USAO’s Art Department highlights alumni in homecoming exhibit
The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma Art Department has officially opened its second OCW/OCLA/USAO Art Alum Exhibition. The show celebrates the past and present, and there is no better time than homecoming to do just that.
The closing reception will be held Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. in the newly renovated 3rd Floor Gallery in Davis Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
“We feel very privileged to offer this invitational exhibition to our alumni who majored in art through the years,” said Jacquelyn Knapp, art department coordinator and director of the 3rd Floor Gallery. “The art department faculty has always emphasized the idea that all students should leave us with their own voice and their own concepts.”
Submissions varied in medium and concepts, offering a wide range of perspectives to truly immerse viewers. The exhibit will offer paintings, drawings, ceramics, metalwork, silversmithing, sculpture, expanded media, photography, video, illustration and graphics. Concepts you will experience include western, Native American, abstract expressionism, surrealism, expanded media, conceptual, realism and hyperrealism.
“Ninety alums answered our call,” boasted Knapp. “All of the work is exceptional, but we are most proud of the diversity of media, concept and iconography. This exhibition is evidence of our philosophy to embrace your individual self.”
Each alumni was allowed one entry to be delivered or mailed by Oct. 14. Those submissions were combined for the two-week exhibit exposing our current students to the works of those who came before them. Art was submitted from several states including New York City, Nevada, Texas and Nebraska.
“The work represents eight decades of creativity including alumni from all three of our namesakes with the oldest work from the 1950s and the most recent from spring 2023 graduates,” Knapp shared.
To view the exhibit ahead of the closing reception, visit the 3rd Floor Gallery Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. While you do not need to register for the closing reception, you can make the most out of your trip to campus by registering for other homecoming events at usao.edu/homecoming.