Faculty members in Appalachian State University's Department of Art continue to expand the university's creative footprint through nationally recognized exhibitions, scholarly presentations, artist residencies and award-winning design work.
Sculptor Bailey Arend has enjoyed an active exhibition season, with work featured in several prominent group exhibitions. Arend exhibited An Evolution of Flora, a large-scale outdoor sculpture, in Wishing Well, a group exhibition curated by Field Projects and Mother-In-Law's Gallery in Germantown, New York, during Upstate Art Weekend. The exhibition also featured work by fellow faculty member Erin Ethridge and remains on view through September.
by Bailey Arend
Arend's three-part wood carving, Greenbriar, is currently featured in Field Studies at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum. Curated by Jennie Carlisle and Ian Gabriel Wilson-Rhodes, the exhibition includes work by several Department of Art faculty members and is on display through January. Arend's woodcarvings were also included in Process Practice at the Floyd Center for the Arts, an exhibition emphasizing artists' studies and works in progress.
Ceramic artist Andréa Keys Connell spent the summer exhibiting work across the United States. She presented Together Again, a two-person exhibition with her mother and painter Jeanie Collin Keys, at Quirk Gallery and Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. Her work was also featured at J Mackey Gallery in East Hampton, New York; Blue Spiral 1 in Asheville; and Visions West Contemporary in Livingston, Montana.
by Andrea Keys Connell
In addition to her exhibitions, Connell shared her expertise through handbuilding and figure sculpture workshops at studios in Virginia, North Carolina and California. She also completed a commissioned sculpture honoring a beloved gopher named Taco.
Collaborative Projects Receive National Attention
Associate Professor Erin Ethridge and collaborator Colleen Foley exhibited work in two companion exhibitions during Upstate Art Weekend: Wishing Well, an outdoor sculpture exhibition in Germantown, New York, and Well Wishing at Lake Carmel Arts Center in Kent Lakes, New York. Both exhibitions were curated by Jacob Rhodes of Field Projects.
by Erin Ethridge
Ethridge and Foley's collaborative work was also selected for Yes &... at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibition received regional press coverage and featured the artists' work through both print and radio media outlets, expanding the reach of their interdisciplinary practice.
Environmental Themes Drive Printmaking Exhibition
Printmaking professors April Flanders and Josh Winkler are featured in Land and Water: Environmental Conflict and Connection in the American Landscape, an exhibition examining the complex relationship between people and the natural world.
Flanders' work investigates marine ecosystems challenged by invasive species, microplastics and climate change. Her large-scale installation Trophic Cascade includes 182 species of marine bio-invaders rendered through monotype, screenprint and papercutting processes, alongside works focused on environmental impacts within the Pee Dee River Basin.
Winkler's panoramic woodcut prints explore drought, wildfire, deforestation and climate change throughout Appalachian and American landscapes. Together, the artists' work invites viewers to consider ecological interdependence, environmental transformation and the enduring connections between people and place.
In addition, Winkler was selected to participate in the prestigious Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts Pentaculum Residency, which brings together artists from across the country to exchange ideas and develop new creative work.
Faculty Scholarship Explores Emerging Technology
Professor John Craft presented at the 101st Graphic Communications Education Association Conference at Pittsburg State University. His presentation, Using ChatGPT to Restore Photographs: Cleaning Up the Past, examined the use of artificial intelligence tools in photographic restoration and preservation.
Award-Winning Website Design Earns National Recognition
Professor Mark Nystrom continues to receive national recognition for his design and development of the Department of Art's website.
The website recently earned an Award of Excellence in the 32nd Annual Communicator Awards, recognition reserved for entries demonstrating exceptional effectiveness, innovation and creative execution. It also received an Outstanding Website Award in the university category from the Web Marketing Association and an Honorable Mention in the Educational Institution category from the Hermes Creative Awards.
Launched in fall 2025 following a year of research, planning and development, the redesigned site was developed by Nystrom with early collaboration from Graphic Design student Katie Randall. Built around the theme "We explore the art of ...," the website highlights the breadth of activity across the department's six degree programs while showcasing the experiences and creative journeys of its students.
art.appstate.edu screenshot
Nystrom's creative work is also represented in Field Studies at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, where four of his wind drawings visualize hourly wind conditions throughout 2025 at locations across North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.
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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