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Fall 2024 BFA Thesis Exhibition at CVA

Exhibition Dates: November 1 - December 6, 2024.
Opening Reception: November 1, 6 - 8 pm.

STORY

Fall 2024 BFA Thesis Exhibition

Center for Visual Art at Metropolitan State University of Denver presents Fall 2024 Department of Art BFA Thesis Exhibition. Exhibition Dates: November 1 - December 6, 2024. Opening Reception: November 1 2024, 6 - 8 pm. Posters imagery is a swirly pink and dark grey design on a black background.

CVA opens a new exhibition on November 1! The Fall 2024 BFA Thesis Exhibition presents the work of 23 emerging artists and designers as they finish their undergraduate studies at MSU Denver.

The work of these graduates explores a variety of social issues in their exhibition themes including elements of identity, mental health, community, language, and the juxtaposition of traditional art and design techniques with contemporary technology. Visitors are invited to explore their understanding of current issues through work created in diverse media, including digital media, communication design, sculpture, painting, and photography.

The exhibition features the work of 21 BFA students and 2 BA students working in art and design including:

Renata Ayoub
Blake Bentley
Ezekiel Duke Bower
Cameron Carr
William Chamu
Alexandra Conner
Rachel Godwin
Mohamed Hamid
Bambi Hernandez
Aya Itani
Audrey Kelly

Cesar Landeros
Elliana Martin
Will McGavin
Courtney Meyer
Hoa Nguyen
Nikia Parker
Zoe Claire Pendleton
Sophie Reese
Brittany Ruland
Malia Spencer
Michaella Vignieri

Opening Reception
Friday, November 1
CVA Member Preview: 5:30-6pm
Public Reception: 6-8pm

Admission to CVA is free and open to everyone. The Fall 2024 Thesis Exhibition is on display through December 6.

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Paul Lucero Exhibits at the Capitol

Congratulating MSU Denver student Paul Lucero on his painting’s inclusion this winter at the Colorado State Capitol. An art exhibition will be on view at the State Capitol from November 2024 through February 2025. This exhibit, titled "Creative Capitol: This is Native Art," is presented by Colorado Creative Industries.“This is Native Art,” curated by artist Danielle SeeWalker, brings together more than 35 practicing Native American artists from across the United States, each exploring various aesthetics and compositions while challenging the narrative of what Native American art is and what is expected to be. Their powerful expressions demonstrate diversity while weaving a shared view of Indigenous knowledge. As contemporary Native American art gains an increase of visibility across the country, this exhibition charts a glimpse into the often-untold stories of Native America and the significance of affirming Native modernism.

(Panel A) Painted in circle on red background, the elder man looks off to the distance. (Panel B) Paul Lucero, in front of an easel on which a near completed oil painting of a face sized at two times to actual size.

Paul is an Art Minor graduating with a major in Political Science in Spring 2025, and plans to continue on to Law School. He is an enrolled member of the Otoe-Missouria Nation and a descendent of the Osage Nation. Paul says that he had painted only twice before attending a painting class with MSU Denver Art Professor Emeritus Carlos Frésquez, and now loves painting realism using oil paints. Paul is also involved in another exhibition next year, in partnership with the University of Nebraska, called “Reflections of our People, Our Ways, Our Land.”

Please join Colorado Creative Industries for the “This is Native Art” exhibition opening on Wednesday, November 13th, from 2-4 pm in the Capitol basement rotunda. The show will be on display from November 2024 through February 2025.

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Spring 2024 BA Thesis Exhibition

Art BA Thesis Exhibition Opening May 9, 2024 at BRDG Project, 3300 Tejon Street. Featured Artists: Sena Bryant, Manda Hartnett, Kathryn Hollinger, Shanae Metcalf, Alexis Nicole, Julio Ramos, Samantha Reinhold, Elyse Underwood, Ashley Widgren, Lance Winborne, Kristi Zaragoza
May 9 – 30, 2024

At BRDG Project: Main West Gallery, 3300 Tejon Street in Denver

This exhibition, overseen by Professor Tsehai Johnson, features the work of eleven artists, each a graduating senior from Metropolitan State University with their Bachelor of Arts in Art degree in Spring 2024. The show includes a wide array of works, spanning in range from painting, printmaking and the digital arts to ceramic and textile installation.

Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the diverse perspectives of these emerging artists and to celebrate the culmination of each student’s BA Arts degree from MSU Denver.

Featuring works by:

Sena Bryant
Manda Hartnett
Kat Hollinger
Alexis McDowell
Shanae Metcalf
Julio Ramos

Samantha Reinhold
Elyse Underwood
Ashley Widgren Lance
Lance Winborne
Kristi Zaragosa

The exhibition will be on view May 9 – 30, 2024 at BRDG Project 3300 Tejon St, Denver 80211.

