarities that pique the player's curiosity. With the villagers engrossed in the ceremony, the player has a unique opportunity to explore the village undetected, uncovering its secrets and solving the mystery.
Laney Neville
Lane Neville is a 23 year old artist, substitute teacher, and performer. They are a painter and sculptor that focuses in making work that sparks memories. Working to create peices that cohesively depict moments and memories of their life. They strive to create representative environments and feelings in their work. Find more of their work on Instagram @dcncreate.
Laney Neville
Coming Soon!
Laney Neville
Slow Burn: The Heat of Intimacy, 2023
Acrylic on Canvas 10"x10"
Where Ideas Bloom, 2023
Acrylic on Canvas 18"x24"
Reflection, 2023
Acrylic on Canvas 11"x14"
A Literary Feat, 2023
Acrylic on Canvas 18"x24"
Phone Booth Haze, 2023
Acrylic on Canvas 4"x4"
Objects of The Journey, 2023
Acrylic on Canvas 24"x30"
Lisa Herd
Lisa-Nichol Herd is an artist mainly working with medium and large format film to create her photographic work. A lot of her work has been centered around her hometown, Tampa, FL where she explores themes of home, belonging, community, and aspects of domesticity. Her artistic practice is all about the act of slowing down, asserting a democratic gaze to create appreciation, optimism, and intimacy in the ordinary.
Lisa Herd
Coming Soon!
Lisa Herd
There are Always Flowers, 2023
Photo book. 58 pages, 10"x 10"
Selected images from There are Always Flowers, 2023
Archival Inkjet Prints 58 pages, 10"x 10"There are Always Flowers is a collection of images that traces my adolescence in Tampa, Florida.As I spent time walking through these communities, I began to contemplate the idiosyncrasies of them: exposed wires, organic shapes, construction noises, signs and flags, cars in driveways — all the details that are easy to drown out. There are Always Flowers emphasizes banal subject matter to create a more expanded sense of intimacy and texture to my memories and attachment towards these neighborhoods.At times the natural environment intervenes and obstructs these domestic structures in a similar way that these homes barricade the viewer from fully observing the totality of the personal lives that take place inside them. Yet, remnants of lived experiences can be seen bleeding over in the surrounding exterior spaces.
Marble Ramirez
Marble Ramirez is a mixed media artist and printmaker, as well as a current senior in her BFA program. When approached for comment, she had the following to say:“My work focuses on narrative forms, and the way certain narratives can exist in unexpected places.It truly is a process of reflection. I see the world in a certain way, and as I try to understand the things that I see, I make artworks that portray how I understand the world to be. But I go further. I create a world I want to live in, I provide people with experiences that help to make sense of their own lives in the times to come. With my current work I’m hoping to radically redefine people’s understanding of religious history, and in that way change people’s perspectives on the world.”Marble returned to reading his book and was unable to hear our further questions.
Marble Ramirez
My work is a process of reflection. I see the world in a certain way, and as I try to understand the things that I see, I make artworks that portray how I understand the world to be.As I’ve matured as an artist, this process has taken different forms. My earlier work began by imitating genre fiction, such as mystery or horror, as I tried to understand how genre had its place within popular media. I wanted to make comics that would allow me to imitate the types of genre fiction I was fascinated by, so I kept experimenting with style and genre and began to read philosophical and religious texts like Nietzsche’s The Gay Science or the Dao de Jing. These works helped me consider the world around me by showing differing perspectives on life and society. Expanding my horizons helped me to use those perspectives to change the way I
approach my role as an artist. I believe that by continuing to push the boundaries of stories being told, new possibilities for the world can be imagined and introduced to new people.In the spirit of spreading ideas, printmaking is my medium of choice because of its accessibility. We live in a time when anyone can print, and anyone can learn to print. This has not always been the case, but prints have always had the ability to spread ideas through images to multitudes of people more than any other medium before the rise of digital mass communication. I seek to keep that printmaking tradition alive, and to find ways to creatively print images that can push others to engage in more traditional art. In my most recent screenprints, I hope to show the ways written history affects our understanding of reality. Unlike mediums that deal in objects, prints can be copied over and over, to be seen by new viewers each time. There are many things which one never thinks about unless one is told, and many topics in history open themselves up to further discussion when this happens. I believe that printmaking is an ideal way to spread knowledge, and spark discussion among viewers and their peers.The process of reflection that began when I first put pen to paper has continued, it’s only the places my eye has landed on that have changed. From the beginning, my desire to retell old narratives has been with the intention of adding in the things I wish to see in them, the things that reflect the world I see. As I read and learn more, my desire only grows, as I become keenly aware of the difference between narratives and current reality. I am hoping to help create a world I want to live in, to provide people with experiences that help to make sense of their own lives in the times to come. With my current work I’m hoping to radically redefine people’s understanding of religious history, and in that way change people’s perspectives on the world.My art is a process of reflection, and through print I am able to share my unique perspective of the world with so many people; I am making art that portrays how I want the world to be.
