Lee University is hosting its Spring Student Invitational Art Show, which features the works of Lee students enrolled in studio art classes. The show, which opened earlier this semester, will run through March 30 in the Mayfield Gallery, located in the Mayfield Annex on Lee’s campus. 
 
“The Spring Student Invitational is a cornerstone of our exhibition programming, presenting selected works by students across a variety of media,” said Victoria Phillips, Lee University visiting professor of art. “This exhibition not only highlights the breadth of creative inquiry within Lee’s art department but also provides our students with an important professional opportunity to exhibit in a gallery context.” 
 
The showcase features several artistic media, including painting, photography, sculpture, and ceramics. 
 
The students whose work is currently on display in the Mayfield Gallery were recommended by their art professors and include Anna Evans, Julia Halterman, Lilliana Holland, Jordan Lenarz, Emilee Lowder, Charis Lynes, Mackenzie McIntyre, Leah Milliron, and Charis Trammell.  
 
“In ‘Good Morning,’ I explore the mundane routine of preparing for the day, specifically focusing on the expectations placed on women regarding appearance,” said Lynes. “Through this work, I aim to explore the contradiction of yielding to societal pressures even when we don’t want to, because those standards are rooted in what we value as individuals. This piece encourages reflection on how we navigate our self-worth in a world that often prioritizes external appearances.” 
 
Her work on display is a charcoal drawing.  
 
“I chose to recreate this stirrup pot form, used by Mycenaeans to export liquids in the 14th century BCE, for the challenging flattened dome shape,” said Milliron. “My work on this piece fostered my admiration for the original artists’ craftsmanship, especially when imagining how they lacked the technology we do today.” 
 
Her piece is made of stoneware clay. 
 
“My master copy of Claude Monet’s ‘The Water Lily Pond’ is one of my favorites due to what it taught me,” said Trammell. “The large size challenged my patience and ability to paint on a large scale, while the visible brushstrokes were something I had to become comfortable leaving.” 
 
Trammell has two oil paintings on display. 
 
The Student Invitational Art Show is free and open to the public. The Mayfield Gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
For more information about the showcase or Lee’s art program, email Phillips at [email protected].