52nd Annual Student Art Show

About the Annual Juried Student Art Show

The Juried Student Art Show has been a staple at USI for decades. Once each year since 1970, we have had the honor of showcasing the skill and creativity of our own art and design students.

Since the Fall semester of 2008, we have held the show within the walls of our unique, on-campus space: the McCutchan Art Center and Pace Galleries. Hosting the student art show in this professional setting gives students real-world, résumé-building experience in preparing and displaying their work while also boosting their confidence in applying to future gallery exhibitions.

Each student may enter up to 4 works in any combination of media. The works are chosen for the final exhibition by an expert in the field of art, invited by the Art and Design faculty for his/her expertise and understanding of undergraduate artworks. This independent juror is brought in to assure an objective selection of artworks and awards, and to provide an educational experience for students in preparation for professional careers in art. The jurying of the show is also an important aspect of this tradition because it creates a competition for the limited gallery space⏤students must put forth their best work which, in turn, raises the quality of the show overall.

About the Juror

Travis Townsend draws, builds, rebuilds, paints and tinkers upon wood and mixed media sculptures in his Lexington studio. His process-oriented works evolve from sketches and travel through many transformations before being cut apart, reassembled and reworked (sometimes many years later). Parts are often transplanted or recycled.

Travis studied at Kutztown University and Virginia Commonwealth University and has presented solo exhibitions at The Parachute Factory, Washington State University, Manifest Gallery, Doppler PDX, Southwest School of Art, Weston Gallery and the New Arts Program. His work has been included in numerous group exhibitions and appeared in the publications New American Paintings, The Manifest International Drawing Annual, and The Penland Book of Woodworking.

He has been a resident artist at Penland School of Craft, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Vermont Studio Center, and Peters Valley School. His awards include an Emerging Artist grant from the American Craft Council, a fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council, three sculpture grants from the Virginia A. Groot Foundation and recent travel grants from the Great Meadows Foundation.

Learn more at travistownsendart.com.

Artists selected for inclusion in the exhibition are:

Awards