Marble Ramirez
Inception of Knowledge, 2023
Silkscreen print (16x20)
An illustrated depiction of the Writing of the Tanakh (Old Testament), from Twin Kingdoms to Conquest by Babylon, its events spanning from circa 900 B.C.E. to 600 B.C.E.
Apocalypse of Enoch, 2023
Silkscreen print (16x20)
An illustrated depiction of the events in the Jewish text The Book of 1 Enoch, estimated to have been written around 300 B.C.E
Origins of Empire’s Evil, 2023
Silkscreen print (16x20)
A vision of a Tree of Knowledge, based on the imagery present in The Book of 1 Enoch and The Wisdom of Sirach.
Mollie Leffert
Mollie Leffert
Coming Soon!
Mollie Leffert
All the kings horses and all the kings men, couldn’t put humpty together again, 2023
Ceramics (Little Loafers) 4 1/2” x 6 1/2”
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, and down will come baby, cradle and all, 2023
Ceramics (Little Loafers) 5 1/4” x 9 1/2”
Ladybird, ladybird, flyaway home. Your house is on fire, your children will burn, 2023
Ceramics (Little Loafers) 8” x 7 1/2” x 9 1/2”
It’s raining It’s pouring, the old man is snoring, he went to bed and bumped his head, and couldn’t get up in the morning, 2023
Ceramics (Little Loafers) 7” x 4 1/2” x 5 1/4”
Ashes, Ashes, we all fall down, 2023
Ceramics (Little Loafers) 4 3/4” x 4 1/2”
Natali Salazar
Natali is a Mexican American artist and animator. Her work consists of topics that are related to mental illnesses, racism, and identity. But she also does freelance work and loves doing Character Design!
Natali Salazar
I specialize in 2D animation along with acrylic painting and functional pottery. I am fascinated with the animation process overall. My animations are made for social causes. Animal cruelty is my thesis and I want people to acknowledge these types of issues. I have done paintings about sexual abuse awareness since I was a victim at a young age. My ceramic work on Hispanic identity informs others about my culture. I use art to show others that they aren’t alone.My materials are a drawing tablet and a pen. I use those to sketch out my ideas. For my short 2D animation film, I research and reference what animals endure during entertainment, testing, contests, etc. This includes storyboards and character designs/backgrounds along with receiving feedback. I choose topics to address what isn't spoken about. Keith Haring has done a similar concept where he spoke about HIV/AIDS awareness.My work addresses involve with sexual abuse, Hispanic identity, and social causes like abuse, racism, or rights. I want people to be impacted by that. The cruelty idea began in one of my English classes where we would choose a topic where we debate on, and I chose cruelty free products. After doing more research, I felt disgusted by the products we use in our daily lives. As part of Gen Z, I am confident that our voices and actions will make a change for the future and not just sit by while we watch our world fall apart.
Natali Salazar
A Glimpse Beyond the Ring, 2023
Video
Nazia Amreen
Nazia Amreen (They/She) is a 2D Background Artist and Printmaker. She loves to create work that inspires whimsy and wonder, and she wants to encourage others to enjoy creating the same as her. In their free time, they exercises their abilities as an amateur astronomer and any kind of recreational activities like MMA and rock-climbing.
