Junior visual and verbal arts major Aaron Harris will showcase a collection of 39 recent works in his first solo exhibit April 2-30 in Lightner Gallery, located in Lightner Library.

Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-11 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to the public. 

The show consists of 16 oil paintings, nine acrylic paintings, 12 drawings, and two mixed media pieces. The works range in size from 3 x 5 feet to 4 x 4 inches and are primarily portraits.  

“I have been exploring the use of light and color to establish mood and character in portraiture,” said Harris. “I hope to evoke an emotional response, not just through the subject matter itself, but through the presentation as well. While the technique itself may not come across as impressionist, I believe the effects of light in these paintings have an impressionistic quality.

“I have also been exploring size, scale and the use of negative space,” added Harris. “In many of the pieces, the initial drawing aspect of their creation has not been entirely obliterated with the intention of sharing the works evolution. This was not done to display technique, but rather to add context and hopefully, bring the viewer deeper into the work. I also think it looks cool.”

While other students have exhibited their work alone before, Professor of Art and Director of Lightner Gallery Dexter Benedict said Harris’s student exhibit is “somewhat unique because it’s not his senior show.

“He’s been prolific over the summer and this academic year,” said Benedict.  

A non-traditional student who has served as a studio and gallery assistant the past two years, Harris has garnered respect and appreciation from fellow students as well as his professor.

“The students really appreciate his input,” said Benedict. “He’s an energetic, motivated, gifted, and talented person.”

-- Tanya Cornell-Kestler