Opening Reception: Thursday, May 9, 5:00 – 8:00pm

Read more from YourHub: BRDG Project highlights Colorado curators and MSU seniors earning bachelors of arts

Spring 2024 BFA Thesis Exhibition

Spring 2024 BFA Thesis Exhibition, MSU Denver
April 5 – May 10, 2024

Opening April 5, the Spring 2024 BFA Thesis Exhibition showcases the critical research and responsive work of 23 emerging artists and designers as they conclude their undergraduate studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver).

The BFA Thesis Exhibition is the pinnacle of the education of MSU Denver’s Studio Art and Communication Design students. Graduating students will present their thesis work in a gallery exhibition at Center for Visual Art – Metropolitan State University of Denver (CVA).  The MSU Denver BFA Thesis Exhibition is held bi-annually at CVA located in the heart of Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe, offering students valuable exposure to the broader local arts community. These diverse exhibitions offer a chance to see some of MSU Denver’s best and brightest emerging art and design talent.

From captivating paintings to thought-provoking sculptures, each piece on display reflects the unique perspectives of these emerging artists and designers. The exhibition invites viewers to explore a diverse range of artistic expressions that transcend traditional boundaries and challenge conventional norms. This exhibition is a celebration of creativity and artistic excellence.

The exhibiting artists and designers include:

Andrew Cline
Peyton Conner
Kayli Cottonwood
Cameron Coyhis
Kayla Currens
Lauren Dale
Raymond Gabriel
Paige Herron
Avery Rae Jacobson
Maya Julien
Charles T. Levesque
Ethan McDonough

Brian Morgans
Anthony Ornelas
Erica Rawson
Zachary Reinis
Raine Russell
Luke Sayler
Jaxynn Simons
Mary Sullivan
Alison Tais Rojas Ramirez
Ananda Voecks
Jennifer Woehrle

The exhibition will be on view April 5 – May 10, 2024. An opening reception will be held on Friday, April 5, 6 – 8 pm. Admission to CVA is free and open to everyone.

Read more from The Denver Post: Want to know what young artists are thinking? Just look at the objects they make.

 

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Courtney Meyer Awarded Platinum in Graphis New Talent Annual 2024

Ave Nitor by Courtney Myer Congratulations to Communication Design Senior, Courtney Meyer, whose work received a Platinum in recent Graphis New Talent Annual 2024. Meyer’s work was 1 of 13 students featured nationally who earned Platinum – the highest award from Graphis New Talent. Graphis New Talent Annual is a prestigious design competition and publication that recognizes outstanding work from emerging talents in various creative fields such as graphic design, advertising, photography, and illustration.

Her work, Ave Nitor (typeface & poster) was created in CDES 3215: Typographic Aesthetics with Prof. Peter Bergman. She highlights that the creation of an elegant and luxurious typeface served as the foundation for the development of the vogue-esque poster to formally promote and showcase the versatility of typographic application.

View Courtney’s Platinum Achievement via Graphis.

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Charles Levesque Named 2024 Design and Build Fellow at Museum of Outdoor Arts (MOA)

MSU Denver current Art Department student and graduating senior, Charles Levesque, has been awarded a fellowship at MOA, and named fifth Museum of Outdoor Art Design and Build Artist Fellow!

Charles will mentor and lead the summer 2024 MOA Design and Build Interns on their collaborative project with the help of MSU Denver Art Department 3D Studio Manager and MOA resource artistWalter Ware.

In his work Charles explores community, observational comedy, and retro aesthetics through a variety of mediums. A lifelong artist, Charles is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Fine Art. His practice includes painting, sculpture, ceramics, drawing, and video art. Charles is an active member at the Denver Art Society co-op where he organizes and hosts the monthly open mic. He is also currently exhibited at the Georgia Amar Fine Art Habitat Gallery in Colorado.

Visit MOA to learn more.

Charles, shown here in front of a giant outdoor sculpture, wiggle-like shape of mulicolored greens, blues, and yellows, has been named summer 2024 MOA Design and Build Artist Fellow.

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Aya Itani publishes with Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing

Portrait of Aya ItaniCongratulations to Senior Communication Design student Aya Itani for the exceptional achievement of having her work, “Palestine,” published by Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing. This is a testament to her talent and dedication, with special recognition to Prof. Martin Mendelsberg for his guidance in CDES 4152 – Citizen Designers: Social Poster Design. We eagerly anticipate the inclusion of Itani’s work in the upcoming book from the publisher.

The poster, focusing on Human Rights, reflects Aya’s personal experiences growing up in Lebanon amidst oppression and prejudice, fueling her passion for advocating against injustice. Aya, a Lebanese Muslim living in Denver, Colorado, draws from her roots and activism, urging for greater awareness and discourse on the ongoing occupation of Palestine, emphasizing the responsibility to speak out not just as designers, but as compassionate humans.

First panel: Itani's line drawing depicting a soldier with machine gun speaking the word, Terrorist, directed at a person with no weapon holding the flag of Palestine. Second panel: Itani's poster displayed on a fence in front of the Colorado State Capitol building. In this case the line drawing of the flag has been replaced with an actual flag.

