‘Strong’ student work highlights BFA Exhibition
By: Michael Chesnick. February 27, 2024.Hundreds attended the Feb. 22 opening reception of the 2024 Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition, which runs until March 22 at the Joseph Gross and Lionel Rombach Galleries.
Students, parents, alums, faculty and staff celebrated student artists graduating with a BFA in 2024. The exhibition features undergraduates from Photo, Video & Imaging; 2D Studies; 3D & Extended Media; Illustration, Design & Animation; and Art & Visual Culture Education.
“Those of you who attended the opening can attest to what a vibrant event it was and just how strong the student work on view is,“ said Andrew Schulz, dean of the College of Fine Arts.
The event marked the first time the Olive Road Stairs were open (temporarily), as well as the inauguration of the new doors that provide direct access from those stairs into the Joseph Gross Gallery.
“Many people mentioned to me how excited they were by these changes,“ Schulz said, “which further our divisional goals of increasing visibility and access as ways of elevating the arts on campus and beyond.“
The BFA Exhibition, juried by faculty chairs from each division, was curated and produced by Student Gallery managers with support from Galleries Director lydia see.
More upgrades to the Arts District include the re-opening of the Arts Oasis, including the restoration of School of Art alumna Barbara Grygutis’ “Front Row Center“ public sculpture installation, the completion of first phase of the “Arts Alley” that extends to the Tornabene Courtyard, and the reopening of the renovated Marroney Theatre.
Students presenting in BFA Exhibition
Violet Brand
Passing Memories
2024
Composite digital image
May Luna
Fetal Position
2024
Poplar, steel, paint
Saedi Wadman
Lil’ Guy Carousel
2023
Book binding materials, wire, markers, mirror cardstock
Iliana Gonzales
Hell Above
Oil on canvas 2023
Joseph Chico
Gemini Twins
2024
Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop
Alli Gray
Bickle’s Pickles
2023
digitally illustrated comic on enhanced matte
Marmada Shiming Sun
Humans are Built to Listen
2023
Client book
Sabrina L. Vincent
Boost
2024
Adobe Fresco, enhanced matte paper, binder board, PVA glue
Ivan Rodriguez
Upgrades: Inspired by Shigenori Soejima
2023
Digital illustration
AnneMarie Standridge
Sky Islands
2023
Paper, watercolor, colored pencil, alcohol markers
Eitan Rosenquist
US MX Border Map Mural, installation view with artist
2023
Digital illustration
Olivia Morey
Why Everyone Feels Like They’re Faking It
2023
Digital illustration
Jessica Valencia
Masso Bwe’o
2023
Digital illustration on Enhanced Matte
Malaquias Palacios
Conserving Our Rain
2023
Digital illustration
Madai Ruiz Palacios
Reflection
2023
ProCreate illustration on Epson Lustre
Emilee Gustafson
When Passions Meet
2023
Aluminum & bronze casting
Jeremiah Aaron Garcia
Breaking The Mold
2023
Digital painting on enhanced matte
Tate Harper
Doodle Daydream
2021
Alcohol marker, Micron pen
Ryan Pittner
order/chaos
2024
Conceptual typography: artist book and prints
Alisha Stadler
National Gallery Redesign
2023
Digital
Luis Esquer
Advocacy for Others
2023
Digital illustration
Aspen Stivers
Dynamic Duos: Fight or Flight
2023
Procreate, Illustrator, & Photoshop
Cameron Kramer
There is Nothing for You Here
2023
Acrylic paint, acrylic ink, charcoal, steel wire
Rick Prober
Boba
2023
Pastels and ink
Hoa Hoang
Exploration
2023
Digital painting
Kayla Bradshaw
The Met Rebrand Poster Series
2023
Adobe Illustrator
Maddy Tucker
Victim v. Victimizer
2023
Screenprint on paper
Headache
2023
Screenprint on paper
Henry Frobom
Sam
2024
Typographic concrete poem
Maya Wong
Voyage Home
2023
Bronze, wax
Discipline, Passion, & Skill
2023
Wood, wood treatment, fire
Nathalia Lara Pizarro
Eucaristía
2023
Chalk pastel
Morgan Birky
TV Girl
2023
Wire, clay, fabric, acrylic
Renee Arrieta
Let the Light In
2023
Wood, watercolor, and acrylic
Diana Marie
Will the Ozempic Era Change How We Think About Being Fat and Being Thin?
