What a treat to see graduating students present their senior work. The 2025 annual Bachelor of Fine Arts/ Bachelor of Art exhibition currently at the USM Art Gallery is well worth the look. Seeing the collection of talent, one might wish there were a larger venue to see more of their work displayed. Given that, there are some gems to see.

When viewing emerging artists, look to see how well they have mastered their chosen medium and are able to use that medium to express a creative statement or vision. Can they render an image that is aesthetically pleasing or unique? There are several artists using painting to express their aesthetic, some more successful than others in their mastering of the medium and presenting a unique image.

Of note are the sculptures with some unique use of selected mediums, such as an artist that used ceramics as a material base to create a sculptural piece. Cecilia Marie Drysdale created several “pot-like” structures, one that has anthropomorphic or human-like shapes emerging from the surface. Another is molded into a cradle for a female cuddling some kind of pet creature.

One of the more original sculptural mediums, used with great success, was created by Katie Riley. Her pieces used a very fine, translucent fiber which gave a soft “web-like” quality that was masterfully executed. When asked what that medium was, she explained that they were threads from a glue gun! Anyone who has ever used one has experienced the trailing of plastic string as a nuisance. Here, she has turned the tables and has made it a crafty medium.

Another noteworthy artist is Emily DeTroy’s enlarged photography. There were a combination of various images that gave a collage-like appearance. Upon speaking to Emily, she revealed that she looked for images in windows—the combination of what is seen through the window with what is reflected. With photography, it is the ability to “see” the image and capture it. With these pieces, she shows she has it.

The artists displaying their work are Emily DeTroy, Cecilia Marie Drysdale, Emma Estes, Alyssa McNally, Jayda Ray-James, Katie Riley, Ryan Stresky, Madeline Twombly-Wiser, Laima Vince Sruoginis, and Danna Wiggins.

The show opened on April 10, and runs through Friday, May 2. Stop by and experience all the unique art on display. The art can also be seen online at https://usm.maine.edu/gallery/2025-bachelor-of-fine-arts-exhibition/.