Color and creativity filled the Student Union plaza Thursday as student artists gathered to showcase their work and connect with the campus community.

The annual arts festival, hosted by the Student Union Activities Board, provided a space for students from across campus to share their artistic talents.

For Garrett Hargrove, SUAB coordinator, the festival was an opportunity to highlight the creativity and talent of Oklahoma State University students.

“We hope for the Arts Festival to be a space which allows them to receive exposure while also partaking in a large-scale event that they might not be able to elsewhere,” Hargrove said. “All students are welcome at SUAB's Arts Festival.”

Student vendors were unique and no two creative works were the same.

Brooke Sprague, a senior landscape architecture student from Verdigris, Oklahoma, sold hand-carved wooden ornaments to help fund academic trips related to her program.

“We went to the landscape architecture convention in Los Angeles about a month ago, and that was pretty pricey,” Sprague said. “So we're selling ornaments to try and raise some money for the next conference.”

Sidney Hasenmyer, a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, wanted to be involved with the SUAB festival to showcase her oil paintings and gain exposure.

“I've never tried to sell my art, and this was a free sign-up event,” Hasenmyer said. “I thought it would be a great way to get introduced to the marketplace and vendors.”

Customers varied from college-aged students to parents and professors. Each vendor had personal interactions with patrons, which added an element of encouragement for the artists.

Kennedy Wright, a senior music industry voice major from Tulsa, appreciated the opportunity to talk to local artists and felt it brought a sense of familiarity to the experience.

“Art soothes the soul, and it can make you feel things,” Wright said. “It's different when you can talk to the person who made it, and it was really cool to see someone putting what I was feeling onto a page.”

Hasenmyer, a Stillwater native, participated in the SUAB Arts Festival for more than just financial gain. Through her artwork, she hopes to leave a lasting impression and inspire curiosity in others.

“I like to make my art engaging,” Hasenmyer said. “And even if people don't buy anything, they'll still remember your name, your booth and they might hit you up sometime in the future.”

The annual festival has steadily grown since its inception seven years ago. In fact, this year had more student vendor applications than any year previous.

Hargrove hopes to build on this momentum and encourage greater support for local art.

“There are a ton of incredibly talented student artists on this campus,” Hargrove said. “We hope that students are able to form connections with new faces and feel that they belong as a part of the Cowboy family.”

2026 SUAB Arts Festival

Story By: Rachel Teran | rachel.teran10@okstate.edu