Carolla Art Exhibition Center Archives

Department of Art and Design presents two student exhibitions

March 10, 2026 by Reynolds College

From March until the first weeks of April, the Department of Art and Design is hosting two different student exhibitions.

The All School Exhibition is on view at the Cabot Gallery and Brick City galleries, located in the Brick City complex. Cabot Gallery hours for this event are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Brick City Gallery will be open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The exhibition runs from Feb. 27-April 5. Brick City galleries will also be open during Springfield’s First Friday Art Walk April 3, 6-9 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Annual Juried Student Exhibition is on view at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center. Carolla Center hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Carolla will be closed April 3-5.

The Annual Juried Student exhibition runs from March 6-April 10.

Emeritus art professor Keith Ekstam’s “Makeshift Ruminations” exhibit now on view

January 21, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

The Department of Art and Design launches its 2026 exhibition schedule with “Makeshift Ruminations: Work from Forty Years in Ceramic Art by Keith Ekstam” at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center.

“Makeshift Ruminations” runs from Jan. 20-Feb. 20, with a First Friday Art Walk viewing scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Feb. 6.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Work highlights specialization in clay

Close up of ceramic artwork on display — Some of Keith Ekstam’s artwork on display at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center.

Keith Ekstam, who specializes in clay and ceramics, is an emeritus professor in the art and design department. He stated that he remains committed to clay as his “primary art making material” for several reasons.

“It is simultaneously one of the most fragile art media, yet also one of the most permanent and enduring,” he explained. “The simple, direct act of working with clay in one’s hands is the polar opposite of the complex, transformative nature of the kiln firing.”

For Ekstam, clay’s contradictory characteristics led him to choose it as his preferred medium.

“You get your money’s worth when working in clay,” he said.

Exhibit features work of former students

In addition to his own work, Ekstam invited several former Missouri State students to contribute their creative efforts. These alums studied ceramics with Ekstam as well as Associate Professor Kevin Hughes and Jim Hill.

“I had the privilege of teaching and working with many talented students throughout my 37 years at Missouri State,” he said. “My creative research experiences, knowledge and processes were constantly being presented to the students at all levels within the curriculum.”

The alumni artists are Steve Hilton, Keaton Wynn, Dryden Wells, Bekka Bliss, Nate Falter, Jen Falter, Tybre Newcomer, Patsy Cox, Zach Tate, Kendle Durden, Bari Precious, Teddy Osei, Craig Hartenberger and Cortney Yellowhorse-Metzger.

“These are some of the many individuals who have maintained serious careers in the ceramic arts in one form or another,” Ekstam noted. “I hope the viewers will enjoy the strength and diversity of the work made and chosen for exhibition by these alumni artists.”

For more information about Ekstam’s exhibit or about the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center, contact Jodi McCoy, director of exhibitions.

Photos courtesy of the Department of Art and Design.

“Let me tell you a story” exhibit featured at Carolla Arts Exhibition Center

June 30, 2025 by Reynolds College

The Carolla Arts Exhibition Center at Missouri State University announces a new summer exhibition, curated by Olga Shute, MFA in Visual Studies candidate, in collaboration with Director of Exhibitions Jodi McCoy.

“Let me tell you a story: gathering our roots to find belonging,” represents a group exhibition that explores Latin identity through personal and cultural storytelling. It features work by Marco Hernandez, Veronica Ibargüengoitia, Mariana Ruvalcaba, Tina Tavera, Xavier Tavera and Leandre Urrutia.

The exhibit is on view 11 a.m.-6 p.m. July 7-Aug. 1. The center’s schedule is Tuesday through Friday during the summer.

A public reception will be held during First Friday Art Walk on Aug. 1 from 6-8 p.m.

Art and design department announces summer gallery schedule

June 12, 2025 by Reynolds College

This summer, Missouri State University’s Department of Art and Design invites audiences to experience two powerful exhibitions exploring identity, storytelling and underrepresented histories.

The exhibitions are on view at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center and Brick City Gallery.

Summer program celebrates fourth year

Now in its fourth year, the department’s summer programming continues its mission to showcase diverse voices and emerging talent through thoughtfully curated visual arts exhibitions.

“Our core summer audience is pretty open minded and excited to see our exhibit spaces try new things and explore new ideas,” said Jodi McCoy, Director of Exhibitions. “While our summer audience is smaller, our summer exhibits have been featured in national reviews. They’re a bit of a hidden or emerging gem.”

At the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center

The 2025 MFA Thesis Exhibition opened May 27. This event is the capstone showcase for Master of Fine Arts graduate students.

Next, “Let Me Tell You a Story: Gathering Our Roots to Find Belonging” opens June 21. MFA candidate Olga Shute co-curated the exhibition. It features six Latin American artists whose works explore heritage, memory and identity through storytelling.

“As we got deeper into planning with these particular themes of identity, it became very important to me to make intentional space for the voices of the artists to speak rather than have a heavy curatorial hand,” McCoy said.

Carolla Arts Exhibition schedule

BFA in Design Senior Exhibition now on view at Carolla Arts Exhibition Center

April 30, 2025 by Reynolds College

Missouri State University’s Department of Art and Design announces this semester’s BFA in Design: Professional Design Practicum Exhibition is on view at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center.

The exhibition is open April 28-May 9 and includes the First Friday Art Walk May 2 from 6-9 p.m.

The exhibition is free and open to the public.

Capstone course features client-based projects

This capstone exhibition features the individual projects, portfolios and client-based projects of graduating seniors in the BFA in Design program.

Projects range from branding and marketing materials to digital media and product design and graphic novels, reflecting the diverse interests and skills of the Spring 2025 cohort.

Most of the clients who worked with the students are small business owners, but some are institutional, coming from local museums, non-profits, churches and artistic or musical initiatives.

As part of the practicum, students present self-promotional materials, including business cards, portfolios and branded merchandise, alongside real-world design solutions developed in collaboration with clients.

Exhibit wall displaying design projects — More projects from the 2025 BFA in Design exhibition now on view.

Associate professors Jacek Fraczak and Cole Closser teach the practicum course. They emphasize student engagement and interaction with clients, including communication, project management and creative problem-solving.

“The first long-term assignment is a real-life professional experience, when a student needs to find for themselves an existing client expressing the needs in the domain of graphic design or illustration,” Fraczak explained. “The clients may be local, regional or even international. Students have worked for clients from Saudi Arabia, Canada, Mexico, Slovakia and Germany.”

Senior graphic design major Mckenna Johnson said working with real-life clients was both exciting and motivating.

“It pushed me creatively as I worked to create a full brand identity from scratch,” she noted. “With strict deadlines, I had to communicate clearly, manage my time effectively and stay focused to deliver a final product that both my client and I were proud of.”