School of Art and Design Announces Winners of the Student Student Award Exhibition

The month-long exhibition closed with an award ceremony where the winning students took home cash prizes

by Aleesia Benkey

April 9, 2022

On March 3, 2022, the twenty-fourth annual Art and Design Student Award Exhibition celebrated SDSU student artists for artistic excellence. The exhibition gives undergraduate and graduate students the unique opportunity to showcase their work and jumpstart their careers. 

Director of the School of Art and Design, Arzu Ozkal, explains what makes the exhibition significant. “Being selected to a juried exhibition is a significant accomplishment, regardless of receiving an award or not. The exhibition showcases original ideas that go beyond the project brief, with excellent craftsmanship.”

President’s Award winner Jonathan Rodley for his work Solace, shares what this recognition means to him. 

“Having the president’s office select my painting, substantiates that I’ve made interesting art and that I have the potential to make some kind of a living from my artwork,” shares Rodley “There’s a risk with choosing to make fine art—there isn’t necessarily a job in San Diego waiting for me at the completion of the MFA program—but this award at least gives me some confidence that my work is appreciated.”

Since 1999, the SDSU has honored artistic excellence and diversity at the Art and Design Student Award Exhibition.

Student Alexandra Mavrikis, winner of the President's Award for work, Three Months, shares the significance of the award exhibition. 

“I love the Student Award Exhibition as a way of seeing the work coming out of the different disciplines at the University.  We’re all so spread out we don’t always get to see what everyone is making,” shares Mavrikis  “With everything I make, I’m putting part of myself out there and I have a lot of nerves and uncertainty with how the piece and by extension, I, will be received.  It’s not validation, but knowing that someone responded to the work enough to want to acquire it does help motivate me to continue to push forward with my work,” said Mavrikis. 

The SDSU campus has art in every corner and is dedicated to allowing students the opportunity to exhibit it, beyond the annual Student Award Exhibition. As Dean Ozkal explains, “besides the exhibition; schools, colleges, departments, and administrative offices across campus generously provide purchase awards to student artists. You can see our students' artwork displayed in many buildings across our campus, activating and enlivening hallways, conference rooms, and offices with diverse perspectives and visual expressions. We are grateful for the support and dedication to student success.” 

All award winners are listed below. 

President's Award       

Solace  Jonathan Rodley

Three Months Alexandra Mavrikis

Provost Ochoa 

The Paths We Take     Delilah Strukel

Dean Shannon, PSFA 

I can Hear the Music   Delilah Strukel

Interim Dean Belch, Business

A Tree for Saussure (triptych) Jonathan Rodley

Dean Casper, Arts and Letters

We Stand        Robin North

Dean Olevsky, Engineering    

Peony Vase Katie Francis

Aztec Shops   

Flaming Hot Matthew Bacher

Global Campus

Desert Conversations Rianne Magbuhat

Art Council Ambassadors

Comida China Lerida Vega

Gerald W. Fackler Awards

Mute 1 Leila Khalilzadeh Aghdami

            Bathtime in Gaza Inji Jaber

            Bloom Molly Ritz

            Hidden Sun Laptop Table       Rebekah Leslie

           Essentialities Kristi Williams                        

Art Produce     

Alexander "Zim" Zimmerman

Jury Award

Leila Khalilzadeh Aghdami      

 

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.

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