June 23 - September 15, 2023

“Art is all about starting again”
David Bayles, Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking

Through diverse media and practices, Unwavering pays homage to the creative achievements of RMCAD alumni, coinciding with the 60th Anniversary of the college. Just as waves emerge from the gravitational pull of the moon, these talented alumni emerged from the nurturing environment of the college, pulled by their commitment to a career in the arts.

An artist’s creative endeavors can face challenges, setbacks, and doubts; choosing a career in the arts is not an easy path. Yet, this group of alumni has continued to invest in their practice, again, and again, and again. The key is continuation. The end of one creative pursuit must swell into the next wave, the next artwork, the next pitch, and the next design. This exhibit celebrates the artists’ and designers’ unwavering dedication to their work and practice.

From Lucas T. McMahon’s mixed media landscapes evoking loneliness and aloneness to a reckoning and embrace of identity in works by Steve Riederer and Jesse Ryan Crosby, to those who have pivoted their careers from their original field of study and launched thriving businesses, the exhibit embodies the vast range of artistic expression and creative growth of RMCAD alumni in the waves of the post-academic ocean.

List of Artists

Blake Chamness | 2009, Illustration
Jesse Ryan Crosby | 2020 | Photography
Whitney Grimm | 2021, Graphic Design
Lin Wen-Ben | 2016, Fine Arts
Lucas T. McMahon  | 2014, Fine Arts
Daryll Peirce | 2000, Visual Art
Jade Ariana Phillips | 2016, Fine Arts
Steve Riederer | 2019, Illustration
Mike Sherrill | 2004, Animation/Design
Denise Zubizarreta | 2022, Fine Arts

NOTE: This exhibition has been extended and will now run until September 15.

Download the gallery guide

ABOUT THE PHILIP J. STEELE GALLERY

Named in honor of RMCAD’s founder, the Philip J. Steele Gallery features dynamic and innovative work from contemporary artists and designers, RMCAD alumni, current students, and faculty. Open to the public, these galleries serve as a place to foster critical discourse around art and design for the RMCAD and broader communities by presenting challenging, educational, and significant exhibitions and projects.