Photo by Angel Ramirez, Staff Photographer
By Angel Ramirez, Staff Writer and Photographer
The 2026 Juried Student Art Exhibition at Moraine Valley, held from March 24 through April 19, showcased a diverse and compelling collection of student artwork across a variety of mediums. The exhibitions highlighted the creativity, technical skill, and conceptual depth of emerging artists, offering people an opportunity to experience a wide range of perspectives and artistic approaches. From traditional drawings and paintings to innovative mixed media and three-dimensional works, the exhibition reflected the evolving nature of contemporary student art.
One of the most meaningful aspects of this experience was the chance to speak directly with the artists behind each piece. Through these conversations, a deeper understanding of their creative processes, sources of inspiration, and taking a sneak peek at these artists’ next creative step. Listed below is an exploration of ten selected pieces from the exhibition, analyzing their materials, themes, and overall impact, while also including responses from the artists too.
Little Goonie Foo Foo – Mollie Defosset
One of the ceramic works featured in the exhibition, which received an Honorable Mention, was created by Mollie Defosset, a first-year student at Moraine Valley. Her piece reflects both technical growth and a developing personal connection to ceramics. When discussing her motivation, Mollie explained, “When I work in ceramics I find that what motivates me most is the fact that I still have a lot to learn. I enjoy working with the clay and am always looking to try new things and improve.” She is dedicated to growing and experimenting in this medium.
She also reflected on the challenges involved in creating her piece, noting, “The most challenging part of creating this piece was either getting the ears to sit where I wanted them, or being patient while layering on the green Ongobe.” She’s explaining how small details can significantly affect the final outcome.
In terms of technique, she explained, “I most relied on being able to use my hands but also [a] wooden knife tool in order to smooth out all the small spots [that I] can’t reach.” She wants to develop control over the material and her attention to detail throughout the process.
Looking forward to the future, she stated, “In five – 10 years, I see myself still learning and creating new projects. I hope to become a teacher and get to share that joy with others and teach them to love it as much as I do.” She has the desire to inspire others through education and creativity.
Fluid Busyness – Mollie Defosset
This art piece is made with paper, glue, ink, and a wood frame. When talking to her about this art piece she described the challenges involved in creating this particular piece, explaining, “The most difficult part of making this piece was not just hand drawing all the designs, but also the precise cuts and figuring out the composition I wanted to go with.” She highlighted the level of planning and precision which was required to do this type of art piece.
In terms of materials and process, Mollie relied on a range of everyday tools stating, “Through the process I mostly relied on tacky glue, paper, exacto knife, and my Paper Mate felt tip pen which lucky for me, made it the whole way through without needing to be replaced.” She demonstrates how the combination of simple materials and how accessible tools can still be used to create highly detailed and intentional artwork.
Both of Mollie’s pieces were especially striking within the exhibition. The difference between her ceramic work and her mixed media piece demonstrated her range as an artist and her openness to exploring various materials and approaches. In both works, her careful attention to detail and thoughtful creative process made them stand out as meaningful and memorable contributions to the exhibition as a whole.
AI Can’t Make This – Mariel Lenart
Another notable piece in the exhibition was created by Mariel Lenart, a second-year student at Moraine Valley. Her work, a paper-based sculpture of a bunny, was developed as part of a specific class project. When asked about her inspiration, Lenart explained, “This was part of a class project where we had to use paper as the main material. I was inspired by other papier-mâché artists such as Chie Hitotsuyama.”
Lenart also shared her intentions for how viewers might respond to her work, stating, “I hope people feel curious when they see my bunny. I hope it also inspires them to do more art that doesn’t include any use of AI as that is starting to be more frequently used in the art community.” She is reflecting her interest in both emotional engagement on this art piece and broader conversations about the role of technology in art.
In describing the challenges of her process, she noted, “A big challenge was time. I had to work in small sections with the wet paper and make sure to let it dry fully before continuing, or else the whole section would turn to mush.” She emphasized how patience and technical care was required for creating the paper bunny Looking ahead, Lenart expressed a desire to push her work further, saying, “When it comes to risk, I would like to go bigger with my work not just in size but with its message as well.” She wants to make it clear that she has ambition to expand both the physical scale and in conceptual depth of her future artwork.
