Recent Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Exhibitions

Spring 2024

The Kansas State University Department of Art will present the Graphic Design BFA Exhibition from April 18-26th in the Mark A. Chapman Gallery, in Willard Hall. A reception will be held from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm on Friday, April 26th in the gallery. Events are free and open to the public.

The Mark A. Chapman Gallery on the first floor of Willard Hall, across from the art office, opened in 2005. Cheryl Mellenthin and Mark Chapman funded a complete renovation of the former Willard Hall Gallery, increasing the exhibition space to over 1,400 square feet along with 400 square feet dedicated to exhibition preparation and kitchen facilities. The Department of Art hosts BFA and MFA student exhibitions in the gallery as part of graduation requirements each semester. The technology friendly gallery serves not only exhibition purposes, but also provides a location for an active Visiting Artist lecture program.

Funded in part by KSU SGA Fine Arts Fee.

Fall 2023

December 11-15, 2023

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Kansas State University Department of Art will present the second of two BFA Exhibitions of the fall semester featuring Haley Haines, Allie Parks, and Sara Redger. The artists will showcase an exhibition of their undergraduate artwork from December 11 through 15, 2023 in the Mark A. Chapman Gallery, first floor of Willard Hall. Gallery hours are 8 am-5 pm, Monday through Friday. Please feel free to attend the reception with the artists on Friday evening, December 15, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the gallery. Admission is free and open to the public.

Emerging artist of Burlington, Kansas, Haley Haines, unveils a mesmerizing collection, drawing inspiration from her global sojourns. Her reminiscent paintings and prints invite viewers into invented spaces, revealing the depths of her inner world. Through layered silkscreens and vibrant watercolors, Haines weaves narratives that transcend boundaries. Her work is a testament to the profound influence of travel on artistic expression, reflecting a unique fusion of cultures and experiences. The intention of her creations is to resonate with audiences worldwide, offering a soul enriched by exploration, and inviting viewers to embark on their own journeys of discovery.

Allie Parks was born in and currently resides in Northeast Kansas. The Kansas native continues her studies in the arts at Kansas State University. Working on a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a primary focus in drawing and a secondary in printmaking, she works in mixed media, such as markers, watercolor, and ink. The pieces are both abstract and commentaries on events both past and present in her life. She has had work displayed in the 29th Annual Undergraduate Student Exhibition at the Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, Missouri, and The Scholarship Exhibition, Mark A. Chapman Gallery, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.

Sara Redger is a talented artist hailing from Topeka. During her tenure at Kansas State University, Redger has received three scholarships and actively engaged in undergraduate research, particularly in the realm of electrolytic etching—a venture supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. Recent work has been featured in Mental Health in Art and World: A Multi-Medium Art Show in Topeka, Kansas, and the Kansas State University Art Scholarship Show in Manhattan, Kansas. Redger’s work serves as an exploration of the rich tapestry of human emotions and personal experiences. Her artistic journey is a vivid narrative, where memories and feelings are translated into expressive and evocative artworks.

The Mark A. Chapman Gallery on the first floor of Willard Hall, across from the art office, opened in 2005. Cheryl Mellenthin and Mark Chapman funded a complete renovation of the former Willard Hall Gallery, increasing the exhibition space to over 1,400 square feet along with 400 square feet dedicated to exhibition preparation and kitchen facilities. The Department of Art hosts BFA and MFA student exhibitions in the gallery as a part of graduation requirements each semester. The technology-friendly gallery serves not only exhibition purposes but also provides a location for an active Visiting Artist lecture program.

December 4-8, 2023

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Kansas State University Department of Art will present the first of two BFA exhibitions of the fall semester featuring Holly Frakes, Michelle Jaramillo, and Sarah Presley. The artists will showcase an exhibition of their undergraduate artwork from December 4 through 8, 2023 in the Mark A. Chapman Gallery, first floor of Willard Hall. Gallery hours are 8am - 5pm, Monday through Friday. Please feel free to attend the reception with the artists on Friday evening, December 8, from 5:00 to 7:00pm in the gallery. Admission is free and open to the public.