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Congratulations to the Fall 2023 CLAS Graduate Honor Nominees from the Department of Art

The College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences hosts the CLAS Graduate Honoree Reception every semester for students who have been selected by their departments for this distinction. In the Department of Art, faculty and staff have the opportunity to nominate a graduating student whose exceptional academic achievements, leadership qualities, and service contributions to MSU Denver and their communities are notable. After the confidential nomination process faculty and staff vote for one student to receive the CLAS honor.

While each department is allowed only one Honoree, the Department of Art wishes to acknowledge all students nominated for this award:

Hannah Hamid, CLAS Graduate Honoree

Hannah Hamid, Fall 2023 CLAS Graduate HonoreeHannah Hamid is a Communication Design major who is focusing on design for accessibility, and a fierce advocate for diversity in the design sector. Her faculty describe her as a very smart, talented, hardworking and sincere young designer. For her thesis project, she conceptualized and published a free typeface called “Clarity Sans” for use at small sizes on mobile devices that is specifically designed for people with cataracts—a first in the field of design! After the opening of her thesis exhibition, she was contacted by the Colorado Department of Transportation to learn more about her project. This is but one example of how she has consistently brought important questions of diversity to the fore of her practice and in the classroom. With a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.97, she buttresses her natural talent with organizational acumen, professionalism, and a proactive, tenacious work ethic. Her advocacy and embodiment of the “design for the common good” methodology is a testament to her commitment, for which the entire Department of Art is incredibly proud.

Joshua Lewis, CLAS Graduate Nominee

Joshua Lewis, Fall 2023 CLAS Graduate Nominee
Joshua Lewis is completing the B.A. in Art and displays solid leadership in his class, often helping other students and volunteering for committees to help his capstone class mount a group exhibition. He has an exceptionally strong work ethic and is always willing to collaborate. He is known among his peers for his investigations of cutting-edge technologies in his art practice, where he questions how technology can enhance our understanding of the planet. He explores ideas around nature becoming embedded within technology and how digital and natural worlds are beginning to unite. In his thesis project, called The Natural Machine, he explored the synthesis of the digital and technological realms utilizing artificial intelligence to bring life to an extinct Colorado plant. Joshua earned a 4.0 at MSU Denver, and with his major in Art and a minor in Business, we are certain he will achieve success in his life and career and we look forward to hearing about his creative contributions.

Kendall Taylor-Wright, CLAS Graduate Nominee

Kendall Taylor-Wright, Fall 2023 CLAS Graduate Nominee
Kendall Taylor-Wright is an Art History, Theory, and Criticism major with a minor in Africana Studies. Throughout her time at MSU Denver, Kendall proved to be a diligent scholar and leader. We particularly commend Kendall for her DEI work both at MSU Denver and in the Denver community. Kendall served as an Equity Peer Leader at the Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion and served as a mentor and tutor for the TRiO Upward Bound Program, where she worked with at-risk, first-generation, and BIPOC high school students. As an intern in the inaugural Emerging Professionals Docent Internship at the Denver Art Museum, she and her peers were instrumental to revamping and decolonizing the K-12 educational tours. Her work in this area has continued through her current employment at the Denver Art Museum in the role of Talent and Culture Assistant Coordinator, where she conducts racial equity training for museum staff and volunteers on a regular basis. She served her community as a volunteer at the Black Arts Festival and the African Impact Leadership Conference. In addition to all these activities, Kendall was a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant for both the Art and Africana Studies Departments, where she demonstrated reliability, strong work ethic, excellent communication skills, and an eagerness to learn.

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Fall 2023 Thesis Exhibitions and Events

The Fall 2023 Thesis Exhibitions are the pinnacle of the education of MSU Denver’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, and Bachelor of Arts in Art students.

Graduating Studio Art BFA and Communication Design BFA students will present their thesis work in a gallery exhibition at the Center for Visual Art (CVA) .

Fall 2023 BFA Thesis Exhibition, November 3 – December 8, 2023 at Center for Visual Art. Opening Reception November 3rd, 6 - 8 pm

The work of these BFA graduates explores a variety of social issues in their exhibition themes including elements of cultural identity, decolonization, and rediscovering how we interact with digital media. Visitors are invited to interact with select installations and explore their understanding of current issues through work created in diverse media, including textiles, ceramics, communication design, painting, and photography.

The exhibition features the work of 17 artist and designers including:

Carlos Aguirre-Barrera, Liz Dunlap, Joseph Enriquez-Miramontes, Sheina Fae, Gabby Federico, Michael Florez, Laia Forns, Claire Gilmore, Hannah Hamid, Anna Juliano, Abraham Mejia Ramirez, Lindsey Miller, Miranda Reed, Paisley Rose, Zacharie Ruhter, Kevin Trujillo, Chloe Verdun, Mariah Webb.

The exhibition will be on view November 3 – December 8, 2023. An opening reception will be held on Friday, November 3, 2023 6 – 8 pm. Admission to CVA is free and open to everyone.

Visit the BFA Thesis website for a preview of the exhibition: msudenverbfathesis.com


Graduating Art BA students will present their thesis work in a gallery exhibition at the Emmanuel Art Gallery .

