Student Art Show Features UT’s Creative Talent

This year the University of Tampa’s annual student art exhibition included over 50 eclectic pieces from creative students. The student showcase made its debut to the public on April 4 and will continue until April 24. Each student featured is displaying pieces of work that involves their area of expertise, which includes painting, ceramics, mixed media and much more.

For UT senior Keith Evans, paper and graphite are his preferred mediums as noted by his chosen display piece “Hendrix I,” a portrait of the late rock n’ roll legend Jimi Hendrix.

“I think that picture is so symbolic of his entire attitude and approach to music. It was sleek and sophisticated,” Evans said.

Evans may have started his journey at UT as a business management major, but ever since he declared art as his minor, he has been able to hone his passion for creative expression. He uses his talents to showcase his admiration for pop icons and their craft.

“I’m influenced by pop culture. I love pop culture. I like the fascination and buzz that we as ‘normal people’ give to celebrities,” Evans said.

A majority of Evan’s work entails pictures that embody the character of famed celebrities. However, with the recent passing of his father, Evans’work has taken on a whole new meaning.

“[My father] actually bought the paper that I drew the Jimi Hendrix on. That piece and whatever success I may find is dedicated to him,” Evans said.

Although most of Evans’ visions become a reality when he puts pencil to paper, he doesn’t want to limit himself as an artist. Evans is also an avid painter, often experimenting with oils on canvas.

“I don’t want to put myself in any genre of art. I would consider myself to be an artist that’s exploring,” Evans said.

For UT junior Jana Graves, changing her major proved that digital art was her creative niche. Although Graves initially entered UT as a biology major, she eventually found that art allowed her to express her thoughts on societal issues.

“I just want to show just how messed up America is. We’re so into ourselves that we don’t realize everything that’s going on,” Graves said.

Graves is showing two pieces in the exhibition, “Wedding” and “Wall Street War.” The latter is a mixed media piece that delves deep with a backdrop displaying the iconic Kevin Carter photo of a vulture preying upon an emaciated Sudanese toddler. The piece also features men in suits with television sets for heads.

“I wanted to juxtapose Wall Street and all the greed that’s going on,” Graves said.

Graves drew inspiration for “Wall Street War” from The Sounds of Animals Fighting’s “Uzbekistan” when she was assigned in her design class to create a piece based off of a song.

“You really do have to look up the lyrics. The very end talks about how people are really materialistic and ungrateful for the things that they have,” Graves said.

Graves further explained that the song describes how through advertising, “We want what the companies want us to want and [we] don’t think outside of the box.”

UT junior Nick Oliveri’s piece focused on one major company: Wal-Mart. After viewing the documentary The High Cost of Low Prices, the painting major felt compelled to create a piece that would expose the corporation in its wrongdoings.

“Basically they exploit a lot of their sub companies that they sell from and their employees,” Oliveri said.