The Fort Lewis College’s Department of Art & Design Gallery last week bust busting at the seams for the opening of the 65th Annual Student Juried Exhibition, a celebration of emerging creative voices across campus.

The event featured guest juror Sarah McCormick, an interdisciplinary artist and educator, who curated this year’s highly competitive show. This year’s exhibition includes 55 student artworks selected from more than 175 submissions, making it one of the most selective showcases in recent years. McCormick noted that her decisions were guided by more than technical skill. 

“What ultimately guided my decisions was not simply resolution or polish, but evidence of an ongoing practice in artists who are building worlds and pushing beyond the expected. The selected works reflect a depth and discipline of thinking as much as of making. These students demonstrate curiosity about materials and methods, an interdisciplinary openness, and an ability to ask questions without easy answers.”

McCormick holds an MFA in Sculpture and Post-Studio Practice from the University of Colorado Boulder and a BFA from the University of Arkansas. Her work investigates colonial agendas, ecological crises, and mythological understandings of ecology.

A showcase of student creativity

The annual exhibition highlights the breadth and innovation of FLC’s student art community, said Julia Klema, visiting assistant professor and Gallery Director, who added that the exhibit is both competitive and foundational for students’ professional growth. Klema said that with 177 entries and space for only 55 artworks, being selected is a significant honor for students. The process also serves as hands-on professional training. “It’s a great way for us to showcase the expertise and skill of all our students and push them to show in a professional setting, which is a big deal, and gain experience in that.”

Students in Klema’s gallery management class planned and executed the exhibition layout, hanging, and lighting—making the show a truly student-driven event. The exhibition features a wide range of media, including printmaking, photography, painting, ceramics and non-ceramic 3D works, drawing, jewelry, and even unexpected pieces such as a printed banjo.

Celebrating the 2026 award winners

This year’s juror recognized several standout pieces for their creativity, skill, and conceptual strength. Awards include:

Best in Show

• For Alistair — Hayley Meyers

Juror’s Choice

• AI is Drinking Our Future — Madison Abdella

Honorable Mentions

• Freeze… the dezert — Marty Goldtooth

• Untuned — Robin West

• The Faces of Tomorrow — Sarah Packard

McCormick emphasized the strength of the program and the professionalism reflected in the student submissions. “This was a difficult show to jury. I can tell the professionalism you all treat your practices with, and a real rigor of practice and research, experimentation, and problem-solving.” She encouraged all students—selected or not—to continue submitting work in future years.

“Thanks so much for coming and celebrating our student artists. Please keep making your amazing work and submit it to next year’s juried show, and enjoy the opening.”

The 65th Annual Student Juried Exhibition is now open in the FLC Art Gallery through March 24. The show is free and open to the public.