UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The HUB-Robeson Galleries, in partnership with the Fox Graduate School, will present the Visual Arts Annual Graduate Research Exhibition, on display in the HUB Gallery from Mar. 28 through Apr. 27 on the University Park campus. Established in 1986, the Graduate Research Exhibition places special emphasis on communicating research and their creative endeavors to a general audience and offers professional development opportunities by challenging students to present their work to new audiences.
The Visual Arts option is designed for students required to create studio work as a part of their graduate degree program and gives candidates the opportunity to demonstrate the significance of their ideas and creative research to jurors from outside of their field. All are welcome to the presentations of candidates on Mar. 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the HUB Gallery. Meet current Visual Arts graduate students and learn more about their studio practice.
Throughout their programs, master of fine arts degree candidates work closely with art faculty and fellow artists to develop advanced techniques, expand concepts, discuss critical issues and emerge with a vision for their personal work. Through a broad range of mediums spanning from painting and drawing to ceramic, graphic design and new media, each piece is compelling in its own way and demonstrates the diversity of artistic research by Penn State graduate students.
This year’s Visual Arts Annual Graduate Research Exhibition features a variety of artwork speaking to the personal experiences of six different candidates.
- Elaheh Babaei’s “Tokmeh Couture” explores the intersection of Iranian architectural ornaments and contemporary fashion through graphic design inspired by the structural elegance of tessellation.
- Working with photomontage, Venus Bayat uses historical moments of women's presence throughout generations by merging an unknown 1960s photographer with their own contemporary work. Bayat’s, “The Women Who Keep History Alive” explores the intersection of the past and present and emphasizes how women preserve and reinterpret history.
- Robert Botchway delves into the intricate relationship between emotion and musical expression by blending fragments of musical instruments with abstract ceramic sculptures.
- Cecil Fish’s innovative approach to painting in the expanded field centers on the complexity of connecting with an over-abundant world.
- Betsa Houshmandipanah’s, “Warp and Weft” is inspired by childhood memories, particularly a Persian rug. She breathes new life into traditional forms through a combination of clay and yarn, which transforms the textile into a three-dimensional form.
- Adwar Oguttuh’s large-scale confrontational portraits capture profound stories of resilience for each subject.
Each work of art in the Visual Arts Annual Graduate Research Exhibition reveals insights into the creative process. Penn State graduate students’ dedicated study and artistic exploration culminate in work that provokes reflection on contemporary art practices and fosters dialogue on the meaning of artmaking today.
The HUB-Robeson Galleries welcomes and encourages class, office, and student organization group visits. Student and staff-led tours are available; email Galleries@psu.edu with inquiries. For more information on this and other exhibitions, visit the HUB-Robeson Galleries webpages. Keep up to date with HUB-Robeson Galleries by signing up for our Listserv or following us on Instagram @hubrobesongalleries.