2023
Digital illustration
Ballad of a Twenty-Something
2023
Digital illustration
Vivian Nguyen
Lacey
2023
Digital illustration
Cami Hagen
Coat of Arms
2023
Digital illustration
Christy Williams
Levuana Iridescens
2024
Clip Studio Paint, drawing tablet
Hannah Kleker
Mara turnaround
2023
Digital illustration on enhanced matte
Mara
Foam, clay, wood, fabric, acrylic
Maia Lettow
In Utero
2023
Graphite, wax, spray paint
Erika Elizabeth Moreno
Cheat Meal
2023
Oil on canvas
Ana Paula Monobe
Fernanda
2023
Acrylic and oil on canvas
Andrea
2023
Acrylic and oil on canvas
Roland Swedlund
CASH CRAZE
2023
Photo transfer on panel
CROSSWORD
2023
Photo transfer on panel
WILD BINGO
2023
Photo transfer on panel
Izzy
Out of Time
Oil on canvas
2023
Birds of Misfortune
Chalk pastel on paper
2023
Iliana Gonzales
Ida
2023
Grave Rubbings in Graphite and Water-Soluble Pastel on Paper
Makayla McCarthy
Empty Waves
2022
Oil on canvas
Brianna Lisa Castillo
Despair
2020
Oil on wood panel
Inner Echoes
2024
Graphite on
Delaney Paige Cruse
love you too
2024
Medium Format Film, Silver Gelatin Fiber Prints
Ariana Buck
Processing
2021
Silver gelatin prints
Belen Muro Quijada
Del Hogar a La Fábrica: Narrativas no Contadas Del Trabajo
2023
Digital photogtaphs printed on Baryta
Nichole Kotowsky
Where’s My Mind?
2023
Digital photograph on Epson Lustre and medium format film on fiber paper
Yesenia G Meraz
Heritage
2023
Digital photographs on Epson Lustre
Ary Frank
Like Father, Like Daughter
2023
Digital print on watercolor paper, digital print on Epson Lustre, wood name tag
Amber Cole
Excerpt from ‘Beyond Boundaries’
2022
Digital prints on Epson Lustre, nonbinary pride fingerpaint, permanent marker, AI content recognition
Braden Hale
An Inheritance
2023
Photo book
Visitors are invited to handle the book carefully
Seven Hazel
Moments In Ourselves
2023
Digital and archival family photographs on enhanced matte, archival family photographs
on PhotoTex
Rachel Palmer
Moving Confusion
2022
Digital photographs on Epson Lustre
Sabrina Mendivil
Head in the Clouds
2023
Paper mache, polyfill, spray adhesive, desk, stool, notebook, pencil
Participants are invited to sit and doodle in the notebook. Please use only the provided pencil, and refrain from explicit language or drawings so that all ages and lived experiences may participate safely.
Gabrielle Sharon Loewen
Pawn to Queen
2023
Resin, PLA filament, acrylic paint, electronics
Eden M Squires
Digital Thoughts
2023
Steel, recycled electronics, fiberglass, cast aluminum
Olive Bingham
Driftwood
2024
Risograph comic zine
Visitors are invited to handle the zine carefully
Kaya Glasner
Francine & Delia Turnaround, The Journey Inland,
segment from Ingrained
2023
Digital hand-drawn animation 01:00 min.
Brianna Marie Salazar
Defectuosa
2023
Narrated short film with poem (which visitors are invited to take) 01:33 min.
Mallory Barry
drain
2023
Digital Video. Thread, melted plastic, condensation, trash, sd card, microchip, hot glue, hair, coffee pot, chain, written letter, skin, bleach, bath tub, bandaids, computer cursor, Bupropion, melting ice, june bugs, charcoal powder, shadows, dried flowers, Gabapentin, clear marbles, dirt, digital scale, water.
03:31 min.
Tucker Grams
Organized Game
2023
Video, cardboard, paper
(which visitors are invited to take) 04:54 min.
Jesse Neal
Untitled Animation
2024 04:54 min.
Esperanza Ries, Olivia Cabelli, Truman Adams
Esperanza
2023
cardboard, housepaint, Chicago screws, pine, adhesive
Esperanza was created to interact with Little Amal from the Walk with Amal project and represent the Tucson community as a whole. She danced with Amal at the Tucson Children’s Museum before welcoming her to the University of Arizona. As indicated by their names, both encouraged a message of hope.