Heart of the Matter: 2023 BFA Thesis Exhibition

The Department of Art presents the work of twenty artists about to complete their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Minnesota.
Hand drawn graphic text that reads "Heart of the Matter"
Two Latine figures lay side by side with heads at opposite ends of the bed supporting them.
Nayelie Avalos, Desenvolver, 2023, 42 x 72 in.
A close up image of the artist’s palm, covered in a spectrum of colored pastels, loosely resembling a heat signature. In the background behind his hand are art materials and his belongings strewn across a classroom floor.
Charlie Cassellius, Heat Signature, 2022, Digital image of soft pastels on hand, dimensions variable.
A brightly colored painting of a face giving a serious look. The head is tilted at an angle, and there are many painted textures and various saturated colors.
Heidi Bakk, Controlled Intimacy, Controlled Intimacy, Controlled Intimacy: Panel 2, 2023, Oil paint and pigment sticks on unstretched canvas, 84 x 60 x 3 in.
A close up image of a black hemispheric form, covered in black spikes. The forefront of the image is out of focus with white speckles, which reveal to be the tips of toothpicks as the image comes into focus.
Regan Duffy, Untitled, 2023, toothpicks, styrofoam, and spray paint, 12 x 12 x 6 in.
A surreal anthropomorphic ceramic bowl whose mouth is wide open revealing teeth.
Oliver Gerber, Angry Bowl, 2020, soda fired ceramic.
The face of an angled profile of a woman featuring various painted shades of purple with a soft teal green background.
Olivia Herzog, Untitled, 2022, Oil on wood.
A close-up of a gathering of ceramic vessels.
Katie Hochman, Women’s March Series: March #5 (detail), 2022-2023, Installation with ceramics and water, 240 x 72 in.
In a misty valley, a blood-covered highland elf is surrounded by dead elves, arrows, and black flags.
Duke Lyonne, The Violent Haze, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 18 in.
An adult girl stands with a pitch black background. She is completely white, with a white dress. She is glowing. Her hair is flowing, and her hand is held out beside her. Her ring finger is crooked.
Julian McClellan, Empty Ocean, 2023, Digital animation, 00:03:09.
Jaden McClellan, Four Sides: Episode 1-The Battle Begins at Baldi’s Beatdown, 2023, Digital Animation, 00:04:30.
A music note hangs in the air near a cartoon red bellied black snake with a surprised expression inside of his dark red cave room surrounded by his personal belongings.
Black and white stencil spray paint image of a person holding a cord against their forehead.
Grady McNaughton, UNTITLED, 2023, Spray paint on newsprint, 36 x 24 in.
A black and white intaglio print depicting the head of a large creature emerging from a watery hole, surrounded by plants and other strange creatures.
Jason Nawrocki, Opening Lead, 2023, Intaglio, 11 x 17 in.
Large scale photograph of nude male antiquity statue form with paper manipulation in the form of paper weaving.
Raven Miller, From the series Men in Stone, 2023, Photography, 58 x 44 in.
Closely cropped view of a spider web like object made out of glass beads.
Melissa Nyberg, Untitled (detail), 2023, Glass beads, freshwater pearls, earthenware, 36 x 48 in.
Abstract ceramic sculptures sit on top of cinder blocks.
Jack O'Donnell-Mache, Three Structures, Wood fired glazed stoneware and spray paint, dimensions variable.
Portrait drawing of a young woman looking off to the left against a red background.
Sonja Quimby, Red Self-Portrait, 2023, Colored pencil on Color-aid paper, 14 x 11 in.
A weaving created from the torn strips of a cotton bed sheet is hanging from the wooden peg loom it was woven on.
Jeff Sandeen, Cotton Dream, 2023, Wood, cotton bed sheet, cotton cord, 72 x 48 x 6 in.
Foreshortened angle of a cast bronze loafer
Max Staley, Bronze Shoe, 2022, Cast bronze, 10 x 6 x 5 in.
Ceramic oyster sitting next to a ceramic pearl
Jesemy Travers, Pearl, 2022, Terracotta sculpture. 36 x 18 x 7 in.
A compilation of black and white closeups of three figures, each only shown through glimpses. The first image shows a forested background with a human and wolf amalgamation, the second presents a triple-faced human figure with feathered wings, and the third shows a hint of a temple and a glimpse of a human-ram hybrid.
Izzy Shinn, Documentarian and the Sisters of the Four Winds, 2023, India ink on paper.

Heart of the Matter

May 2 – 13, 2023

Katherine E. Nash Gallery

Public Program & Reception: Friday, May 5

Public Program | 6:00-6:30 PM | InFlux Auditorium

Reception | 6:30-8:30 PM | Regis East Lobby

Join us for a public program featuring remarks from Department of Art faculty and the BFA 2023 cohort, followed by a reception with light refreshments.



The Katherine E. Nash Gallery at the University of Minnesota is proud to present Heart of the Matter, an exhibition showcasing the work of twenty artists about to complete their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in the Department of Art. Finding emotional center through physical media and form, Heart of the Matter features works that explore overlapping themes of creation, body, otherworldliness, and distortion through a variety of media. Artists in the exhibition include Nayelie Avalos, Charlie Cassellius, Heidi Bakk, Regan Duffy, Oliver Gerber, Olivia Herzog, Katie Hochman, Duke Lyonne, Jaden McClellan, Julian McClellan, Grady McNaughton, Raven Miller, Jason Nawrocki, Melissa Nyberg, Jack O'Donnell-Mache, Sonja Quimby, Jeff Sandeen, Izzy Shinn, Max Staley, and Jesemy Travers, who supported each other in making work, finding connection points, and actualizing this cumulative exhibition. Special thanks to artist Jason Nawrocki for designing the postcard.

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