BA Thesis Art Exhibition, Featuring: Alayna Henshaw, Adrian Garcia Jimenez, Virginia Kostmayer, Joshua Lewis, Paulina Cano Montanez, Stacy Pelander, Rebekah Sokol, Amanda West, Lauren Wickham. Saturday December 2nd through 8th 2023. Emmanuel Art Gallery, Reception December 8th 1PM until 3PM. Food and drinks provided.

The exhibition features:

Alayna Henshaw, Adrian Garcia Jimenez, Virginia Kostmayer, Joshua Lewis, Paulina Cano Montanez, Stacy Pelander, Rebekah Sokol, Amanda West, Lauren Wickham.

The exhibition will be on view December 2 – December 8, 2023. A closing reception will be held on Friday, December 8th, 2023 1 – 3 pm. Food and drinks provided.

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Spring 2023 Department of Art CLAS Graduate Honoree

The College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences hosts the CLAS Graduate Honoree Reception every semester for students who have been selected by their departments for this distinction. In the Department of Art, faculty and staff have the opportunity to nominate a graduating student whose exceptional academic achievements, leadership qualities, and service contributions to MSU Denver and their communities are notable. After the confidential nomination process faculty and staff vote for one student to receive the CLAS honor.

Phoebe Nguyen, BFA in Communication Design, CLAS Graduate Honoree

Phoebe Nguyen, Spring 2023 CLAS Graduate HonoreePhoebe Nguyen is a model student in academic performance and leadership within the classroom and throughout the Communication Design program. Many students look up to Phoebe as an exemplar for exceptional quality in design, as evidenced in her thesis exhibition entitled hòa, which reflects the immigrant experience of living within hybridity offered through the lens of augmented reality. As a transfer student from Vietnam, this work embraces Phoebe’s cultural identity and the in-between spaces through the reality of technology.

Academically, she holds a 4.0 GPA and her work has garnered numerous professional recognitions in national publications such as Graphis New Talent Annual and AIGA Flux as well as being noted as “Best in Colorado” for her portfolio submitted for the AIGA Robert Taylor Scholarship. Phoebe displays strong leadership within the program and University as a CDES Studio Assistant and Creative Director for Metrosphere Magazine. Her incredible work was recognized as supported through her recent employment through Vladimir Jones, a Denver-based advertising agency, a position she secured even before graduation. Her humbleness and accountability are personal attributes that attest to her caliber as a designer and a person.

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Spring 2023 BFA Thesis Exhibition

Spring 2023 MSU Denver BFA Thesis Exhibition, at Center for Visual Art

April 7 – May 5, 2023 at Center for Visual Art

The Spring 2023 BFA Thesis Exhibition is the pinnacle of the education of MSU Denver’s Studio Art and Communication Design students. Graduating students will present their thesis work in a gallery exhibition at Center for Visual Art – Metropolitan State University of Denver (CVA).

The 19 emerging artists and designers featured in the exhibition include:

Elise Alarid, Cassandra Cooper, Juliet Fife, Jessa Genov, Colton Heidenfelder, Juno J. Heo, David Hernandez, Meg Hott, Elizabeth Mahler Licence, Annie Long, Shantell Montoya, Phoebe Nguyen, Allison Nicolosi-Risinger, Dale Pittman, Devin Ramirez, Jack Randall, Cyrena Rosati, Shane Woodward, and Krystle Wright.

Department of Art Student Work

Exhibitions by Bachelor of Fine Art Students in
Studio Art and Communication Design
Student Work from Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, and Fall 2020

VIEW STUDENT WORK

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Seven CDES Students Win 2023 Graphis Competition New Talent Awards

Celebrating our seven (7) Communication Design students and grads who gained recent publication in the Graphis New Talent Annual 2023!

Alphabet showing Hannah Hamid's custom font called Skyline
Award-winning font called “SKYLINE” designed by Hannah Hamid
  • Mo Cardamone
    Rise Mobile – Wearable App
    CDES 4252: Mobile Prototyping
  • Paul Christus
    The Mssing – Design Branding
    Personal Promotion
  • Hannah Hamid
    Skyline – Font
    CDES 2225: Typographic Syntax
  • Anna Juliano
    Bank Street – Font
    CDES 2225: Typographic Syntax
  • Phoebe Nguyen
    Feelz Mobile – Wearable App
    CDES 4252: Mobile Prototyping
  • Denya Odnoralov
    Tracky Mobile – Wearable App
    CDES 4252: Mobile Prototyping (Fall 2023 graduate)
  • Josh Thompson
    Calmaria Mobile – Wearable App
    CDES 4252: Mobile Prototyping

Graphis’ prestigious national juried exhibition and annual showcase features student submissions from a wide variety of media and Institutions. MSU Denver has been included in this listing thanks to the excellence of students’ coursework submissions.

