��ɫ��Ƶ

The Ivy Indy Art Gallery welcomed visitors March 19 through April 2 for the 12th Annual Student Juried Exhibition, marking a new chapter for the gallery in its new location inside the Illinois Fall Creek Center (IFC), located at 2535 N. Capital Ave. The exhibition featured work by ��ɫ��Ƶ Indianapolis students alongside submissions from Indiana University Indianapolis’ (IUI) . 

The gallery itself carries a longer history on campus. The former fine arts program chair and professor, Stephanie Robertson, originally established the on-campus gallery, which was then located in the Learning Resource Center – now known as Julia M. Carson Systems Administration Building.

“That space holds many great memories for the program,” Liz Wierzbicki, the department chair of arts and philosophy and associate professor of fine arts at ��ɫ��Ƶ Indianapolis, said. 

Wierzbicki says the move to IFC created new opportunities for visibility and engagement across campus.

“The new location in IFC is exciting because it's sitting near the [Bowen] commons where so much campus life takes place,” she said.

Beyond displaying artwork, the gallery plays an important role in preparing students for professional experiences in the arts.

“The gallery serves a critical role in the Fine Arts Program by bridging what’s taught in the classroom with real work experience,” Wierzbicki said. “Students are not just creating work for assignments, they are preparing work for public presentation.”

The experience also allows students to develop professional skills that extend beyond the studio.

“It provides hands-on experience with professional skills such as typical exhibition practices, installing artwork, pricing work, and speaking about their work to an audience,” she said. “All essential skills needed for a career in the arts.”

The Juried Student Exhibition has become an annual tradition for the program because it recognizes student achievement while introducing an element of outside evaluation. In a juried exhibition, artworks submitted by students are reviewed by an independent guest juror who selects the pieces included in the show.

“Because not all submissions are accepted, acceptance in the show is a meaningful accomplishment and an important addition to a student’s exhibition history,” Wierzbicki said.

Wierzbicki, who assumed the role of department chair following Robertson's retirement, expanded the juried exhibition to include an invitational to include students from four-year institutions, starting with IUI. 

“This decision was driven by a desire to strengthen the connection between ��ɫ��Ƶ and the schools our students transfer to,” the department chair said. “It also allows our students to see their work in dialogue with peers beyond their daily classroom environment, situating their work in a broader artistic conversation,” she said.

Visitors to the exhibition encountered a wide range of media and artistic approaches, including drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture.

“The selected works reflect diverse voices and explore themes such as personal identity, contemporary culture, and material experimentation,” Wierzbicki said.

Looking ahead, the department chair said she hopes the gallery becomes a central part of the Indianapolis campus experience. 

“My hope is that the gallery becomes an active and integrated part of campus life, one that not only supports the Fine Arts program but also contributes to the broader campus culture,” she said.

You can visit the gallery in IFC rooms 208 and 209, right off the mezzanine in the IFC Bowen Commons. Catch the next exhibit, “Curated Culture: Fine Arts Capstone Exhibition,” beginning April 13 through May 8. A reception will be held on April 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

PREVIOUS: IVY INDY FINE ARTS PROGRAM STRENGTHENS CITYWIDE PRESENCE WITH MULTIPLE EXHIBITIONS