Existential Rage – Mariel Lenart
In addition to her paper sculpture, Mariel Lenart also created a personal ceramic artwork titled Existential Rage. This piece won the Moraine Valley Community College Purchase Award too. The piece was inspired by the loss of her first horse, Sequoia, and reflects a strong emotional connection to that experience. Lenart explained, “For my Existential Rage artwork, I wanted to recreate the first horse that I owned, Sequoia, who suffered from Heaves (Severe Horse Asthma) and passed away too soon. While making it, I decided to make the artwork represent that.” This art piece serves not only as a tribute, but also as an outlet for grief and frustration.
She further added a personal and expressive layer to her work stating, “I also like to believe she is upset that she no longer is here as well because she always was quite a diva.” This detail, she said, brings more sense of personality and emotional depth to the sculpture, which allows viewers to connect not only with artists’ loss, but also with the animal itself. This piece really stands out as a powerful example of how art can be used to process emotion and preserve meaningful memories.
Master Study of St. George Standing by Albrecht Durer – Mariel Lenart
Mariel Lenart, also demonstrated her technical skill through a piece titled Master Study of St. Geroge Standing by Albrecht Durer, created using dry point etching which is an intaglio printmaking technique where an image is incised directly into a plate (metal or plastic). Then the artist uses a sharp needle, creating a burr that holds ink for a soft, velvety line. This work reflects her engagement with historical influences and her willingness to challenge herself artistically. When discussing the piece, Lenart explained, “For my dry point print, I was inspired by Albrecht Durer and his use of line to show light and shape. I wanted to recreate his Saint George Standing print to challenge myself and my skills with dry point printing.” She clearly shows her focus on line work and technique in this art piece which shows her appreciation for traditional printmaking; she also shows her commitment to improving her craft through studying and exploring established artists.
The Fallen Rhino – Maya Jaronczyk
Another ceramic work in the exhibition, The Fallen Rhino, was created by Maya Jaronczyk. The piece reflects both personal identity and a connection to nature and movement. When describing the inspiration behind the work, she explained,“This ceramic rhino represents a few things that I see myself in. First, it embodies my love for animals, especially these powerful unique creatures. But it’s also about adventure. Rhinos roam wild landscapes, and that spirit of exploration resonates with my own adventurous personality. It’s a reminder to embrace the wild side of life and to keep exploring.” This sculpture really connects to her personality by using the rhino as a symbol of strength and freedom.
She also discussed the technical difficulties she faced during the process, stating, “One of the most challenging parts that I faced with this art piece was getting the correct bend in those back two pieces. They constantly wanted to crack and pull down due to gravity.” She highlights the structural challenges involved in working with clay, especially when creating extended forms that must support their own weight.
A smaller but highly detailed aspect of the piece was the horn’s engraved texture. She noted,“I could see people overlooking the engraved details on the horn of the rhino. In order to get that texture, I actually had to draw out a design, and a 3D print roller. This definitely did make it easier to engrave into the clay, but some of that programming and planning took a while. Especially when you put together the fact that I made the design before I even knew I was sculpting the rhino.”She demonstrates the amount of planning and innovation involved in even subtle elements of the work. Looking ahead, she expressed interest in expanding her technical approach, saying, “In terms of technique, I’m eager to explore the realm of hyperrealism. I recall seeing a video where somebody transformed a zombie’s head into a functional kettle, and I thought it was the coolest thing. I would love to be able to create artwork like that someday.” She has strong curiosity and ambition to push her ceramic work into more experimental and highly detailed forms.
Orange clouds – Reanna Chico
Photographer Reanna Chico presented Orange Clouds, which won the Agree to Degree award. This is an abstract work that invites viewers to explore their own interpretations. “The title is just a starting point,”Reanna said. She added, “It’s not really what the image is, it’s about letting people dive into creativity and see what they feel or intuitively sense in the shapes and colors.”
Reanna’s inspiration for the piece came from a visit to the Balloon Museum in Chicago. “I wanted to capture something unique, so I experimented with different angles to find the composition that felt right” she commented.
