The Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition gives students an incredible opportunity to experience having their art professionally juried and offers recognition along with cash prizes. A diverse range of art from graphic design, fibers, photography, print, ceramic, sculpture, painting, drawing, and more is on-view. Located within the Johnson Hall Rotunda, artists will have their work on display for the campus community and beyond.

2023 Award Recipients:

Honorable Mentions – Workin Thru Some Thangs by Evelyn Summers & Commodity by Layla Davenport

Louise Ruth Award – Breathe, Remember, Bliss by Kelsey Smith

Eleanor Reuer Award – The High Dive by Ainsley Rounds

Rebecca Clover Memorial Award – Mirror Mask by Mae VanFleet & Achromatic by Indy Hoeve

Cleta Johnson Award – Golden Nostalgia by Sara Grace Lane

Alyce Turner Award – Three Days With A Stranger by Karlie Mullis

Deb Laube Award – Textured Scream by Cecilia Rivera

Pearce Gallery Award – Ariana Davis

Student Choice Award – Through The (Looking) Glass by Ainsley Rounds

Art Department Purchase Award – Reproductive Vessels by Kayla Cooper

Juror’s Choice Award – Eternal by Sara Grace Lane

Jean Gray Mohs is a North Carolina-born multimedia artist working in painting and sculpture. Mohs received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2002 and later her Master of Arts in Teaching from Georgia Southern University in 2008. Her work has been exhibited both locally and internationally. She has shown in multiple venues, such as the Contemporary Art Museum in Raleigh, the North Carolina Museum of Art, the Greenhill Gallery, and Meredith College. Her work has been broadcasted on Georgia Public Radio and published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Southern Living, and Traditional Home. Her art also decorates hotels and homes. 

Mohs merges her lived experience with chronic illness and past disability into her art. Mohs’ mediums have included everything from forest moss to charcoal to acrylic to explore the emotional, physical, and psychological space in those moments of vulnerability, anxiety, fragility, and resiliency. Her work zooms in on ideas of strength, fragility, and balance, a world those with chronic illness know all too well. She describes art as something that chose her from the start. She intends to tell a story through her art, a story that includes not only herself but also others.

Photo credit: Photo by Liz Condo

Juror’s Statement:

“The Meredith College juried show of 2023 celebrates the diverse voices and perspectives of women in the arts. This exhibition showcases a range of media, all united by a few common themes: isolation, nature, and expression. Each piece has been skillfully crafted, with works addressing issues of race, identity, and material with significant tones of nature expressed throughout.

At the heart of this exhibition lies the juror’s choice, which represents the core of all these ideas. This work sweeps the viewer across a windy, weathered landscape, evoking a sense of isolation, strength, and perseverance. Its muted colors weave a thread of color and mood throughout the show.  This piece embodies the strength and resilience of women in the arts, and serves as a powerful anchor for the entire exhibition. It invites and welcomes you in. 

Throughout this show, we witness the unique perspectives of Meredith students and their engagement with the world around them. From intricate ceramic works to bold paintings and drawings, each piece reflecting the artist’s personal vision and artistic skill.

Overall, this exhibition is a testament to the power of women’s voices in the arts. Through their works, these artists speak to issues of identity, race, and material, while also connecting with the natural world. This show invites viewers to engage with the zeitgeist of Meredith students in 2023 and to celebrate the diversity and skill of women in the arts.”