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Congratulations to the Fall 2022 CLAS Graduate Honor Nominees by the Department of Art

The College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences hosts the CLAS Graduate Honoree Reception every semester for students who have been selected by their departments for this distinction. In the Department of Art, faculty and staff have the opportunity to nominate a graduating student whose exceptional academic achievements, leadership qualities, and service contributions to MSU Denver and their communities are notable. After the confidential nomination process faculty and staff vote for one student to receive the CLAS honor.

While each department is allowed only one Honoree, the Department of Art wishes to acknowledge all students nominated for this award.

Taylor Cozart, CLAS Graduate Honoree

Portrait of Taylor CozartTaylor Cozart will be graduating cum laude with a 3.87 GPA in the BFA Art Education Major. Following graduation, she will pursue a position teaching art to children in an elementary art classroom.  The faculty recognizes her resilience, ardent optimism, creativity, and perceptive curiosity that encouraged her peers and professors during the pandemic and its aftermath. Throughout her MSU career, which spanned the pandemic, she has helped keep classroom communities afloat by finding meaning and purpose in her learning and by modeling kindness and a gritty work-ethic. As a student teacher, she continues to nurture and spark creative engagement with young children in the art classroom as they navigate post-pandemic trauma. As seen in her student teaching achievements in a public, elementary school, Taylor is making the world a better place by inspiring and caring for the well-being and imaginations of the youngest among us.

 

Nathan De Monnin, CLAS Graduate Honoree Nominee

Portrait of Nathan De MonninNathan De Monnin is a dedicated student with a 3.82 cumulative GPA and a 3.89 in their major of Communication Design. Nathan has exhibited not only a passion for but perseverance in the pursuit of his design studies. Nathan was a work-study in the Communication Design program for two years where he worked with faculty and students on a variety of design production needs and maintains a high level of professionalism, often going above and beyond in his duties. He shows genuine care and support for his classmates and his joy is contagious. Among his accomplishments, Nathan was Designer and then Creative Director for Metrosphere Magazine in 2021-2023 and was integral to helping produce those two publications. He has won the Lawrence Taishoff Communication Design Scholarship and was the winner of this semester’s BFA Communication Design Honorable Mention Award recognizing his thesis project Word As God as truly outstanding.

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METRONOW Exhibition

December 6-15, 2022 at Emmanuel Gallery

Porcelain balls floating in air
Image credit: Samuel Davick, T01-270, 2022, porcelain

Curated by MSU student and Emmanuel Art Gallery employee Cynthia Chelton, the MetroNow exhibition includes artworks made by a selection of MSU art students. The works in this show focus on subjects and processes that are experimental and interdisciplinary.

Artists in the show include: Zak Ashburn, Carrie Berglund, Andrew Cline, Samuel Davick, Morgan Devillier, Ryan Dorman, Bridget Ebert and Dev Wiggers

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Fall 2022 BA Thesis Exhibition

December 6-15, 2022 at Emmanuel Gallery

Alexcia Pickrell, Sickly Sweet, 2022, mixed media of diplay of pill bottles and pills on a pink tablecloth
Image credit: Alexcia Pickrell, Sickly Sweet, 2022, mixed media

Located on the first floor of the Emmanuel Art Gallery, this group show is made up of works by Metropolitan State University students graduating from the BA program in December 2022. It was curated and installed by the students themselves. It is a wide-ranging exhibition including different kinds of media and subject matter.

Artists in the show include: Thomas Cook, Fatima Orozco Gonzalez, Riley Hodges, Jessica Keil, Alexcia Pickrell, Ella Robertson, Jordyne Salinas, Angelica Shankle, Baylee Smith, and Stefanie Thompson

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Fall 2022 BFA Thesis Exhibition

Fall 2022 BFA Thesis ExhibitionNovember 11 – December 9, 2022 at CVA

Opening November 11th, the Fall 2022 BFA Thesis Exhibition showcases the critical research and responsive work of 11 emerging artists and designers as they complete their undergraduate studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

MSU Denver BFA student works include themes of exploration, communication, advocacy, identity, sexuality, autonomy, connection, and hybridity. Visitors can expect to experience an evocative collection that incorporates installation, design, video, performance, drawing, painting, ceramics, and sculpture.

The 11 artists and designers featured in the exhibition include: Zak Ashburn, Carrie Berglund, Mo Cardamone, Jordan Crouch, Samuel Davick, Nathan De Monnin, Jesse Ariel Garcia, Talia Graves, Rielly Marquez, Daniel Odnoralov, and Katlyn Pollard.

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Phoebe Nguyen Honored by One Club for Creativity

Collage of One Club for Creativity logo with award winner Phoebe Nguyen in profile beside one of her winning designs.Communication Design B.F.A. Senior Phoebe Nguyen has been awarded Bronze at the recent Denver One Club Annual Awards for Designed to Thrive. This work is an illustrated memory card game for designers to encourage healthy living and avoid bad habits.

Nguyen’s work has also been included in the The One Show’s online exhibition of all 2022 awardees. The statewide creative chapter is part of the larger One Club organization, situated in New York, which is the world’s most prestigious award show in advertising, design and digital marketing. For over 40 years, The One Club has had a rich legacy of honoring some of the most groundbreaking ideas, created by some of the most remarkable minds in creativity.

