Senior artists at Saint Xavier University took center stage this month as the Art and Design Department presented its Senior Seminar capstone exhibitions, titled Built from What We Were Given, turning the campus gallery into a showcase of personal vision, technical skill and creative growth.
Held April 11 and April 25 at the SXU Art Gallery, the exhibitions featured a wide range of student thesis projects developed over the course of the academic year. The two shows highlighted different disciplines within the program, giving each group of students space to present their work in depth.
The first exhibition leaned heavily into design and digital practices, featuring projects in furniture design, brand development, photography and video production, along with mixed media collage and digital illustration. The second exhibition shifted focus toward more tactile and experimental approaches, including video work, mixed media pieces, digital imagery, sculpture and brand design, offering a contrast between conceptual and physical forms of expression.
The presentations marked the culmination of months of focused work, as seniors created cohesive bodies of work centered on a single concept. The senior seminar course serves as the department’s capstone experience, requiring students to dedicate an extended period to developing and refining their ideas. The class is divided into two sections, separating graphic design students from those working in physical media.
Jennifer Fuller, a lecturer who led the graphic design section, said the structure of the course allowed students to fully invest in their creative interests.
“We give each student an opportunity to focus on one thing that they enjoy doing the most,” Fuller said.
That approach was reflected in the range and depth of the projects on display.
Senior Ethan Hurtado developed a hockey-inspired apparel brand rooted in Chicago identity. His project combined digital graphics, video production and physical merchandise, resulting in a fully realized brand concept.
Student Aylin Flores, of Chicago, created a film documentary titled “Life in Beats,” centered on the musical career of her father, Jose Flores, a Spanish rock musician. The project brought together archival materials, including photos and CDs, to document his work over the years.
“He’s been performing since I was born and this was a way for me to capture and listen to everything he’s done over the years,” Aylin said.
She described the collection of materials as a vault of historical information representing her father’s career and legacy.
In the physical media section, Monae Redd presented a project titled “Don’t Touch My Hair,” a series of clay sculptures exploring the relationship Black women have with their hair.
“It describes the love/hate relationship that black women have with their hair and the emotions that go along with it,” she said.
Her work used form and texture to examine identity and representation.
Anette Valejo’s work focused on personal and family experiences, using watercolor and colored pencil to create intimate pieces that emphasized emotional vulnerability and connection.
In preparation for the exhibitions, students participated in a midterm critique earlier in the semester, where faculty from across the department provided feedback to help refine each project. The critique process served as a key step in shaping the final presentations and preparing students for professional artistic environments.
Cathie Ruggie-Saunders, a professor in the Art and Design Department, said the exhibitions highlight both creative growth and personal transformation.
“I love the Senior Thesis Exhibits because it is a celebration of their year-long investigation of a theme of their own choosing in a media that they are proficient in,” Ruggie-Saunders said. “I remember where they started a year ago (anxious and tentative) and I delight in seeing how they and their art practice have matured. They have found their inner creative voice, and are proud to display it. More often than not, they surprise themselves with their results. We hope that exhibiting in the professional SXU Gallery will encourage them to seek other venues after Graduation, and continue sharing their vision with the world.”
The exhibitions offered visitors an opportunity to engage directly with the students’ work and witness the culmination of their undergraduate experience. For many of the artists, the shows marked a transition from the classroom to the broader creative community.
The senior seminar exhibitions were held at the SXU Art Gallery in the Warde Academic Center and were open to the public.
