Inaugural Red Dirt Review High School Art Contest, Exhibition Dec. 1-12 at Northwestern

November 25, 2025

A Northwestern student art exhibition took place in the Gallery Sophia in Jesse Dunn 218 recently and will be the location to view nearly 80 pieces of art in the inaugural Red Dirt Review High School Art Contest and Exhibition Dec. 1-12.

ALVA, Okla. – Nearly 200 entries were received from high school artists in the region for the inaugural Red Dirt Review High School Art Contest and Exhibition, organized by the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Visual Arts program.

Of the entries received, nearly 80 works of art were accepted to be displayed in the Gallery Sophia in Jesse Dunn 218 Dec. 1-12. The gallery will be open to the public Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with other hours by appointment.

An opening reception will take place Dec. 5 at 5 p.m., and winners and prizes for each category will be announced at that time. Social media posts showing art pieces are also planned by the program.

Thomas Cornell, assistant professor of visual arts, said that there is some “phenomenal artwork from around the region” on display.

Cornell explained that after visiting with others in the region, it was realized there was no high school art show specifically for northwest Oklahoma students, so it was decided to start one at Northwestern.

Public, private and homeschooled students in grades 9-12 were able to submit entries in the categories of painting, ceramics, drawing, sculpture, photography and mixed media/other. There was no entry fee.

Questions about the art show or the visual arts program should be directed to Cornell at (580) 327-8111 or tacornell@nwosu.edu. Additional program information available at www.nwosu.edu/visualarts.

-NW-