The Department of Art and Design Juried Student Exhibition, juried by Derrick Burnett, MFA will be on display in the Marian University Art Gallery located in the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences from February 11, 2021 – March 12, 2021.  The exhibition will feature art and design created by Marian University Department of Art and Design majors and minors.  A virtual awards ceremony, jurors talk and reception will be held on Wednesday, February 24, at 6:30pm on zoom.  All of which are free and open to the public. Please see the URL and Zoom meeting information at the bottom of this announcement.

Derrick Burnett, is currently an Art Instructor at the Dallas Independent School District.  Derrick received his MFA in Painting from Indiana State University. Burnett has been the recipient of various awards, grants and fellowships including Bombay Sapphire Artisan Serries National Winner in Dallas, Texas and Art Basel – SCOPE in Miami, Florida. He has also been the ‘artist showcase’ in various publications including AfroPUNK online article spotlight, the Voyage Huston and New American Paintings, No.87 MFA Annual April/May 2010. 

Burnett’s mixed media compositions explore contemporary African-American portraiture as a representation of black identity while using images that reference stereotypes and cultural appropriation. His mixed media paintings investigate diversity through the use of traditional and non-traditional symbology. Derrick constructs his compositions by building on the visual language of graffiti, abstraction, and the urban environment. When viewing his work Burnett’s intention is for viewer to sometimes feel uncomfortable.  Burnett feels “art isn’t just about representing beauty; art should also shock the viewer”.