Senior Art Exhibition “Up to Eleven” to Open April 20

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Program will present “Up to Eleven,” an exhibition showcasing the work of senior visual arts majors, beginning April 20.

The exhibition runs through May 7 and represents the culmination of years of artistic development for the students, bringing together a wide-ranging and interdisciplinary collection of work. A public reception is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on April 23. All gallery events are free and open to the public.

“Up to Eleven” will be displayed in two locations on campus: the UIS Visual Arts Gallery in the Health and Sciences Building, Room 201, and the Access Gallery in the central lobby of the Visual and Performing Arts Building.

Organizers say the exhibition is centered on ambition and creative exploration, encouraging artists to push boundaries and expand their practices. The show features a variety of multimedia works, including sculpture, graphic design, commercial design, animation, illustration, painting, installation and ceramics.

The exhibition includes one of the largest graduating classes in the program in recent years, highlighting a diverse group of emerging artists.

“It’s always fun to push things to the limits but it’s even more fun to do things in quality company,” said exhibiting artist Edith Raskin.

Each gallery space offers a different experience, with immersive and interactive elements throughout the exhibition. The works explore themes such as personal narratives, identity and heritage, while also drawing from art history, nostalgia and popular culture.

“It’s an exciting time for us. We are about to enter the world as artists, and we get to mark the culmination of our time here at UIS with this group exhibition that we are very proud of,” said visual arts student Tiama Elfgen. “This show is a burst of freedom—a last huzzah and a first step into the professional realm. It’s not an ending but a beginning.”

Featured artists include Honoka Adachi, Gavin Bayne, Kat Brinkman, Luke Butcher, Kristyn Durbin, Tiama Elfgen, Cooper D. Marx, Cheyenne Meneghetti, Lilith Nadine, Edith Raskin and John A. Toelle.

Gallery hours for the UIS Visual Arts Gallery are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. More information on the exhibition and future programming is available through the UIS Visual Arts Gallery.