Northwestern Visual Arts Students to Present Senior Exhibitions in March, April

March 17, 2026

ALVA, Okla. — Students in the Northwestern Oklahoma State University visual arts program will showcase their work this spring in a series of exhibitions featuring a variety of artistic styles, themes and mediums.

These senior exhibitions will feature artwork from art majors Bentley Cox and Megan Valdez, both of Alva, and Katelyn Findley of Stillwater, as well as art minors Elayna Warrington of Alva, Olivia Saner of Dawson, Nebraska, and Gabriel Bussinger and Macy Eads, both of Woodward. The exhibitions are free and open to the public.

The first exhibition, “Stories,” will be on display March 23-27 in Gallery Sophia, Jesse Dunn Building, Room 218, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A closing reception will take place on March 27 at 5 p.m. The exhibition includes work by Eads, Saner, Warrington and Bussinger and explores personal narratives, faith and emotional experiences through a variety of artistic styles.

Please note that the gallery is only accessible via stairs.

Eads will present pieces inspired by biblical themes and her Christian faith. Her exhibition will include acrylic paintings, prints and mixed-media work.

"Even though the pieces look different, they are all bound by the theme of Christianity," Eads said. "I hope viewers can see the joy my faith brings me and how it inspires my creativity."

Eads will also feature a miniature vending machine that dispenses free prints to visitors throughout the exhibition.

Warrington, a natural history biology major with a visual arts minor, focuses her work on wildlife and the emotional cycles of life and death. Her pieces combine digital and traditional media to explore personal experiences and growth.

"A lot of my pieces are inspired by my love for animals and the emotions I was feeling at the time," Warrington said. "I hope viewers don't see the skull imagery as dark or morbid, but as an outlet for emotion."

Valdez’s exhibition, “Chromatics of the Deep,” will be on display April 6-10 in Jesse Dunn Building, Room 218, with a reception scheduled for April 6 at 5 p.m.

Valdez's work features ocean-inspired paintings that combine real sea creatures with mythical elements. Using oil and mixed media, her work emphasizes vibrant color and layered textures to create immersive underwater scenes.

"The word 'chromatics' represents my focus on color, while 'the deep' reflects the ocean and the imaginative underwater worlds I create in my paintings," Valdez said. "I want viewers to feel like they are stepping into a colorful underwater world."

While visiting campus for this senior exhibition, guests are encouraged to also stop by the NWOSU Art Society’s Spring Art Show on display in the J.W. Martin Library. Last day for the campus art show is March 31. A Winner’s Show will take place at the Runnymede in downtown Alva on April 3 for the First Friday Artwalk.

CONTACT FOR RELEASE:

Corky Hall, University Relations Intern

cahall85@rangers.nwosu.edu | 580-327-8482