Seven Cornell College graduating studio art majors will display their senior thesis shows on April 6–15, exhibiting a variety of art forms including painting, ceramics, mixed media, multimedia art, and much more.
An opening reception will be held from 2–4 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, in McWethy Hall’s Peter Paul Luce Gallery, Cole Library Gallery, and Hall-Perrine in Thomas Commons where the exhibitions will be featured. In addition, two art history majors will present their thesis papers in 222 McWethy Hall at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 6.
The shows are free and open to the public. A second round of senior art shows will open later in April.
Each artist’s show presents a culmination of the year’s work, with a variety of media and subjects displayed throughout the pieces. All Cornell senior studio art majors receive their own studio spaces and prepare exhibitions of entirely fresh bodies of work in the mediums of their choice. They propose their exhibitions before the department faculty, mount the exhibitions, and advertise and defend their shows in front of the art and art history professors.
At 1 p.m. April 6 in McWethy 222, Eliza Carlson ’25 will present “Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies: Botanical Illustration through the Lens of Early 20th Century Fairy Art,” and Zoe Lopez ’25 will present “Delilah Montoya's El Guadalupano: Exploring The Masculine and La Virgen de Guadalupe."
Here is how the artists describe their exhibitions:
Fiona Anderson
Anderson uses her work as a commentary on the feminine experience by using a combination of her own characters and birds. She creates narrative paintings to express a connection with the figures and the birds as well as herself and a broader sense of womanhood. Anderson’s goal to cover a variety of topics relating to a feminine experience in order to not reduce these figures down to just their identity as a woman. Anderson uses both acrylic and oil paints as well as paint markers and oil pastels to create textured art pieces that emphasize feelings over realism.
Alyson Brennan
“Reflections of Tranquility” explores the artist’s identity by using fabric from family and capturing the places she calls home. She uses a combination of mark making and interaction of colors through watercolor. She incorporates paint and textiles to portray the memory of the artist's home and the beauty hidden within.
Harrison Early
In his new show “Emergent Forms,” Early celebrates the concepts of exploration, curiosity, and the joy of trying new things. Featuring a diverse collection of ceramic works, the exhibition showcases pieces that reflect Early’s experimentation with clay, advancing his skill in new ways. These pieces tell a story of Early’s advancement in art, whether through unconventional glazing methods, unexpected color combinations, or new forms. The show invites viewers to embrace the spirit of discovery, much like Early does in the studio, where every piece is an opportunity to learn, evolve, and grow with clay.
Shaniyah Freeman
This artist’s collection explores the use of mixed media and acrylic paint through traditional techniques with experimental approaches. Ideas of creative ingenuity with personal connection, landscape environments, and overall exploration reflect a deep fascination for the inner workings of 2D art. It allows the artist to encourage rethinking how art can be experienced through diverse media coverage to evoke emotion and thought from the viewers.
Meg Lewis
How did I lose myself? When did I let go of the little girl I once was? Meg had once felt comfortable, covered by the veil of childhood, but now it seemed like a blindfold. She couldn’t connect with who she had been, yet she still clung to the idea of knowing that person in any way possible. Nostalgia, nostalgia—what is it that makes her want to glue this feeling to the inside of her chest, chasing the feeling, swimming in it? By exploring a surrealistic world with her younger self, she attempts to regrow the bond between who she used to be and who she has become. Getting to know this stranger by asking questions and analyzing—What are the things they both like? What are the things that still scare them? What did that little girl believe, and how has that belief manifested in who she is today? How and when did she leave that girl behind? Through this, others might understand and perhaps even question their own knowledge of themselves and this inner connection. How much do we really associate with our younger selves? Through this process, she uses watercolor and embarked on a journey of self-discovery and recovery to create “The Girl I Once Was.”
Lillian Leon
“Fragments From My Frayed Wings” is a multimedia art exhibition exploring the relationships between religion, culture, colonization, loss, and connection. Displayed like a traditional ofrenda (offering), this exhibit aims to discuss the influence that religion has on relationships, how people change when they are exposed to the world at large, and our connection to the natural elements. Leon hopes to communicate with people of all backgrounds the importance of holding on to memories and how art can create connections throughout generations.
Aina Phelps
“Records En Color” is an exhibition that celebrates the love and memories Phelps experienced with her grandmother, Iaia, before she passed three years ago. Their bond was more than just close—it was a soul connection. This exhibition serves as both a celebration and an act of remembrance that transforms feelings of grief into bright works. Using bold color palettes and form, Phelps channels emotions of love, loss, and even nostalgia into these vibrant works. Each piece references a specific memory that the two experienced together, from playing board games to eating lollipops. Other pieces reference specific objects that also serve as links to their time together. The use of color and the abstract style represent how memories shift over time even if they sometimes fade into different forms. Through this exhibition, Phelps honors Iaia’s lasting presence and serves as a reminder of how love and memory can live on in color, objects, and the moments of loved ones we carry with us.
Visiting Hours
Luce Gallery is open Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–4 pm, and Sunday 2–4 p.m. Cole Library is open various hours throughout the week as posted on its website, and Hall-Perrine in the Thomas Commons is open to the public from 8:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. unless a prior event is scheduled in the space.