Painter Holly Frakes of Topeka, Kansas, creates imaginary worlds of shape and color. Each painting holds a world created through a structured composition and skewed perspective. “As a form of distraction, we dive into entertainment or other methods of escapism - yet now, these vices have begun to blur with what is real.” Her paintings question reality and sympathize with those who experience isolation from their modern lifestyle.

Photographer Michelle Jaramillo of Manhattan, Kansas, creates black-and-white photography rooted in the personal aspects of her life, from motherhood to her Mexican American heritage. In this new series of images, she has focused on place-based photography and captured immigrant households’ intimate interiors. She says, “Brimming with cultural artifacts, these spaces showcase their stories, traditions, and the timeless tapestry of the lives that have traversed borders.” Her images embody the connection to her heritage and the profound kinship to the Hispanic community in Manhattan, Kansas.

Sarah Presley is a printmaker from Spring Hill, Kansas, working in intaglio etchings, screenprint, and mixed media collage. Her work addresses how feelings like nostalgia and grief have personally affected her view of home. She says, “It is my hope to capture the notion of home in this print series and spark curiosity about the complexities that lie within each residence we pass by.” This is conveyed through explorations in color, fine linework, collage, and typography.

The Mark A. Chapman Gallery on the first floor of Willard Hall, across from the art office opened in 2005. Cheryl Mellenthin and Mark Chapman funded a complete renovation of the former Willard Hall Gallery, increasing the exhibition space to over 1,400 square feet along with 400 square feet dedicated to exhibition preparation and kitchen facilities. The Department of Art hosts BFA and MFA student exhibitions in the gallery as part of graduation requirements each semester. The technology friendly gallery serves not only exhibition purposes, but also provides a location for an active Visiting Artist lecture program.

Spring 2023

May 8-12, 2023

BFA 2

Kansas State University Department of Art will present the second of two BFA Exhibitions of the spring semester featuring Charlie Bloede and Shayna Strahm. The artists will showcase an exhibition of their undergraduate artwork from May 8 through 12, 2023 in the Mark A. Chapman Gallery, first floor of Willard Hall. Gallery hours are 8am – 5pm, Monday through Friday. Please feel free to attend the reception with the artists on Friday evening, May 12, from 5:00 to 7:00pm in the gallery. Admission is free and open to the public.

Charlie Bloede, an artist from Grayslake, Illinois, explores the historical context of beautification through the medium of printmaking. She is inspired by fashion, trends, and societal expectations. Her prints utilize a combination of techniques such as watercolor screen monoprint, woodblock, and etching. She cuts and folds the prints to create 3D elements, bringing the narratives to life.

Printmaker Shayna Strahm of Sabetha, KS creates mixed media work incorporating many different printmaking techniques. Her work often features organic imagery and lines reflecting on the human struggle with identity and relationships. She states, “everyone can relate to the struggle of deciding who they want to be. I wanted to explore this struggle within my own experiences with relationships.” Her pieces reflect her internal struggle through the stark contrast of her woodblock prints and incorporation of the delicate female form.

May 1-5, 2023

Kansas State University Department of Art will present the first of two BFA Exhibitions of the Spring semester featuring Charles Weckwerth and Justice Catron. The artists will showcase an exhibition of their undergraduate artwork from May 1 through 5, 2023 in the Mark A. Chapman Gallery, first floor of Willard Hall. Gallery hours are 8am – 5pm, Monday through Friday. Please feel free to attend the reception with the artists on Friday evening, May 5, from 5:00 to 7:00pm in the gallery. Admission is free and open to the public.

Charles Weckwerth is an artist currently working out of Manhattan, KS. He will receive his Bachelor in Fine Arts with concentrations in painting and printmaking. When he works, the lines between the two media seem blurred, through process and content. Charles creates etchings, screen prints, and large-scale paintings. Charles says, “I seek to convey a sense of humanity in my paintings, something people are drawn to.” His prints and paintings convey this through gestural mark making, material, the surplus, and the lack thereof.