We congratulate Phoebe on this award and recognition!

Phoebe Nguyen's award-winning sketch designs on playing cards in cornflower blue, tangerine and bright pink.

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Spring 2022 Thesis Exhibitions & Symposium

Spring 2022 BFA Thesis Exhibition - Exhibition Date April 1 - May 6

Spring 2022 BA Studio Art Thesis Exhibition and BA Art History Thesis Symposium May 6, 2-7:30pm

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Congratulations to the Spring 2022 CLAS Graduate Honor Nominees by the Department of Art

The College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences hosts the CLAS Graduate Honoree Reception every semester for students who have been selected by their departments for this distinction. In the Department of Art, faculty and staff have the opportunity to nominate a graduating student whose exceptional academic achievements, leadership qualities, and service contributions to MSU Denver and their communities are notable. After the confidential nomination process faculty and staff vote for one student to receive the CLAS honor.

While each department is allowed only one Honoree, the Department of Art wishes to acknowledge all students nominated for this award. This Spring, faculty and staff nominated Emma Zimmerman and Noelle Betkowski who are both exceptional students and individuals. Read about these students here, whose inspirational stories and high academic achievements embody MSU Denver’s values and mission.

Emma Zimmerman, BFA in Art, CLAS Graduate Honoree

Portrait of Emma Zimmerman As a BFA student in Art, Emma Zimmerman embodies exceptional academic achievement, leadership qualities in and out of the classroom, and a commitment to service that she demonstrates through her involvement in MSU Denver’s artistic and greater campus communities. Faculty nominating Emma commented on her exceptional work ethic, particularly the way she engages in every class meeting where she leads by example. In the words of Professor Yunjin Woo, “Emma unflinchingly demonstrates vulnerable self-reflection and interrogations as both an artist and a student… she has always come to my classes prepared to be vulnerable and challenge herself and others in the pursuit of learning. When provided with challenging questions and critical responses to her studio practice, she has been incredibly gracious and receptive and comes back with stronger work as a result.” Emma’s leadership in the Department is exemplified in her participation in the Senior Experience course, where during install week she was at the gallery every day and helped with nearly every aspect of the show. Ms. Zimmerman also demonstrates significant leadership experience in the broader MSU Denver community and beyond. A passionate advocate for equity and cultivating community, Ms. Zimmerman is an active leader on MSU Denver’s campus as a Fellow for the Gender Institute for Teaching and Advocacy Public Feminism Lab, in which she manages multiple outreach projects and serves as liaison between students and numerous campus departments. Ms. Zimmerman is also a founding student member of MSU Denver’s Restorative Justice Coalition. Professor Carlos Frésquez reflected on his experience working with Ms. Zimmerman in creating a community mural for Curious Theater. In this capacity, Ms. Zimmerman took effort to ensure that the project was reflective of the organization and its community’s preferences, values, and experiences. Emma’s outstanding integrity and her commitment to others embodies the highest values of the Department of Art and the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

 

Noelle Betkowski, BFA in Communication Design, CLAS Graduate Honor Nominee

Portrait of Noelle BetkowskiNoelle Betkowski was nominated by faculty in the department for her outstanding academic achievement since transferring to MSU Denver in 2018. Having earned a 3.82 cumulative G.P.A., her academic success is obvious. Among her many other accomplishments, Noelle was most recently Art Director for Metrosphere Magazine, working closely with the Creative Director, Editor-in-Chief, and creative team, including designers and photographers, to convey the vision for both issues of the 40th volume through design. Editor-in-Chief Julia Nguyen wrote, “With an eye for detail and a willingness to experiment, Noelle has helped elevate Metrosphere both in terms of content and design. She has acted as a leader in guiding discussions when evaluating submissions and feedback sessions of spreads.” Noelle’s passion for excellence in design extends to other leadership roles, having assisted in rebuilding the Future Leaders of Design (FLoD) student club since the pandemic. With other officers, she worked to generate new ideas for the future of the club, helped to plan club activities and designed graphics for events. Having held every officer position, including as President, she has actively recruited new members to ensure the health of the organization going forward. Beyond these leadership positions, Noelle has been an exemplary student in the BFA in Communication Design program where she is consistently focused and attentive to others, and she truly supports a participatory framework for education. She is intellectually curious, as witnessed in class discussions and forums where Noelle’s voice often illuminates the discussion with thoughtful inquiries and meaningful interactions between herself and others in the class. Noelle’s stellar academic performance and her leadership and service to others makes her an outstanding member of the Department of Art, and we couldn’t be prouder of this excellent graduate!

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Fall 2021 Thesis Exhibitions

Please join us for the BA Open Studios and Exhibitions on December 3rd, from 4pm-7:30pm in the Arts Building.

Congratulations to our Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) students on this significant achievement!

Please join us for the BA Open Studios and Exhibitions on December 3rd, from 4pm-7:30pm in the Arts Building.

