OSU Studio Art Capstone Exhibition opens in Gardiner Art Gallery

Monday, March 27, 2023

Media Contact: Jordan Bishop | Editor, Department of Brand Management | 405-744-7193 | jordan.bishop@okstate.edu

The Oklahoma State University studio art BFA capstone exhibition opened Thursday, March 23, at the Gardiner Gallery of Art in the Bartlett Center on OSU’s Stillwater campus. 

The collection consists of art from three graduating seniors, with featured pieces representing the culmination of their years at OSU experimenting, developing and refining a distinct body of work that demonstrates their artistic growth.

Students featured in the exhibition were Austin Dawes, Emily Singleton and Echo Smith. 

“Each person is exploring concepts related to the complexities of their multifaceted identities,” said Jessica Teckemeyer, assistant professor of sculpture. “Thematically, this is the most cohesive BFA exhibition I have seen in my four years at OSU. We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of these three students.”

The work on view represents various areas of the studio art field, including painting, sculpture, photography and printmaking. The gallery represents the students’ understanding of their identity and self-perception. Dawes tells a story of acceptance and clarity. 

“I came upon figuration through painting self-portraits in an attempt to examine, and even alter, my self-perception,” Dawes said. “The act of putting myself outside of my body, of self-objectifying, provided clarity. Through sculpture, it became clearer that objects, non-subjects, help humans see ourselves. By identifying with objects, we find a perspective beyond our bodies from which to look at ourselves.” 

Singleton’s collection, On My Own, studies relationships, space and time and how she reflects on them. Singleton created her work inspired by other artists who practice photographic manipulation. 

“In this series, I use compositing to create multiples of myself within scenes of impossible realism,” Singleton said. “Both fictional and autobiographical, these orchestrated tableaus depict the nuances of self-perception and employ a sense of the uncanny. With photographic manipulation, I can document a space in time that never actually existed.”

Smith's work depicts struggles in daily life and adjusting to adulthood. Through oil painting and print, Smith examines emotions related to the mundane. 

“I examine anxiety, frustration, burnout and dread,” Smith said. “Many of my artworks feature multiples of myself interacting with each other in a shared space. The figures work together to solve mundane but stressful problems such as doing the dishes, getting ready in the morning, or dealing with car trouble. The use of the repeated self represents the interior conversations that occur as I work through my anxiety.” 

The exhibition is on view through Friday, April 7, and is free and open to the public. A reception will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 23. Beginning at 6 p.m., students will provide a brief artists’ talk. The Gardiner Gallery of Art is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturdays by appointment.  

For more information on this exhibition and related programming or to subscribe to the Gardiner email list, visit the gallery’s website or email gardinergallery@okstate.edu. OSU student fees, the College of Arts and Sciences and gallery donors sponsor exhibitions and programs in the Gardiner Gallery of Art. 

 

Story By: Haley Simpson | haley.simpson@okstate.edu