2025 Juried Student Exhibition

The 2025 University of Florida Juried Student Art Exhibition is a vibrant and thought-provoking showcase of student talent, offering a unique glimpse into the multifaceted practices of the selected artists. As in years past, the works were anonymously shared with the juror and the jurying process involved consideration of certain criteria, such as innovation and originality, craftsmanship and technique, and content and subject matter, but the most convincing criteria was the overall impact of the work. From a pool of 209 submissions, 50 diverse works by 42 undergraduate and graduate students were selected, representing a spectrum of mediums: painting, sculpture, ceramics, textile, video, photography, and digital art. Some students thoughtfully provided brief statements, offering the juror a greater insight into their current artistic practice. While some artists opted to showcase a range of works demonstrating the breadth of their practice, others focused on presenting a single, strong piece, or a cohesive series. As a result, certain artists are represented by multiple works in the exhibition, ensuring that all selected artists have a truthful representation of their recent work.


This year's exhibition carries a loose, yet recurrent thematic thread centered around the concept of Internal Worlds — those deeply personal, intricate worlds that exist within us all. Many of the works on display delve into the complex realms of memory, family lineage, gender identity, and the construction of the self, as well as the rites of passage and markers of identity that we carry with us.


One of the most striking aspects of this year’s exhibition is the exceptional range of sculptures, particularly in ceramics. A powerful testament to the evolving nature of the medium, these works highlight the physicality of ceramics while also pushing the boundaries of the medium itself. Many of the pieces presented are not only sculpturally exciting but also engage in a dialogue between tradition and innovation, expanding the possibilities of what ceramics can be. These works transcend their materiality and invite the viewer to consider not just the form and texture of the medium, but the emotional, spiritual, and psychological weight it can carry.


A number of artists have also chosen to work in figurative painting, a trend that continues to captivate both the art world at-large and viewers alike. This year’s selection of figurative works presents an exciting exploration of the human form, pushing the boundaries of simple representation and seeking to explore the psychological depth of relationships, self-portraiture, or family ties for example. The range of approaches — from realistic portraits to more abstract interpretations — showcases the versatility of figurative art and its potential for conveying complex emotions, experiences, and identities. Each brushstroke is a meditation on the human condition, offering new perspectives on the timeless themes of vulnerability, strength, and transformation.


Equally compelling are the mixed media works featured in this year’s exhibition. Incorporating fibers, textiles, and other materials, such as found objects, these works provide a tactile connection to deeply personal narratives. The artists who use these materials do so with intention, drawing on the rich symbolism of their medium to weave together stories of family, memory, and selfhood. There is a certain intimacy in these works, an invitation for the viewer to feel the texture of the artist’s experience, as if the material itself held the secrets of their inner connection to the world.


The exhibition also features some brilliant photography examples, where the camera or the photographic image and process become a tool for capturing not the external world but an internal experience, such as inner thoughts or emotions. Other photographic works reflect the artist’s personal history, offering a poignant meditation on identity, and the weight of displacement and migration. Perhaps one of the most unexpected aspects of this year’s exhibition is the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) by a select few artists who have coupled it with their photography or videography practice. In this rapidly evolving digital age, AI presents both challenges and opportunities for creative expression. In this exhibition, the works that incorporate AI demonstrate how its technology can be used as an efficient tool, without compromising the creative content or the artist’s intent and agency. These pieces raise important questions about the intersection of art, technology, human emotions and the natural world, translating them into tangible, visual experiences.


Together, these diverse works form a powerful exhibition that offers a glimpse into the current practice of University of Florida student artists. The art on view is raw, real, filled with interesting techniques, impactful messages, and a rich visual language charged with emotional and conceptual impact.


Thanks to the generous support of Gary R. Libby, the Juried Student Exhibition has transcended mere exhibition space and morphed into a vibrant platform for engagement. The diverse practices students embrace find a home here, sparking meaningful dialogue about the world we inhabit and the stories we choose to tell.


Artists included in the 2025 exhibition are: Abigail Schaefer, Abigail Victoria Waldhauer, Adrian Cadena, Alex Abair, Alex Awuku, Alexia Rangel Krashenitsa, Alysa Hicks, Amanda Moran, Anna Foppe, Aurora Pavlish-Carpenter, Benedicta Opoku-Mensah, Caroline Emmerich, Caswell Shamblin, Charis Cochran, Cianna Smith, Didi Elkhayat, Dodson, Dylan Reed, Ebenezer Nketsiah Mensah, Elmira Yousefi, Emily Conaty, Grace Tompkins, Isabella Gialluca, Jackson Domenico, Jade Bennett, Jillian Dahl, Karina Yanes, Kayli Richter, Kelsey Barton, Lainie Ettema, Leia Ciociola, Leila M. Elguennich, Makena Vargo, Maria del Pilar Arrieta, Maximos Barogiannis, Nicholas Phitides, Nicole B. Beaufrand, Rebecca E. Huaman, Rubin Gabeau, Sierra Natal, Sydney Hinton, Valerie Luciow 


- Coralie Claeysen-Gleyzon (Juror)


Exhibition-related Programming

Opening Reception
Friday, February 7, 2025, 5-7 PM


Juror Talk
February 7, 2025
12PM
FAC 201


Additional information

The graduate program in Art History at the University of Florida offers a global art history program covering a breadth of content from across time and space. The program also offers a

graduate certificate in curatorial studies. For more information, please visit: https://arts.ufl.edu/academics/art-and-art-history/programs/art-history/degrees-ways-to-study/


About University Galleries
The University of Florida University Galleries’ mission is to be a platform for relevant and experimental art research and a place where pressing contemporary conversations are amplified and shared with the university and expanded communities. The UG advances the School of Art + Art History’s commitment to the visual arts by offering an experimental space to bring people together around art and ideas, improving accessibility and inclusivity through direct student and community engagement; increasing the school’s visibility as a center for critical discourse around artistic research, production, and scholarship, leading with preeminent programming.

University Galleries are comprised of three art galleries. Gary R. Libby University Gallery (GRLUG) provides the greater Gainesville community with a contemporary venue that explores new directions in visual art, incorporating historical perspectives. Exhibitions feature nationally and internationally known artists, studio art faculty, and MFA graduating thesis projects. The Gary R. Libby Focus Gallery and the Constance and Linton Grinter Gallery of International Art present art exhibitions that are organized by graduate student curators, in conjunction with the director of the galleries, allowing students to learn experientially about curation, organization, and exhibition making.


Parking Information
Daytime Parking There are 3 reserved gallery parking spots located in the lot just east of Reid Hall. From SW 13th Street, enter campus via Museum Road, then take the first right into the Orange decal parking lot and follow the lot until it dead-ends. The gallery spots can be found on the right, facing SW 13th Street. A temporary (one-day) parking pass can be retrieved from the Gary R. Libby University Gallery. Parking restrictions for this lot are lifted at 4:30pm.

Reception Parking The closest parking to the Gary R. Libby University Gallery is the lot behind (to the west of) Tigert Hall. From University Avenue, enter campus via Buckman Drive and turn left onto Union Road. Follow Union Road through the 4-way stop. The parking lot entrance is on the right just past Walker Hall. Parking restrictions for this lot are lifted at 5:30pm.


Parking permits are issued to gallery visitors in the University Gallery.


For more information, please contact the University Gallery at (352) 273-3000 or visit our website at www.arts.ufl.edu/galleries.

Address

400 SW 13th Street
Fine Arts Building B (FAB)
Gainesville
FL 32611

Phone

(352) 273-3000

Website

Gary R. Libby University Gallery Website