Student creativity celebrated at art show reception

Student creativity celebrated at art show reception Student creativity celebrated at art show reception Miles Davis, News Reporter October 15, 2026 Natasha Gomez Students walk around looking at art pieces that were selected for the annual Student Juried Exhibition hosted by the WKU Department of Art and Design in the Main Gallery of Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. Editor’s note: Shelbi Bale is the design editor for the College Heights Herald. WKU’s Department of Art and Design hosted the Student Juried Art Show reception and awards ceremony, showcasing a diverse array of media by a diverse group of artists. Students and faculty gathered in the Main Gallery area of the Fine Arts Center on Wednesday to view the work put on display. Patrons enjoyed refreshments and pizza while viewing oil paintings, sculptures, computer animations and more. Each year, the show invites a different juror who designates the awards. This year it was T. Michael Martin, an art and design professor and the director of the university galleries at Murray State University. Though he did not attend the reception in person, Martin shared his appreciation for being selected as juror in a written statement put on display at the exhibit. “The scope of creativity, variety of perspectives, and range of artistic approaches represented in the submissions were truly impressive,” Martin said in his statement. Martin gave out a variety of awards, including “Best of Show” and the best pieces in each specific medium. Elyse Wilcox, a freshman majoring in visual arts earned third place overall and a prize of $75 with her piece “The Boba Shop.” The piece utilized a variety of materials, including oil pastel, sticky notes and hot glue. Wilcox said a boba shop in Cincinnati served as inspiration. “Every wall was covered in these Post-it notes that customers had drawn on, and I thought that they were really beautiful,” Wilcox said. “I really like when people express themselves when it’s something silly like that.” Sophomore graphic design major Melissa Valdez looks at pieces of art alongside hers for the annual Student Juried Exhibition hosted by the WKU Department of Art and Design in the Main Gallery of Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. (Natasha Gomez) Tyler Boerger, a freshman majoring in interior design, revieved an extra push from his Drawing Foundations professor, Mike Nichols, before entering his charcoal pencil drawing titled“Hoppers Lighthouse” the art show. “I honestly didn’t think I’d get here because, honestly, I never really saw myself as a creative master,” Boerger said. “It’s really cool seeing it amongst all these really nice, fleshed out pictures.” The following is a list of the awards presented: Best of show: Presley Compton, “Anywhere but here” First place: Ashlyn Smith, “Her (Me), Me (Me)” Second place: Maria Boggess, “Body Pillow” Third place: Elyse Wilcox, “The Boba Shop” Best ceramics: Silas Myers, “Stand Alone” Best drawing: Mekenzie Cornett, “Untitled 1” Best foundations Work [created in 130, 131, 140]: Isabella Johnson, Selina Kyle Best painting: Ashlyn Smith, “Her (Me), Me (Me)” Best print: Emma Cox, “Little Donna & Joy” Best sculpture: Tiffany Dotson, “To Die in Your Arms” Best use of typography: Shelbi Bale, “Design for Good Project: MEOWMAIL!” Best poster design: Prentiss Alford, “Unbothered” Best lifestyle design: Morgan Solomon, “Solomon-Vacation Home” Best applied design: Melissa Valdez, “U is for Universe” Best animation: Daniel Goodrich, “R0B1” Juror’s choice: Vi Mathis, “Family Vacation” The gallery will remain open to the public on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Nov. 11. “My hope is that this exhibition both celebrates and demonstrates the value of creative exploration and the essential role visual arts play in expanding how we see, understand, question, and engage with a complex world,” Martin said. 0 Like This Story Share on Facebook Share on X Email this Story Print this Story Tags: art art department art gallery ceramics design designer fac fac gallery paint painter painting sculpture student juried art show wku department of art and design More to Discover More in Arts & Culture Reception Wednesday for student art show When the Clock starts, everyone finds the beat Cadence at the Colonnades: WKU Jazz Band hosts outdoor concert Lowell Harrison Distinguished Lecture discusses Civil War attire Fleaji Vintage Market raises money for Trained-Alzheimer’s research Bowling Green goes global for annual International Festival About the Contributors Miles Davis, Staff Reporter Miles Davis is a news reporter for the Herald. Davis is a freshman majoring in journalism and broadcasting with a minor in psychology. Originally from Louisville, this is his first year on staff for student publications. Natasha Gomez, Staff Photographer Natasha Gomez is a sophomore majoring in Journalism. She is a staff photographer for the Herald and news reporter for Herald Español.