Maryville College senior art show gives graduating Scots an opportunity to shine
April 24, 2026
Color and creativity will take center stage at the Clayton Center for the Arts galleries through May 11, as eight Maryville College seniors present a multi-media exhibition of their work.
According to Professor of Design Adrienne Schwarte, the exhibitions are a part of the students’ Senior Studies, which all Maryville College students are required to complete at the end of their senior year.
“The show is usually the culmination of their work over the course of the year,” Schwarte said. “In these shows, we have design, photography, drawing and painting, digital video, immersive experiences/interior design displays and more — and they all belong here.”
Exhibits and artists on display through April 11 include:
Darius Martin ’26, Design major, “Shirt Design” (T-shirt/print design)
“I want to design shirts that are aesthetic, colorful and popular, depicting familiar characters and activities such as sports. T-shirts have the opportunity to depict interesting imagery and the main focus of the shirt design,” Martin said.
Emily Buchner ’26, Art major, “Decent of Madness” (mixed media)
“Descent of Madness is a mixed media body of work built from photography, sculpture and painting. It reimagines Wonderland not as an escape, but as a map of the interior landscape trauma survivors navigate,” Buchner said.
Seth Carter ’26, Design major, “SJC discipleship” (Christian clothing brand)
“Through my designs, I aim to merge the boldness of streetwear with the depth of Christian truth. I want to create pieces that are not only aesthetically strong, but spiritually meaningful — clothing that starts conversations, inspires confidence and reflects a relationship with God in a modern, authentic way,” Carter said.
Lauren Huffstetler ’26, Design major, “Gathered in the Foothills — Designing Women’s Outdoor Belonging” (digital design)
“Through a cohesive digital identity system — including typography, color systems, environmental mockups, web design and retreat collateral — this body of work explores how intentional design can make outdoor spaces feel more accessible, welcoming and rooted in place for women,” Huffstetler said.
Anna Price ’26, Art major, “Chaotic Soul — The Wild Harmony of Nature” (Mixed Media)
“My work explores themes of wildlife conservation, and the question: Does a wild animal have the same soul that we do? This is important now because I feel the more technology begins to rise the more humanity lets the natural world take a backseat,” Price said.
Aiden Redman ‘26, Design major, “Stop and Smell the Flowers” (audio/visual)
“My display explores themes of nature and nostalgia. It uses an ambient soundscape to immerse viewers. With how quickly life moves forward, I find it important to slow things down and appreciate the present as opposed to focusing so intently on the future,” Redman said.
Ally “Myka” Roberts ’26, Design major, “The Visual Language of Kanji” (posters/calligraphy)
“As someone who experiences the world visually and intensely, I found myself connecting to these characters beyond the language of Japanese, sensing weight in 日 (sun), restlessness in 心 (heart) and barely contained chaos in 愛 (love), each one feeling like its own small universe. My thesis became an exploration of what makes these characters themselves; how far they can be stretched, distorted, broken or rebuilt before losing recognition, and whether someone who can’t read them can still understand them through form alone,” Roberts said.
Emma Robertson ’26, Design major, “What Makes a House a Home?” (Material boards, lighting, and framed pictures)
“My art show explores different themes of interior design in residential spaces, including the living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. This show navigates how different aspects of a home can make people feel emotionally,” Robertson said.
A reception for all exhibiting seniors to celebrate their success will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. May 1 in the galleries, located in both Building A (DENSO and La Dolce Vita galleries) and Building B (Blackberry Farm and William “Ed” Harmon galleries) of the Clayton Center for the Arts. Gallery hours are 10 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Gallery admission is free, and the reception is free and open to the public.
— Written by McKenna Marr ’28
