'Human Generated'
Ohio Wesleyan's 2025 Graduating Fine Arts Students to Exhibit Works at Ross Art Museum
DELAWARE, Ohio – In an increasingly AI-manufactured world, Ohio Wesleyan University's graduating Fine Arts students will present "Human Generated" works for their senior show April 12 through May 10 at OWU's Richard M. Ross Art Museum.
Their exhibition, titled "Human Generated," features pieces selected for display by their OWU Fine Arts professors. Simultaneously, the museum will showcase "Urban Rhythms: A Reflection of the Cultural Influences, History, and Community that Shape my Artistic Journey" by graffiti artist Lance Johnson. Both exhibitions will open with a free community reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. April 12 at the museum, 60 S. Sandusky St., Delaware.
Kristina Bogdanov, chair of Ohio Wesleyan's Department of Fine Arts, says "Human Generated" provides a creative capstone for the eight students featured in this year's show.
"The senior art show brings excitement and acknowledgment of the college academic journey arriving at a paradoxical conclusion, where the end is just the beginning," said Bogdanov, MFA, professor of Fine Arts. "Celebrating our seniors and their work in the senior show brings a moment of retrospect and collective reflection, where looking back to what has been done projects a vision and perspective of what is yet to come. The senior art show provides an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the achievements of our students.
"In the era of digital dominance and rise of AI," Bogdanov continued, "being a human is the most salient matter that involves boldness to be both genuine and critical, to think both with our brain and heart. The 'Human Generated' senior show is about trust in humanity and hope for a balanced future. As faculty, we are thankful for the opportunity to guide our seniors through the processes of how to think, not what to think. It has been both a pleasure and challenge to complete this four-year college cycle, and we have deepest appreciation for our seniors and their families."
Ohio Wesleyan graduating seniors exhibiting works in "Human Generated" and their academic and artistic interests include:
Kara Cannon of Delaware, Ohio, a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Business Administration (Marketing) double major. "My artwork revolves around human form and self-expression," Cannon said. "I'm obsessed with pushing the exaggeration of the human form. … My deepest inspirations come from animation, comic books/manga, music, body horror, fetish content, and caricature drawings. … My post-grad plans are to go into the marketing industry while pursuing art as an independent career path." Cannon also is a graduate of the Reynoldsburg Encore Academy for the Arts in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
Lily Davis of Dayton, Ohio, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) major with concentrations in graphic design and book arts. "For the summer, I plan to return home to spend time with family before embarking on the New York Arts Program in August," Davis said. "Through this post-grad experience, I hope to refine my graphic design skills and further develop my artistic voice. I am dedicated to a future in the creative industry and am eager to immerse myself in new opportunities, collaborate with fellow artists, expand my skill set, and bring fresh innovative ideas to my work." Davis is a graduate of Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School in Dayton.
Yohanna Gray of Canton, Ohio, a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art major. "While primarily working with graphite and charcoal in a 2-dimensional sense, I use my artistic passion to contextualize and understand what is happening around me physically and mentally. ... While I'm working. I find myself becoming completely engulfed in the piece, whether it's the medium, the location, the size, or the detail, something about my work always connects with me on a deeper level. Being able to unleash my creative energy into something I can physically feel or relate to is something I find very fascinating." Gray is a graduate of McKinley Senior High School and Stark State College, both in Canton.
Hannah Moore of Cincinnati, Ohio, a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Communication double major. "At my time here, I have grown as an artist and experimented with different mediums and modes of expression," Moore said. "I create work focusing on time and emphasizing its constant continuity, something that reflects my own time spent here at OWU. I am looking forward to exploring where my artistic endeavors take me and to see how it changes as my future unfolds in the arts field." Moore is a graduate of Lakota East High School in Liberty Township, Ohio.
Willow Bryn Rosser of Lakewood, Ohio, a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Psychology double major. "My passion for art grew through frequent visits to the Cleveland Museum of Art, where I spent hours of my childhood sketching and observing," Rosser said. "I spent last semester in the New York Arts Program studio residency, where I worked on a project about community and identity across the lifespan. … After graduation, I intend to take a gap year to work and then, I hope, to attend graduate school for Human Development and Family Science." Rosser is a graduate of Lakewood High School.
Caroline Schlorb of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Psychology double major, with a minor in Nutrition. "After graduation, I plan to take a gap year to travel and further my view of the world," Schlorb said. "During this time, I would like to reflect on my career goals and gain new experiences to help me grow. Afterward, I plan to pursue a master's degree in clinical psychology, where I aim to deepen my knowledge and skills in helping individuals." Schlorb is a graduate of Lexington High School in Lexington, Ohio.
Nia Smith of Westerville, Ohio, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education and Multi-Age Education double major. "Throughout high school and college, my work has always been focused on the world around me, what I see, and what I can make of it," Smith said. "As a result of this, I depict a lot of work about the people I love and the places I go. I like to live in the moment and create what I experience. If I find joy in it, chances are you will see a work about it." Smith is a graduate of Olentangy Orange High School.
Clara Wood of Kent, Ohio, a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Business Administration (Marketing) double major. "I am passionate about connecting people through art and empowering them to explore their creativity and confidence through art-making," Wood said. "My academic focus during my time at OWU has been the history and practice of handcraft and its relationship with economic systems and social activism. I have had the opportunity to explore this bridge between art and business through my academics, study abroad, the New York Arts Program, many internships, and more. … I am excited and confident to begin my career in arts administration after graduating." Wood is a graduate of Revere High School in Richfield, Ohio.
For Lance Johnson's "Urban Rhythms" exhibit, he is showcasing graffiti works on scrap wood, unstretched canvas, and found objects – all inspired by his interactions with OWU students completing the university's first-year seminar, "How to Change Your World."
Johnson spent two weeks on campus in the fall attending events and painting inside Edgar Hall, home of the university's Fine Arts Department. His resulting work mixes text and images in messages of hope and change tied to the seminar's 2024-2025 theme of "Mobility, Migration, and Belonging."
Johnson's OWU exhibit also will include a video of "Flowing in the Diaspora," a painting and dance performance recorded on the OWU campus with dancer Candice Flows.
During the academic year, the Ross Art Museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is handicap-accessible and admission is always free. Call (740) 368-3606 or visit www.owu.edu/ross or www.facebook.com/RossArtMuseum for more information.
Created in 1864, Ohio Wesleyan's Department of Fine Arts was one of America's first college art departments. Today, it offers both Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees. Learn more about the department, its majors and minors, and its faculty at www.owu.edu/finearts.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.