M.A. Art History
Aurora Bell is pursuing an M.A. in art history. She is interested in exploring intersections between fine art and craft. Originally from Austin, Texas, Aurora received a B.A. in comparative literature from NYU. After several years working as book editor in NYC, she moved to South Carolina to join the staff of the University of South Carolina Press, where she is currently associate editorial director.
M.F.A. Studio Art
Amy Chalmers is a second-year M.F.A. candidate who uses image and text to illustrate experiences of new parenthood. She holds a B.A. in Art History and French from Wofford College and an M.A. in Illustration: Authorial Practice from Falmouth University.
From curatorial work to comics, Amy’s enduring interests are in drawing, graphic narrative, and design.
Instagram: @amy.chalmers
M.A. Media Arts
M.A. Media Arts
"I want to use videography and photography to focus on expanding the narrative of Latinos in media. There is a common perception of Latin American/Hispanics as low skill manual laborers in the United States. I want to both increase the amount of representation shown and the “higher level” jobs occupied by Latinos. Currently, I’m focusing on the Thoroughbred industry."
Instagram: @Silvi0Gonzales
M.A.T. Art Education
M.A. Media Arts
M.A. Media Arts
M.F.A. Studio Art
Katy McCormack is pursuing an MFA in photography. She is originally from Chicago where she worked in advertising. Her interests include street photography and documentary photography.
Instagram: @katymcc18
Website: www.katymccphotos.com
M.A. Studio Art
Rebecca Rebl focuses on using meaningful design to create elegant editorial publications. She has years of experience in marketing and photography, and a weakness for beautiful typography.
M.F.A. Studio Art
Jackson is a ceramic artist interested in both pottery and sculpture. Born and raised in Greenville, SC, he received his BA in Studio Art from Furman University. Moving forward, Jackson plans to pursue his love of teaching at the university level.
“I create ceramic artworks inspired by classical and contemporary sculpture, horror, and fantasy. Frequently using the vessel as a canvas, I aim to create dynamic compositions that pack energy, emotion, and beauty. I also enjoy contriving visual tension while incorporating the human figure. My work explores themes of emotional containment, restriction, catharsis, and somatization: when emotions cause physical sensations of discomfort, tension, and pain.”
Instagram: @shanerceramics
Email: jshaner@email.sc.edu
M.F.A. Studio Art
"I am an MFA student and a Graduate Assistant, selected as a Presidential Fellow at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, specializing in Studio Art. My research emphasizes conceptual strength. Apart from traditional material and media, I have conceptualized my body as a tool to perform and establish more interactions between art and society. I seek to bring concepts from culture and social climate and their relation with political power into my work to gain a better understanding of how laws, traditions, and ideologies impact the perceived value of a human."
Instagram: @Ninarastgar
M.A.T. Art Education