On Display February 18-March 11, 2026
The Memorial Union Art Gallery is hosting an juried exhibit of art and poetry by Iowa State students. Visual art included in the exhibit was selected by juror Nicole Sara Simpkins of St. Paul, Minnesota, and poetry chosen by Rachel Morgan from Cedar Falls, Iowa. The jurors reviewed 140 pieces submitted by 64 students and whittled them down to the 41 artworks and poems by 34 artists and writers that are on display. Simpkins and Morgan also chose the award winners, which will be shared at the reception on Wednesday, February 25, from 6-7:30pm, with the announcements beginning at 6:15pm.
Artists (with majors noted) include:
Ripley Berg, Fashion Design and Merchandising
Elle Carlson, Design
Tyler Crow, Graphic Design
Rebekah DeWild, Art and Design
Viviana Deippa, Art
Yadira González, Integrated Studio Arts
Sunya Hardi, Art
Ella Harrell, Graphic Design
Laura Hayes, Graphic Design
Katie Kangas, Graphic Design
Abigail Larsen, Landscape Architecture
Avery Lichter, Landscape Architecture
Kennedy Loesche, Design
Addisyn Marvin, Integrated Visual Arts
Sam McCauley, Integrated Visual Arts MFA
Grace Meyer, Integrated Studio Arts
Carter Nelson, Graphic Design
Fahmida Nahar Rafa, Integrated Visual Arts
Julianna Rios, Integrated Studio Arts and Art History
Ryan Ruppel, Architecture
Kate Schliefman, Art
Karina Scott, Civil Engineering
Lily Scott, Landscape Architecture
Noel Thomas, Art
Amara Tilley, Integrated Studio Arts
Chloe Timmerman, Architecture
Grace Tolliver, Art
Colton Vance, Graphic Design
Poets (with majors noted) include:
James Albrecht, English and Secondary Education
Taylor Bauer, Computer Science
Alayna Guschin, Architecture
Lilah Hegarty, English
Aiden McGinnis, Architecture
Lucas Tyler, English and Secondary Education
Nicole Sara Simpkins combines printmaking, writing, and drawing to explore entanglements of culture, ecosystems, and personal healing. Her work has been supported by grants, fellowships, and artist residencies, and she currently teaches at Macalester College in Minnesota.
Rachel Morgan's recent work appears in Best New Poets 2024, and she is the winner of the 2020 Fineline contest. Currently, she teaches at UNI, serves as Editor of the North American Review, and was a 24-25 Artist Fellow.
The Memorial Union is located at 2229 Lincoln Way in Ames on the ISU campus, and paid parking is available in the ramp adjacent to the building. The Art Gallery is located on the 1st floor and hours are Monday through Friday from 11am to 4pm and Sunday from 1 to 4pm. Free admission.