Like many emerging photographers, Reanna faces technical challenges. “[The] camera’s quality, exposure to zoom, and lighting can all be tricky, especially since I use a school rental camera,” she notes. “But I’ve learned to work with what I have and I still manage to create compelling photos.” She is correct; one doesn’t need an expensive camera to prove one can take great pictures.
Looking to the future, Reanna envisions growth in both skill and creativity. Reanna says, “In the next 5-10 years, I see my photography getting stronger and more refined, I want to push myself further, experiment more, and eventually invest in a high-quality camera that allows me to fully realize my ideas.” With Orange Clouds, Reanna not only showcases her developing technical skill, but also encourages people to engage their imaginations.
Untitled – Tobbish Holmes
Another standout work from the exhibition came from photographer Tobbish Holmes, whose image was awarded Best of Show. The photograph immediately drew attention for its cinematic and unsettling atmosphere. When describing his intention, he explained, “I aimed to capture the unsettling mood of a horror film or small-town murder mystery. The composition invites viewers to feel a sense of unease, as if something is wrong beneath the surface. Ideally, the image makes the audience hesitate and think, ‘I’m not going there.’” He described how constructed visual elements can influence emotional response and create narrative tension within a single frame.
He also reflected on what he learned through the process, noting, “I learned how important mood and atmosphere are in storytelling. When lighting, composition and subject placement work together, even a simple scene can feel powerful.” He describes his understanding of photography as a storytelling tool rather than just documentation.
Interestingly, the location of the image was not staged or planned. He shared, “Discovered on my way to work, this location wasn’t planned, which added to the image authenticity. That spontaneity helped create a more natural feel, enhancing the eerie and unexpected tone I was aiming to capture.” The story of taking the picture is more beautiful than the picture itself.
Looking ahead, Holmes expressed his artistic goals, stating, “As a photographer, my primary goal is to continually improve my ability to tell meaningful stories through images. Is strive for my photos to evoke emotion and inspire the viewers’ imagination. I also aim to have my work featured in more showcases like this one to reach a wider audience.” Holmes has made a strong commitment to growing and storytelling through photography.
Winter Northern Lights – Tobbish Holmes
Another photograph featured in the exhibition by Holmes, titled Winter Northern Lights, continued his focus on storytelling through atmosphere and emotion. Holmes explained, “This photo centers on mood, using cool blue tones and subtle warmth in the sky to create a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. The silhouette on the dock adds a calm presence, encouraging the viewer to pause and feel the stillness and emotion captured within the moment.” The composition of this picture draws attention to stillness and balance, allowing viewers to engage with the emotional tone of the landscape.
He also expressed his broader artistic vision for photography, stating, “But overall, I want all my photographs to feel like scenes pulled straight from a movie and they’re moments that tell a story, capture emotion, and make the viewer feel like they’ve stepped into something larger than just a single frame.” This kind of perspective that he has reinforces his goal of transforming every day or natural scenes into cinematic experiences that extend beyond the photograph itself.
The City That Never Sleeps – Tobbish Holmes
Another photograph by Holmes, titled The City That Never Sleeps, continues his exploration of photographic storytelling through everyday scenes. This image depicts a city street after dark. Holmes explained, “This photo captures movement and everyday city life at night. I wanted to highlight the energy created by people and traffic interacting in a single moment. The contrast between the warm streetlights and the cold surroundings adds realism and atmosphere, giving viewers an authentic glimpse into the rhythm of urban life.” His use of lighting and composition emphasizes the contrast between human activity and the surrounding environment, transforming a busy street scene into a visually engaging narrative.
Altogether, the 2026 Juried Student Art Exhibition highlighted the range of creativity, skill, and personal expression present among student artists. Across ceramics, mixed media, printmaking, photography and sculpture, each art piece demonstrated a unique approach to storytelling and technique, while also revealing the individual motivations and challenges behind the creative process.
This exhibition served as a powerful reminder that student art is not only about technical development, but also about expression, exploration, and connection. The diversity of perspectives and the range of artistic approaches made the exhibition engaging and memorable, leaving a lasting impression of the talent and potential within the student community.
