Emerging Student Artists Display their Work at the 2026 Annual Juried Student Exhibition
Queensborough’s Department of Art & Design and the QCC Art Gallery proudly presents the 2026 Annual Juried Student Exhibition (JSE), on display at the QCC Art Gallery from April 21 – May 29, 2026.
The opening reception will be held on April 21 from 4:00pm-6:00pm.
“The Juried Student Exhibition 2026 feels, to me, a bit like a mixtape,” said Nathaniel Sullivan, Asssociate Professor, Art & Design, and curator of the JSE 2026 for the past two years. “Each work has its own voice, tone, and rhythm, but together they create a larger experience. This year’s exhibition reflects that spirit, moving across disciplines—from drawing and painting to animation, video, and digital design—while highlighting the individuality of each artist’s approach. For many of our graduating students, it is also an important moment to share their work in a professional setting and invite others into that experience.”
“These expressive works by Queensborough’s art students invite viewers to illuminate themselves, to form a deep connection with, and contemplate the character of these pieces that reflect students' artistic development and enthusiasm to share their vision with the broader community,” said Dr. Faustino Quintanilla, Executive Director, QCC Art Gallery.
Anisa Gao, who will graduate from Queensborough this spring with an associate in science (A.S.) degree in Digital Art & Design, said, “For this year’s juried student exhibition, I took inspiration from the presence of my cultural background in the environment around me to create three pieces of featured work in different art forms.”
Asian Pear, Orange, and Nectarine, oil painting. “The three fruits I selected to paint in oil for the first time were the Asian pear, orange, and nectarine. My mother has an altar for my grandfather that she lights and honours every morning. She keeps a few fresh oranges and nectarines beside his portrait as an offering. During Chinese New Year, we would eat a whole box of engraved Asian pears together as a family and leave one for my grandfather.”
Musings in Chinatown, photo book. “My grandmother on my dad’s side lives in Manhattan and we used to visit her every time we went to the dentist in Chinatown. I walked along the path between her apartment and our dentist on Canal Street, photographing various narrative monuments. I was inspired by the human connection found in the community of Chinatown; I photographed a wedding at city hall, workers conversing, and an elderly group playing checkers in the park for my photo book.”
Meet me in Chinatown, travel ad campaign. “With three photos of young tourists, a newly married couple, and the elderly friends, I created a collection of travel ads to highlight the close-knit community that attracts so many to this neighbourhood. Various people in different life stages and paths all gather to create riveting memories with one another, something integral to the fabric of Chinatown.”
Anisa plans to transfer to a four-year art college this fall to continue studying design with aspirations to become a brand consultant, focused on beauty and fashion.
Mia Fernandez had this to say about her piece, 1984 Book Cover, Inkjet print. “I was inspired to pick this book because of how it relates to our political climate. With technology advancing so rapidly, it seems like the events in this book are slowly becoming a reality.”
She added, “For the design itself, there was a scene I recall of the main characters in a bedroom, trying to hide from the surveillance. Little did they know, one of the portraits had a camera in it, so they got caught. This made me want to include something camera like in the design. The book also calls out to one specific person, "big brother", who's always watching. This gave me the idea to use the circles in 9 and 8 to turn it into a face, with the eyes being like cameras, since they're both used as surveillance.”
Mia will also graduate this spring with an associate in science (A.S.) degree in Digital Art & Design, with plans to transfer to a four-year college to study animation.
Gratitude is extended to the QCC Art Gallery and Queensborough's Division of Strategic Initiatives and Advancement for their support.
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