From national student exhibitions and prestigious design awards to a championship golf trophy and a juried exhibition at one of the field's leading conferences, students and alumni from Appalachian State University's Department of Art continue to demonstrate the creativity, innovation and craftsmanship that define the award-winning Art program at App State.
The Department of Art is celebrating a series of remarkable accomplishments that highlight both emerging student talent and the lasting impact of its alumni across the creative industries.
Among the highlights are four Metalsmithing & Jewelry Design students whose work was selected for the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) 2026 Annual Juried Student Exhibition, a nationally competitive showcase featuring the next generation of metalsmithing and jewelry artists. Students Alissa Goble, Kailyn Sager, Margaret "Maggie" Schupp and Sandy Zufall each earned places in the exhibition, bringing national attention to their innovative and highly personal work. Their selected pieces, Bittersweet Birthdays, Stomping Ground, ISABEL and There's Always Tomorrow, respectively, were featured during the conference exhibition in Detroit and remain accessible through SNAG's virtual gallery.
"Bittersweet Birthdays" by Alissa Goble
The Department also celebrated recognition for its Graphic Design program as students earned two honors in the 2026 University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Competition, further showcasing the strength of App State's creative disciplines and the professional caliber of student work being produced across the department. In the Typographic Design category, students received a Silver Award for "Reading Synthesis: Understanding Empire and Communication." The design team included Brianna Bryson, Michaela, Finison, Lauren Fraser, Thomas Hager, Brandon Mullins, Laney Newton, and Molly Newton. The print press team included Julian Guzman, Jade Lovio, Chandni Patel, Alyson Pritchard, Lindsey Reece, Whit Taylor, and Kora Turner.
Silver Award Winning Poster (photo by App State Art Department)
The impact of App State's programs extends well beyond graduation. Department of Art alumnus Garrett Fentzlaff, lead designer at Marthaler Jewelers, recently led the design and creation of the official trophy for the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville PGA TOUR event. Developed in collaboration with the luxury jewelry brand Avermore, the handcrafted trophy combines cutting-edge digital technologies with traditional metalsmithing techniques. Constructed from sterling silver and gold accents, the piece features detailed engravings inspired by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Biltmore Estate architecture and Western North Carolina's natural landscape. The project exemplifies how contemporary metalsmithing increasingly blends advanced digital design tools with traditional craftsmanship, skills that Fentzlaff developed during his time at App State.
Garrett Fentzlaff (photo provided by Biltmore Championship social account)
App State alumna Evelyn Kline also earned national recognition at the 2026 SNAG conference, where her work was selected for Read My Brooch: The Secret Language of Jewelry, a juried exhibition sponsored by The Enamelist Society. The exhibition explores how jewelry functions as a form of communication and personal storytelling. In addition to exhibiting her work at the conference, Kline's piece was published in the exhibition catalog, further highlighting her contributions to contemporary metalsmithing and wearable art.
Together, these achievements reflect the depth and diversity of creative practice within Appalachian State University's Department of Art. From nationally recognized student work and award-winning design projects to alumni shaping the future of contemporary craft, App State artists continue to make meaningful contributions across the creative landscape.
About the Department of Art
One of seven departments within the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Art at Appalachian State University prepares students to explore art, identity, expression, and creative problem-solving, while challenging them to push beyond their previous limits by discovering new connections to culture. The department offers degrees in art and visual culture, art education, graphic design, studio art, photography, and graphic communications management, with minors in art history, studio art, photography, and graphic communications management.
About the College of Fine and Applied Arts
Appalachian State University’s College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences, and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education for all.
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