Justice Catron works in Manhattan, KS as a ceramist making vessels with layers of glaze, decals, and luster. The surfaces created draw on imagery of classical Western movies and its interpretations in the 20^th century. He says, “My work examines my understanding and perception of identity through my experience as an indigenous person.” His use of modern imagery on traditionally inspired forms creates a juxtaposition between these themes that references ideas of self-portraiture, colonialization, and perseverance.

April 20-28, 2023

Graphic Design BFA Exhibition

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The Kansas State University Department of Art will present the Graphic Design BFA Exhibition from April 20-28 in the Mark A. Chapman Gallery, in Willard Hall. A reception will be held from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm on Friday, April 28th in the gallery. Events are free and open to the public. These events are presented and funded by KSU SGA Fine Arts Fee.

Fall 2022

December 5-9, 2022

Kansas State University Department of Art will present the first of two BFA Exhibitions of the fall semester  featuring Kessa Bondurant, Matthew Zeleskey, and Dylan Connell. The artists will showcase an exhibition of their undergraduate artwork from December 5 through 9, 2022 in the Mark A. Chapman Gallery, first floor of Willard Hall. Gallery hours are 8am – 5pm, Monday through Friday. Please feel free to attend the reception with the artists on Friday evening, December 9, from 5:00 to 7:00pm in the gallery. Admission is free and open to the public.

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Painter Kessa Bondurant of Shawnee, Kansas, makes colorful portraits in oil. Her portraits include self-portraits as well as borrowing from images she took of her family and friends. Her paintings show the process of observation through the layering of paint on top of itself, and prolonged investigations of the subject.

Matthew Zeleskey is a metalsmith from Apex, North Carolina who makes flora and fauna
through casting and hammer forming. His sculptures hope to evoke a sense of wonder and
discovery of the natural world. “I wanted to replicate the beauty of nature and the sense of
discovery we can get when observing the natural world.” His sculptures are hand carved and
cast to imitate the natural world.

Photographer Dylan Connell of Salina, Kansas, makes black-and-white portraits of the minority
laborers from the Smithfield meatpacking factory located in Junction City, Kansas. The
individuals are depicted with a lack of expression to represent his own loss of creativity due
to exhaustion and lack of human interaction while working at Smithfield.

December 12-16, 2022

Kansas State University Department of Art will present the second of two BFA Exhibitions of the fall semester  featuring Katie Laddish and Stephanie Straub. The artists will showcase an exhibition of their undergraduate artwork from December 12 through 16, 2022 in the Mark A. Chapman Gallery, first floor of Willard Hall. Gallery hours are 8am – 5pm, Monday through Friday. Please feel free to attend the reception with the artists on Friday evening, December 16, from 5:00 to 7:00pm in the gallery. Admission is free and open to the public.

BFA 2 Poster

Katie Laddish, a ceramicist from Kansas City, Missouri, combines traditional hand building and wheel throwing techniques to create her unique pieces. She pushes the boundaries of what is considered a typical planter by adding chains of clay and creating interesting forms to allow movement and flow on the pots themselves. She says, “I love to create planters you want to look at, touch, be able to move around, and are just as pleasing to look at as the plant itself.”

Stephanie Straub is a ceramicist and painter from Olathe, Kansas. She creates large ceramic
sculptures and paints still life and landscapes. The use of light in her work and the desire to
make it its own subject, either through a device or high value contrast, symbolize a deeper
presence and provide a sense of hope. “I have noticed this concept becoming present through the expression or feeling of transition and the in-between state of something,” she says. “I feel it gives a push and pull kind of effect and nature to the piece.” By using clay, a material derived from the constantly changing earth, and paint with every detailed, layered brushstroke, she actively portrays a greater presence amongst the transition of life.