Nazia Amreen
I am working on a Digital 2D Backgrounds project about a fantasy location in space. The universe is an infinite space and I am self-aware about my existence being small in comparison. Yet, I am still curious to explore the wondrous possibilities of space. I feel as if I owe it to the universe to live vicariously and I am using the mediums of digital art and printmaking to display my love for adventure and discoveries about the world.In my mediums of choice, I use a lot of fine-line work. I like to combine the use of traditional draftsmanship with the versatility of digital tools. I manipulate scale in my work to immerse my audience in the visual experience because my rhetoric is that I want to communicate that sense of mystery and curiosity as honestly as possible. My approach toward art is inspired by artists like Pascal Campion and Kevin Scarborough, who focus on every artwork being part of a bigger process in encompassing who you are as an artist.As someone who likes to see the bigger picture of what is going on around me, issues that affect me in the immediate world also find a way into my art without being too on the nose. I like making a lot of illustrations that look comfortable to view and maybe that stems from a place that seeks safety and security. I want my work to invoke the same thoughts of wonder and excitement as it does for me. I look at the infinite possibilities of existing in space and I push forward this narrative about how the unknown can be more than daunting. It can be magnificent to behold and creative possibilities are left to be unfolded. I want the audience to feel immersed in existing in a different world, to feel transported out of their reality into another.
Nazia Amreen
2023
Video
Olivia Hediger
Olivia Hediger is a photographer and birder that investigates the conflation of birding and fine art. Her work treads the line between the two and explores where and how they may mix. Many of her works employ conventional birding tactics — the bird occupies most of the frame, often captured mid-activity, and the lighting is dependent on the location. However, she experiments with the final images with several techniques, whether it is digitally through post-production, or by physically manipulating the image via alternative processes.
Olivia Hediger
As an artist my work is an ongoing investigation into the conflation of nature, birding, and fine art genres. I work a lot with volatile, unpredictable mediums and materials because they lend to the subject’s unpredictability. I create a lot of my works using film or playing with alternative processes like chemigrams and film soup. Currently I’m experimenting with emulsion lifts and photosynthesis printing. I use these methods to reintroduce the artists’ hand in a medium that often only credits the camera.Initially, my interest in exploring birds professionally and artistically was entirely driven by spite. Teachers often discouraged me from exploring nature as a subject. Since then, I have amassed a portfolio almost entirely of birds. However, my works focus less on the subjects’ aesthetic capacity and instead the effects I’m physically enacting onto the images. In this way, the process has become just as, if not more, valuable to me compared to the result.With nature comes ideas of climate change, human influence, and social activism. Nature as a subject is incredibly diverse, so there’s always a gamble on the interpretations and reactions people may have towards my images. I’m daintily treading the line between the aesthetic and conceptual weight of nature. I am navigating a space where birding and nature can be regarded as “fine art,” allowing for this niche of photography to expand. Much like the birds I photograph, my work is momentary, explosive in power and show, yet simultaneously quiet to the world around it.
Olivia Hediger
Intersections on Preservation, 2023
Feather, watercolor paint, photograph
Digital photo transfers onto hand painted feather replicas of birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. One feather donated courtesy of Susan Silber of Athena’s Wildlife Sanctuary.
Intersections on Preservation, 2023
Leaf, digital image transparency
Assorted leaves with images of birds printed onto their surface using the chlorophyll
printing process.
Qey Kennedy
Qey is an Afro-Latinx video artist and photographer that is based in Tampa Florida. Most of their artwork deals with topics such as self-identity, illness, and the human psyche.
