Spotlight on the Student Art Collection

Have you ever wondered about the artwork on display in Talley Student Union, Witherspoon Student Center and other locations around campus? The short answer: it’s art created by NC State students!

History of the Student Art Collection

For more more than 24 years, a committee of staff, students and local artists have selected original artwork from NC State students for Arts NC State to purchase. To date, the collection holds more than 200 unique pieces crafted by students. 

Though our collection has steadily grown since 2001, Arts NC State can only purchase a small number of pieces each year. So in 2015 we began hosting a public art sale to connect student artists with buyers. Since it’s beginning, the public Student Art Sale has brought in more than $70,000 in sales – 100% of which go directly to the student artists. 

Visual Artist Award Winners Join the Collection

In 2017, Arts NC State received a generous gift to create the Visual Artist Award, which is given each year to select participants from the Student Art Sale. A local artist or community member serves as the judge, along with input from a panel of Arts NC State employees and students, and they select one 2D piece, one 3D piece and one computer rendered or photography piece to receive a $500 award.

The awarded pieces are then purchased by Arts NC State and become part of our permanent collection. This award is made possible by the Roxanne Hicklin Visual Artist Award Endowment.

Highlights from the Collection

Curated by Mallory Link

While every piece of student artwork is remarkable in its own right, Mallory has created a small selection of previous pieces to highlight. 

ML Curation Notes:
“This Chinese ink painting is reminiscent of ancient Chinese scroll art, with its focus on nature and monotone coloring. I personally love this piece, as it simultaneously transports the viewer into an almost ethereal plane of existence, while also looking like it could be a mountaintop view in the real world. The only color in the piece comes in the form of a red stamp near the bottom left corner, which is most likely the artist’s seal. A red seal had been used to essentially authenticate artwork or official documents by verifying the artist’s identity, which is what Wang seems to have emulated.”

• If you’re interested in seeing this piece in person, it is currently hanging on the 3rd floor of Talley Student Union near the Arts NC State suite.

ML Curation Notes:
“This striking photograph of a window that features strong blue and green neon lighting looks like it should be out of an 80s film. The contrast between the bright neon lighting and the dark shadows outside present an interesting and pleasing dichotomy within the piece. While there are plants inside of the house and outside, the difference in color and lighting make them appear remarkably different in mood. Bertello captured a beautiful shot and created a mini study in lighting with this piece.”

• If you’re interested in seeing this piece in person, it is currently located on the 5th floor of Talley Student Union near the central elevators. 

ML Curation Notes
“This statue of a blackbird mid-flight is inspiring and beautiful in its craftsmanship, showing true prowess in woodcarving. The wings are reminiscent of a folded fan opening wide, which is what the bird is made to do in order to fly. The separation between lower and upper bodies is a unique choice, and one I am a fan of. There are multiple layers to the tail feathers as well, which adds both believability to the bird itself, along with a geometric touch to the actual design.” 

Start Your Own Collection

Ready to curate your own art collection made from original, student-crafted art? Join us for the Student Art Sale on Saturday, April 19 from 1-4 p.m. at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design. 

To see the entire digitized collection, visit our new Student Art Collection webpage.