56th Annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition

Erika Diamond is a textile-focused artist, curator, and educator based in Asheville, NC. Born in Germany to two ballet dancers, she grew up backstage and touring across Europe in her adolescence. This gave her early insight into the ephemeral nature of touch, the expressive qualities of the body, and the transformative capabilities of costume. In 2000, she earned a BFA degree in Sculpture at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), experimenting with bronze, honey, performance, and chocolate. For the next 12 years she maintained a studio practice while working as a freelance artist assistant and art preparator in NYC, Los Angeles, and Charlotte. 

Diamond received her MFA in Fibers from the Craft/Material Studies department at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) where she learned how to weave tapestry and commemorate her physical encounters through objects. Several residencies and grants have facilitated her recent projects focusing on the politics of queer safety and visibility. Most recently, she has exhibited at Dinner Gallery, Form & Concept Gallery, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, and Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh. She has been reviewed in Metalsmith Magazine, Glasstire, and Whitehot Magazine. In the summers, as Associate Director of Galleries at Chautauqua Institution, she curates and manages exhibitions that blur distinctions between the genres of art, design, and craft.

Undergraduate students enrolled at Western Carolina University are eligible to submit artwork for consideration. “Undergraduate” is defined as any student enrolled in a 400 level course or below during the current academic year. Artwork must have been created during the students’ time at Western. Art majors and non-art majors are welcome to apply. Artwork previously exhibited in a Juried Undergraduate Exhibition at the WCU Fine Art Museum is not eligible for consideration. Artwork previously exhibited in a BFA Portfolio Exhibition may be submitted for the juror to review.

Best in Show - Joshua Masters, Stress Response
Chancellor’s Award - Berlyn Perdomo, leto
BCFPA Dean’s Award - Matthew Cain, Occupation
Museum Director’s Award - Nathalie Catalán, La Pequeña Flaquita (The Skinny Girl) 
Diane Withrow Coyle Award in Drawing - Michaela Morse, Self-Portrait 

 Media Awards
2-D Media - Alexis Bumgardner, Grenadine
2-D Media - Rhiannon Eason, Kenopsia
3-D Media - Gloria Melo-Estrada, Relationship
3-D Media - Katie Barnett, Brenda
Time-Based Media - Adam Bryant, Turquoise Breeze
Design - Anilia Hornsby, Thinking of You 

 Art Materials Awards
Art Materials Award #1  - Lydia Vereen, See-Shell
Art Materials Award #2 - Zoila Carrasco, Cozy Dinner Set
Art Materials Award #3 - Sally Drumheller, Untitled Still Life
Art Materials Award #4 - Jessie Butner, Crayon Creatures, Dribble, Dew & Drop in the City of Crona

Thank you to our sponsors for your continued support of our students and exhibitions! If you would like to learn more about Blick Art Materials, please visit the link.