Art Thesis Exhibitions 2020

Recliners - Lucy Stariha

The furniture never changed in the houses I grew up in. We never repainted and have used the same dishes for as long as I can remember. When I looked at these houses empty for the first time, the bare rooms were jarring and the emptiness of every corner weighed heavily.

Blossoms of a Neurotic Nostalgia - Jamie Gardner

My recent paintings explore what it takes to be a human in this tumultuous but abundant world. The theme of emotional, spiritual, and psychological transformation persists in my body of work in various ways, from technical approaches to specific repeated imagery.

Shadows of Ourselves - Michelle Cortez Gonzales

My work reflects an amalgam of history and fragmented memories. Through sewing, constructing and painting from remnants left behind, I metaphorically recreate a history. I connect the act of making with the process of remembering.

Welcome in Three Thoughts Between Spaces - Richie Peña

Thoughts between spaces Linking subconscious to the cognitive Divine guidance awaken true intentions Through shifting veils of colors and comforting shapes A sacred space emerges

Hanging Vines From the Swamp - Emily Wingert

In the natural realms of our world there remains a mystical force, masked faces peering from the unknown. I see them, in the glowing embers of a campfire dancing toward the beckoning of gilded stars against the deep void of the night sky. A light being distorted through a patterned glass, wind scattering a handful of ambered leaves onto passersby, the absolute and crushing silence on the night of heavy snowfall.

Lithophyte I - Veronica Barrera

These plants are inspired from the plant life I grew up around whether that was in Houston, Texas or Monterrey, Mexico. As I internalize the situation at hand, I’m revisiting things that are familiar, yet have felt distant for so long: Houston and fiber art.

Powerful Blad - Agnieszka Rostkowski

As a sculptor, Agnieszka Rostkowski looks at the repetitive rituals of daily life and gives the mundane a personality. Through the use of technology and handcrafting, she creates headwear that mirrors the absurdity of humanity.

Just Breathe - Stephanie Janysek

There are certain times when we need to remind ourselves to take a moment to breathe. Life may sometimes get in the way of our awareness and cause us to forget how to breathe. Maybe not physically but mentally. A breath of air is a simple reminder that we are alive. I use the dandelion to represent such. When airborne, the dandelion’s pappus is referencing that breath of air.

from The Department of Art

Artists are nimble and none more than this group of students. Forced from the art village by the virus they went home to make do with whatever materials they could find on short notice. Their work exemplifies a strength in character and work ethic unique to UD students.

Our students accepted the challenge without weeping or gnashing of teeth. These artists used our unique circumstances to shift gears and make technically and conceptually robust work. They chose to use the issues of the day as fuel for their creative practice. Muses are everywhere, if we open ourselves to them. This group of students found theirs even at the center of national pandemic. We are all looking forward to October when many of their shows will manifest physically on campus.

But for now, this virtual art showcase is a celebration of our graduating students from the Department of Art at the University of Dallas. The work presented here is the culmination of an intensive and engaged studio research practice.

On behalf of the art department, I commend them with the highest distinction. Congratulations graduating art students!

Steven Foutch
Art Department Chair

MFA Graduates

The Master of Fine Arts Thesis Show is the culmination of a three year program in which artists explore their creative practice in depth. Disciplined studio practice is paired with the study of visual art from historical, theoretical and critical perspectives. The art faculty guides each student on an artistic journey, that is enriched by a close relationship with their advisor and critiques sessions with their artistic peers.

Jamie Gardner, MFA, Painting

Michelle Cortez Gonzales, MFA, Painting

Richie Peña, MFA, Printmaking

Senior Art Majors

The Senior Art Show exhibition is the capstone experience of four years of study by Bachelor’s of Art candidates in the field of art history, ceramics, painting, printmaking, or sculpture. Art majors are deeply involved in the artistic and scholarly life of the Haggerty Art Village. Their presence and studies across the liberal arts enrich this environment as they pursue interdisciplinary research.