Qey Kennedy
My art is a reflection of myself and how I interpret the world around me so I will always be unapologetic in how others perceive me. As a photographer and filmmaker, I love exploring the human psyche and how humans relate to their environment by blurring the line between fantasy and reality, exploring these concepts through horror and other unconventional ways. My work contributes to the conversation of identity by emphasizing a sense of confusion and self-doubt brought about by navigating current social and political events. It allows for those who resonate with what I make to confront their own sense of identity and feel seen as well.Identity presents itself in my work through race, gender, imposter syndrome, irrational fears, grief, and illness. By using the camera and editing software, I manipulate time, color, and visuals to distort and shift the audience’s perception of the world to align with my own. This can be seen in my video piece Headworms, as I force the audience to experience the same audio and visual disturbances that I do when battling a severe migraine. Inspired by the work of Laura Letinsky, Ari Aster, and Lina Scheynius, my work creates intimate liminal spaces which break the boundaries between fantasy and reality. I am my own unreliable narrator and all of my work in a way is incredibly personal to my sense of self and my own experiences. Each of my pieces serves almost as a diary entry, encapsulating the emotions and sensory images that come to mind as I work through my traumas.My pieces share a lot of fragility, vulnerability, and insecurity with how I perceive myself and how others perceive me. Always begging the question Who am I, my work allows myself and my audience to confront the uncomfortable parts of ourselves that we may not want to think about, our insecurities. My art will always be created as a means of catharsis and therapy for those who
feel the same way that I do.
Qey Kennedy
What it Means to be A Woman 2023
Inkjet Print
Flight of the Fig Wasp 2023
Video
Shatakshi Raj
Shatakshi Raj (She/Her) is a 3D environment artist who is always looking for the next opportunity to translate her everyday experiences into artistic expressions. Her approach and output are constantly evolving as she hones her personal style. She is an digital artist who specializes in digital modeling. Shatakshi enjoys watching animation films and aspired to work for production.
Shatakshi Raj
My foremost significant goal as an artist is to explore my life journey and bring to the forefront certain significant moments that have shaped the way that I conduct my life to this day through my working process. As an artist, my principles and concepts that I include in my art are what make my art real: or make me feel real. I primarily indulge in the digital arts and work towards producing 3-dimensional pieces.I am intrigued by low poly structures, which are essentially comprised of simple digital sub-structures but collaborate together to form fascinating compositions. A low poly structure holds minimal information but through intuitive compilation, can showcase heavily detailed settings. I find pleasure in sharing and highlighting specific instances from my life that have shaped me. I also aim to be a source of representation in the digital art world that I never had as I was growing up. As far as concepts go, I tend to embark upon the obscurity of daily life while also shedding light on my culture, relationship with my family, the relationship I have with myself, and my state of mind. I have been fairly absorbed in this idea of the preservation of self and the preservation of your past through documenting your experiences and I want to able to share my experiences and delve into this conceptualization of sweetness and innocence through the stylistic elements of a low poly model. This would draw a relationship to how I saw my surrounding spaces and locations growing up. Digital media has garnered fulfilling attention as mainstream media and it really is quite amusing to work with. I hope to create digital media content while being intuitive and as inviting as possible.
Shatakshi Raj
Treasury, 2023
Digital Model Video
Safekeep, 2023
Archival Inkjet Prints
Sophia Lopez
Sophia Lopez
What makes me who I am as an artist is the scavenging for connection and bond to the outer world and people around me. Creating the gateway for attachment and understanding in hopes that I will finally be perceived with my sense of accuracy. My work consists of large-scale mixed-media expressionist painting focusing on figural matter and natural elements. I use a vibrant and diverse color palette and create primarily fast paintings to highlight gestural marks and movement. I am also interested in color theory and behavioral anatomy and how art affects our psyche and how our psyche affects our art. My inspiration mainly comes from modern to contemporary work. Some of my artistic influences are Jenny Saville, Lucian Freud, and Cy Twombly. I admire them because of their fearless and cathartic nature which captures emotion so vividly. My work is very psychoanalytic and is driven quite impulsively by what I am feeling in the moment.The human mind is equally off-putting as fascinating and the best way for me to decipher it is through an artistic lens. What drives my passion is that I paint as an aid to my healing, it is more than the simple observance of the subject matter, it is the declaration of all the moments and sentiments I am holding on to…my purging and escapism expressed. One of my favorite quotes written by Edward Hopper is, “If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.” I make what has significance to me and what I obsessively admire, not for it to fit into someone else’s aesthetic ideals, but to create a space where it can speak to at least one other person. To move another with things unsaid is the art and my why.
Sophia Lopez
2023
Mixed Media on Canvas