Visit the BFA Thesis Exhibition from October 29 – December 10, 2021, at the MSU Denver Center for Visual Art.

Preview the BFA Thesis Exhibition online here.

BA Open Studios and Exhibitions on December 3rd, from 4pm-7:30pm in the Arts Building.

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Fall 2021 CLAS Graduate Honor Nominees

Moussa Sakouk, CLAS Graduate Honoree

Portrait of Moussa SakoukMoussa Sakouk will graduate in Fall, 2021 with the BFA in Communication Design. Moussa began studying for his passion for art and design shortly after immigrating to the US from Morocco in 2007. As a self-supporting international student, who did not qualify for student loans, Moussa worked as an AHEC parking attendant and a minimum wage gas station attendant pulling double shifts. Since 2012 Moussa has worked at J.R. Harris & Company, a structural engineering firm, where he has been promoted from Receptionist, to Accountant, to Comptroller-all with no educational training in accounting. In 2012 Moussa completed his Associates in Multimedia Graphic Design from CCD and enrolled in the Communication Design program at MSU Denver. Working full time Moussa has steadily tended to his degree progress—only able to take classes after 3pm, provided he start work early on class day. Despite an interruption in his studies to care for his Mother-in-Law when she was diagnosed with lung cancer and to battle his own health complications, Moussa never lost sight of his goal. “My ultimate goal was to graduate. The goal was easier than the actions it took to get there. However, no matter what, I kept pushing myself.” Moussa’s thesis work speaks to his immigration experience: Americaness: Loading… “reinforces the process of authentic community engagement, where all members of the community have the potential to transform the immigrant experience into a positive and meaningful transition.” Faculty also highlighted that in the nine years he has studied at MSU Denver, Moussa has been unfailingly positive, good natured, and respectful to the faculty and his fellow students. His strength of character is balanced by his genuine and down to earth demeanor, characteristics we deeply value in our program.

Lizeth Hernandez, Nominee for CLAS Graduate Honor

Portrait of Lizeth HernandezLizeth Hernandez will graduate in Fall, 2021 with a BFA in Art. Lizeth is a first-generation college student and for her thesis exhibition, she produced a large-scale mixed media art installation, Resiliencia, that explores her bicultural identity as a Mexican American. She incorporates sewing, photography, and embroidery to visually represent what it was like growing up in the United States while being a first-generation Latina. Since the exhibition opened, Lizeth has already presented three artist talks on her thesis work to young adults from the Denver community as part of the Center for Visual Art’s Art + Action Lab programming. This type of service outreach from a current MSU Denver student is instrumental, as it demonstrates to high school students that it is possible to pursue an education and career in the arts. As a student, Lizeth is not only high achieving, but her desire to help those around her is contagious. Her hardworking attitude and inclusive nature motivate other students in the classroom. Lizeth has had leadership positions as a Teaching Assistant in Photography and a Studio Assistantship in the Jewelry & Metalsmithing studio. Through this experience, Lizeth also volunteered to work on developing the Education Dialogue alongside a committee of educators and professionals for the 2021 Society of North American Goldsmiths Conference. Lizeth is also a gallery assistant at the Center for Visual Art (CVA) where she has co-curated two exhibitions in the 965 Gallery. One of Lizeth’s champion goals was advocating for the inclusion of bilingual Spanish and English wall texts for the exhibitions. Lizeth is humble and motivated—the type of person who truly excels in collaboration and leadership roles. Faculty agreed that Lizeth is a model for current and future students, represents the mission of MSU Denver, and is destined for great success after graduation.

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Spring 2021 BFA Thesis Show

Spring 2021 BFA Thesis ExhibitionThe Spring 2021 BFA Thesis Exhibition is the pinnacle of MSU Denver studio art and communication design students’ education as artists and designers. The graduating students will showcase their work in a joint online exhibition at Spring 2021 BFA Thesis Exhibition.

The MSU Denver BFA Thesis exhibitions are typically held at the Center for Visual Art, however due to social distancing and gathering guidelines, the exhibition is in an online forum. While not held at a physical venue, the graduates have put hours of work into photographing, organizing, and displaying their work on the website to create a dynamic exhibition.

The exhibition will feature the work from the following 28 artists and designers: Aman Alchokr, Grace Baclao, Anniston Craddock, Richard Deanda, Beatrice Drew, Reinna Florez, Sarah Folsom, Diana Garcia, Chris Godoy, Emily Hammack, Nori Hess, Jay Hoppe, Jennifer Hudak, Amanda Jensen, Ariel Kensington, Sophia LaBriola, Ashley LaFrance, Davida Martinez, Eric Sanchez Medel, Greg Nelson, Kara O’Dell, Maria Pardo, Angela Reider, Hannah Scheuerman, Kensey Simm, Sarah Steck, Leah Tschumper, and Parker Wiese.

Each graduate approaches subjects such as relationships, identity, societal structures and perception through their individual mediums which vary from sculpture to communication design, ceramics to painting, and digital media. Shared experiences and vulnerability are a driving force behind these works. Pulling from personal as well as shared experiences, the exhibition allows for a space of communication and awareness into expanded perspectives.

