Ely Illustration Thesis Exhibition Goes Digital
April 8, 2020
Art students around the world are coming up with new ways to be creative at the same time they’re socially distancing. No group of people is more prepared for that challenge than UArts seniors, who are constantly seeking new opportunities to advance their creativity. The Illustration department exemplified this creative spirit by creating a digital experience for its annual William H. Ely Illustration Thesis Exhibition, endowed by its namesake in 1940.
Described as “a rigorous process of self-reflection, experimentation and refinement,” the Illustration senior thesis asks students to create four pieces that express their artistic voices. Students develop their theses as part of their professional portfolios, as they prepare to work in various fields including publishing, editorial, advertising, entertainment design, comic books, video games, interactive work, store display, product design, package design and more.
In addition to the exhibition, the Ely Excellence in Illustration Awards will be chosen by a panel of successful illustrators. Brittany Holloway-Brown, Design Director at Eater; Andrea Miller BFA ’13 (Illustration), Illustrator and Senior Designer at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers and James Firnhaber BFA ’16 (Illustration), whose clients include Disney-Hyperion and The New York Times.
Illustration Program Director Adam Osgood said, “With physical gatherings on hold, we put together the first-ever online Ely Exhibition to share the immense talent of the class of 2020 to the illustration and design community. The program is very proud of the work our students have done and can’t wait to see what our soon-to-be alumni do next!”
Header art by Brent Gilliard-Trent '20 (Illustration)