CLARKSVILLE, TN – Austin Peay State University’s Department of Art + Design, with support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, is hosting the 58th annual Juried Student Exhibition from April 13-29 in The New Gallery, with a reception at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29. This exhibition is free and open to the public during The New Gallery’s hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays; it’s located inside the Art + Design Building.
This competitive juried show honors the department’s outstanding student artists for their hard work and creativity throughout the past academic year. It is professionally juried from outside Austin Peay, emulating the practice of real-world art shows. It allows students to participate in a professional exhibition where a qualified juror selects artwork and artistic merit awards.
The Department of Art and Design, along with the jurors, will select a winning artwork for the APSU Permanent Collection.
This year’s juror is Cesar Rivera, a San Antonio native and award-winning communication designer with over 50 honors from leading organizations, including Graphis, AIGA, and AdFed. A U.S. Army veteran, Rivera holds associate degrees from San Antonio College and both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication design from Texas State University.
He currently serves as chief design officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he leads the CDC Visual Design Branch in delivering expertise across visual communication, data visualization, and campaign design, and sits on the American Institute of Graphic Arts National Board of Directors. Prior to this role, Rivera built a diverse career working with major brands, running his own design studio, co-founding the AIGA San Antonio chapter, and teaching in higher education.
“The students produced a unique body of work that represents the Department of Art + Design’s commitment to craft and creativity,” says Rivera. “The work chosen highlights different areas of study and symbolizes the critical thinking, risk-taking, and creative curiosity needed to succeed in today’s very competitive creative industries. The hope is for the show to inspire visitors to explore what is possible through art + design.”
This year’s exhibition features 55 works from 45 student artists chosen from 222 submissions. Selected artists include: Macie Addley, Brooke Allen, Avery Beck, Ginger Bertoni, Jazlin Bishop, Madiline Briggs, Gracie Brock, Breana Cashman, Delilah Chacon, Marlee Chaney, Hannah Chales, Emerson Cleghorne, Isabel Fortine, Lily Goodowens, Lauren Gray, Jenea Hall, Zella Hamilton, Willow Hardester, Naomi Hundt, Ashlee Knowlton, Cheyenne Korenich, Oliver Lambert, Alexandria Ledger, Brianna Lopez, Annika Lowe, Amelia Mackin, Sydni MacPherson, Karalina Medeiros, Melodie Moen, Victoria Nave, Mack Netherton, Eren Nichols, Emma Pack, Annalee Parker, Jennifer Pryor, Eden Reece, Jocelyn Rivera, Samantha Rosencrants, Jordan Sasmore, Emily Shelton, Julianna Smith, Keyon St.Firmin, Veronica Vielma, Abby Vlach, and Dayanara Williams.
For more information, contact Gallery Director Jaroslava Prihodova at prihodovaj@apsu.edu. To learn about future CECA Visiting Artist Speaker Series events, visit https://www.apsu.edu/art-design/visiting-artist/index.php.