Student Artistic Success

The annual UW Art Museum’s Juried Student Exhibition showcases outstanding student artists.

By Michelle Sunset, Curator

For the 49th consecutive year, the University of Wyoming Art Museum unveiled its Juried Student Exhibition on Feb. 24, 2024. A highlight of the museum’s annual exhibition program, this show invites visitors to explore the works of multidisciplinary students across the university while providing those students with a professional development opportunity.

Each year, the museum works with a juror from outside the state of Wyoming to subject the students’ work to an outside opinion. This year’s juror, Joy Armstrong, director and curator of the Galleries of Contemporary Art at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, was tasked with selecting works related to the theme of identity. Students were asked to submit works that relate to their sense of self or community. Of over 170 submissions, Armstrong juried in 57 works by 42 artists.

Hundreds of students, their families and community members came to the Art Museum’s Spring Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony to see the student exhibition and celebrate award-winning works. This year, there were 39 awards totaling nearly $17,000 presented at the opening reception. Every year, in the weeks leading up to the exhibition opening, representatives of departments across campus, including President Ed Seidel, UW Libraries and many others, preview the exhibition to select works they will provide awards to. In some cases, the departments purchase artworks at the students’ asking prices. This tradition has led to the display of wonderful student works across campus, including many in the Wyoming Union. Alternatively, some departments choose to provide scholarship awards to recognize high-level artistic productions.

The following students won awards this year. From Cheyenne, Wyo.: Lewis Balanoff, Daisy Bentley, Ally Crile, Sophia Glennie, Lilly McEwen, Matteo Ricciardi and Sarah Thomson. From Casper, Wyo.: Elizabeth Hansen, Taylor Maese and Amberlin Smith. From Laramie, Wyo.: Carmen Nottage and Kaylyn Rollefson. From Alpine, Wyo.: Clare Doornbos and Cassidy Post. Other locations: Ahmad Ansari (Tehran, Iran), Ryan Crawford (Lander, Wyo.), Alistair Dunnington (Fort Collins, Colo.), Kane Garrison (Wilkesbarre, Pa.), Alyssa Halls (North Plains, Ore.), Avendah Lowe (Rapid City, S.D.), Elias Reichenbach (Buckeye, Ariz.), Cierra Roberts (Gillette, Wyo.), Amaya Spartz (Green River, Wyo.), Michael Stoll (Mountain View, Wyo.) and Nicholis Williams (Rawlins, Wyo.).