Spartans' Artwork on Display at Dubuque Museum of Art

DUBUQUE, Iowa - A celebration of work created by University of Dubuque Department of Digital Art and Design (DART) students during Spring Semester 2024 is on display at the Dubuque Museum of Art, 701 Locust Street.

"It's amazing," said Lizzy Thill, a senior DART major from Dubuque, Iowa. "I never thought so many people would see my artwork. I think it's an amazing opportunity to spread both your style and your love of art to people."

The exhibition, "Digital Art and Design from the University of Dubuque: The Students' Senior Theses," is open to the public through Saturday, February 9, 2025, in the Dubuque Museum of Art's lobby. Please click here for museum hours and admission information.

Joining Thill with featured pieces are Jakhari Anderson (C'24), a student in the master in management - organizational diversity and inclusion leadership program from Crystal Lake, Illinois; Jenna Benzing (C'24), from Caledonia, Minnesota; Alyssa Classen (C'24), from Rib Lake, Wisconsin; Urias Gbarjolo (C'24), posthumously, from Johnston, Iowa; Dillon Leffler (C'24), from Plattsmouth, Nebraska; Carlos Sanchez (C'24), from Carpentersville, Illinois; and Kimonte Thomas, a senior digital art and design major from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

They each chose an independent and specific theme for their collection of pieces to showcase their breadth and voice of talent in illustration, animation, digital painting, motion graphics, and digital artwork. The work previously closed the 2023-2024 season of UD's Bisignano Art Gallery in April 2024.

"As DART professors, we are thrilled and honored to see our students' exceptional work displayed at the Dubuque Museum of Art," said Sheila Sabers, MAC, head of the Department of Digital Art and Design and assistant professor of digital art and design. "We are incredibly proud of them for having the opportunity to share their creativity and hard work with the community."

For Leffler, that opportunity was a hint unbelievable.

"It's surreal because all of my hours working are now just open to the public to see and take in... It's also very amazing and exciting," he said.

That excitement was felt by many including Sanchez who appreciated the opportunity to have his work displayed off campus.

"It feels really nice. One of my goals was to be in an art gallery," he said.

Benzing shared she felt accomplished to have her artwork about music on display.

"My whole thought with mine was how I see and feel different genres of music," she said. "I hope when people look at it they can see and feel how each music type makes me feel through all the colors and everything I did with it."

As patrons walk around the Dubuque Museum of Art, Anderson hopes his animated work about solitude helps them to understand that it's okay be alone sometimes.

"Growing up, I always wanted to be an artist and wanted my artwork to show who I am and it did and it's in a museum," he said. "Nothing has ever been in a museum for me."