instafacebook youtube email

Department of Art News

art day graphic

Department of Art to host Art Day event for prospective students

YSU’s Department of Art invites prospective students to attend Art Day, an on-campus event designed for high school students interested in art, design, and other creative careers, Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at YSU’s Bliss Hall. The event will give attendees an opportunity to experience the department firsthand and learn more about what it’s like to be a student at YSU.

blooming crazy flowers art

Community helps bring “Blooming Together” mural to life during YSU Day at Blooming Crazy

Community members and YSU faculty and students came together at Blooming Crazy Flowers and Gifts Thursday, October 1, 2026, to celebrate creativity, community engagement, and experiential learning during YSU Day, a special event featuring participation in the “Blooming Together” public mural project. The event invited residents of all ages to learn about YSU programs and initiatives while helping paint portions of the large-scale mural that will brighten the exterior of Blooming Crazy.

Colorful abstract painting by Steve Ehret

Guest artist Steve Ehret to present as part of Department of Art Lecture Series

YSU’s Department of Art will welcome guest artist Steve Ehret to campus as he presents as part of the Department of Art Lecture Series Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 5:00 to 6:00 PM at the McDonough Museum of Art. Ehret (“Monster Steve”) makes careful observations about the world around him, breaking apart these settings in a way that speaks to the randomness of each passing mile. His goal is not realism, but rather a sense of gravity, atmosphere, wonder, nostalgia, grief, and the humor in it all.

Chanda Weigel's Painting of a Deer

Guest artist Chanda Weigel to exhibit at Solomon Gallery

YSU’s Department of Art will welcome guest artist Chanda Weigel to campus as she exhibits “All My Dreaming” at the Judith Rae Solomon Gallery beginning Tuesday, August 25, through Saturday, October 3, 2026. A mixed media artist, Weigel works with oils, acrylic, wood clay, textiles, and other materials to tell stories about the figures in her pieces.

illustration of comfortable raccoon or animal reading

McDonough Museum to open summer slate with five dynamic exhibitions

YSU’s McDonough Museum of Art will open its summer schedule with five dynamic exhibitions beginning Friday, May 29, through Saturday, July 18, 2026. The “Summer Exhibitions” will include Sharon M. Dundee’s “RUSTED ROOTS: Exploring Our Connection,” Laura Garvin’s “Sketches & Storyline: An Illustrator’s Creative Process,” and a commemorative US Semiquincentennial exhibition titled “Stitches in Time.” Also on display from May 29 to July 24 will be Crystal Beiersdorfer’s “#inhale_#exhale” and Random Acts of Artist’s “Moving Forward, Looking Back.”

Junior Portfolio Review Exhibition

Solomon Gallery to host annual “Junior Portfolio Review Exhibition” for junior art students

YSU’s Department of Art will showcase the work of its junior art students in the “Junior Portfolio Review Exhibition” beginning Monday, April 20, through Friday, May 1, 2026, at the Judith Rae Solomon Gallery, located in YSU’s Bliss Hall. Prior to beginning their senior-level studio art coursework, all junior-level art students are required to present their bodies of work for review by a studio faculty committee in the form of this exhibit.

Graduating B.F.A. Exhibition

2026 senior art students to showcase work in “Graduating B.F.A. Exhibition” at McDonough Museum

Senior art students from YSU’s Department of Art will showcase their work in the “2026 Graduating B.F.A. Exhibition” at the McDonough Museum of Art beginning Friday, April 17, through Saturday, May 2. This annual exhibition serves as an opportunity for senior students in the department to share the original and innovative discoveries they have made in their artistic journeys with the public.

Students at Freshman Portfolio Review

Freshmen art students to exhibit work in Portfolio Review Showcase

YSU’s Department of Art will exhibit the work of its freshmen art students in a Freshman Portfolio Review Showcase Monday, April 13, 2026, from 12:00 to 2:00 PM on the fourth floor of YSU’s Bliss Hall. All freshmen art students are required to complete a Freshman Seminar and Portfolio Review course, which culminates with this public showcase and gives the students a chance to receive feedback from the public on their work.

Art Summer Camp

Department of Art announces first-ever Summer Art Camp for high school students

YSU’s Department of Art will host its first-ever Summer Art Camp June 22 – 26, 2026, at YSU’s Bliss Hall. Designed for students ages 13 to 18, the camp runs daily from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM and explores hands-on studio experience across a range of artistic media, including painting, printmaking, photography, and graphic design. Registration is required and must be completed by June 5.

Juried Show

McDonough Museum to host 89th Annual Juried Student Art & Design Exhibition

YSU’s McDonough Museum of Art will once again host the Annual Juried Student Art & Design Exhibition beginning Friday, March 20, through Friday, April 3, 2026, as the exhibit celebrates its 89th year. A yearly spring tradition featuring works by students enrolled in YSU’s Department of Art, the exhibit serves as an opportunity for these students to gain the knowledge and experience of entering a show that is judged by an arts professional.