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Kenyatta Cole wins One Club Award

Portrait of student Kenyatta Cole with his winning app for The One Club for Creativity.Graduating Senior Kenyatta Cole has been selected as a 2020 finalist for an award from the One Club for Creativity for his UX/UI Design and prototyping for a new anxiety app called Solify: Calming Everyday Anxiety.

Cole’s work has also been included in the exhibition of all 2020 honorees in an online format called The One Show which is the world’s most prestigious award show in advertising, design and digital marketing. For over 40 years, The One Club has had a rich legacy of honoring some of the most groundbreaking ideas, created by some of the most remarkable minds in creativity.

We congratulate Kenyatta on this award, as well as his recent graduation with a BFA in Communication Design!

 

Meet the Seniors - Fall 2020

Learn more about Fall 2020 Senior Thesis

The Art of Living

Learn more about Army veteran Ralph Root

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"Made in the Future" Fellow

Portrait of Alyssa MoraAlyssa Mora, graduating Senior in Communication Design, was recently honored by being selected as a Made In the Future Fellow. This Fellowship is a career-building design program that provides an immersive foundational curriculum, community support network and access to preeminent industry mentorship for aspiring underrepresented designers.

Mora was also previously awarded “Outstanding Student Organization Member,” given to individuals who demonstrate special commitment and leadership to an MSU Denver organization, during Fall 2020. Her work as student club president with Future Leaders of Design (FLoD), the MSU Denver chapter of American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), “aided the [FLoD] to construct a very solid level of professionalism and growth under her leadership.”

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Adrian Raya Featured in Westword

Self Portrait of Adrian Raya, with intense contrast in the lighting.The Department of Art celebrates the recent article from Westword about our graduating student, Adrian Raya, and the BFA Thesis exhibition.

Raya’s plan was to have three bodies of work at three locations across the city. He would have an installation exploring emojis and ethnic identities in a public area in an MSU building, another in a campus gallery, and two paintings on display at the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council.

Then came the COVID-19 shutdowns. Schools buildings went dark, classes migrated online. And the senior thesis shows were shut down. MSU Denver Art students quickly pivoted, transforming the Spring 2020 BFA Thesis Exhibition, which includes the work of Raya and 34 other MSU students, to an online version.

So exciting to have our students recognized and featured in the press! Check out the Westword article here.

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Kandice Cleveland Publishes Review

Portrait of Kandice ClevelandWe are very proud to share that Communication Design major, Kandice Cleveland, recently had her review of the Francesca Woodman exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art published in the international online contemporary art magazine, This is Tomorrow.

Cleveland, who was enrolled in ARTH 4480 Art Theory and Criticism over the summer, 2019, was mentored by her Theory and Criticism instructor, Rosanna Van Mierlo, who has an extensive background in contemporary art criticism. Van Mierlo put Cleveland in touch with an editor she knew at This is Tomorrow, who was looking to generate a stronger critical culture in Denver, particularly among emerging professionals.

Asked why she took on this extra-curricular opportunity, Kandice said “I always enjoyed writing, so I was on the lookout for opportunities to do both design and writing. After graduation, I would really like to combine both writing and Communication Design, so perhaps I will publish children’s books or short stories.” We think Kandice’s future looks bright since she’s combining her creativity and critical skills in ways that make her well-positioned to meet any challenge she sets for herself. Congratulations, Kandice! Read her review here.

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Spring 2020 BA Symposium

Collage of portraits of BA Symposium student artists and Professor Matt JenkinsThe BA in Art and the BA in Art History, Theory, and Criticism are degrees that teach us to solve problems through creativity and discovery, and we love to share our results in public with our communities. This is why we have research symposia.

Beginning the semester with a goal of the research symposium in mind, our Spring 2020 BA students were well on their way toward shaping their projects for that public format. But midway through the semester, our world was immobilized by a pandemic.

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Chandler Dolan Wins Award

OTTENJOHNSON and Center for Visual Art logos in a gold frame on a Christmas-themed background.Congratulations to Communication Design major, Chandler Dolan, who won a major award for her design, Delight!

Otten Johnson, in partnership with the Center for Visual Art, MSU Denver, announced a call for entry for original art that reflects the holiday season in Denver, open to current students of MSU Denver. Five works were selected for exhibition at Otten Johnson’s Holiday Celebration in November where Chandler’s work was voted for inclusion in Otten Johnson’s seasonal e-card, and she was awarded a $2,500 cash prize.

For the past 5 years, Otten Johnson has partnered with artists and designers creating opportunities to showcase their talent to the firm’s stakeholders and community. Each holiday season, they work with artists to develop a creative, fun digital e-card featuring work that celebrates the holiday season and our unique and vibrant Denver community. Reveal Chandler’s winning design here.

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Student Stories, Art Stories and Events

MSU Denver Art students, alumni, faculty and staff are invited to submit your art stories and events so we can help spread the word on this website, in social media and via other promotions.

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