At first glance, the gallery feels soft, almost sweet. Walls washed in pastel pink and powder blue hold what appear to be abstract landscapes: rolling curves, gentle shadows, fields of color. Some visitors pause. Others hesitate. A few turn around and walk out.

Then comes the realization.

They are not landscapes at all—they are bodies.

Currently on view at Sarasota Art Museum, Selina Román: Abstract Corpulence transforms tightly cropped photographs of the artist’s own body into large-scale abstract compositions. Through careful framing and pastel bodysuits, ������Ƶ Fine Arts faculty member Selina Román turns stomachs, thighs, hips, and backs into studies of line, shape, and color. The result is both intimate and disorienting; a quiet challenge to traditional notions of beauty and femininity.

But perhaps the most fascinating part of the exhibition is not what hangs on the walls—it’s how differently people see it. Sandra Lefever, a staff member at the Museum, has observed audiences navigating the space over the past six months. She noted that older and younger women often spend the most time with the work, studying it closely. Others, she observed, step inside briefly before deciding it may not be for them.

One piece in particular became her favorite after hours of looking. At first, she wasn’t sure what she was seeing. Eventually, she recognized it: “It’s her back,” Lefever explained, pointing out the mirrored spine within the composition. That moment of recognition changed everything. “The whole thing reminds me of an iceberg,” she added, suggesting that what viewers first see is only a fraction of the meaning beneath the surface.

Even now, she says, visitors frequently misidentify the body parts. One canvas in the lower right remains “pretty ambiguous… it could be anything.”

The exhibition takes on yet another life through younger viewers. Lefever recalled guiding a group of third graders through the gallery. Many of them interpreted the works as landscapes, drawn especially to the pastel tones they described as “ice cream” colors. Their reactions reveal something essential about abstraction: meaning shifts depending on who is looking.

Organized by Sarasota Art Museum of ������Ƶ, and curated by Rangsook Yoon, senior curator at Sarasota Art Museum, Abstract Corpulence turns the gallery into a space of subtle resistance. By magnifying the body until it becomes unrecognizable, Román invites viewers to reconsider scale, perception, and the politics of size.

As the exhibition approaches its closing in March, one question lingers in the quiet, color-washed room: Is this exhibition about the body or about the way we choose to see it?

Perhaps it is less about identifying what part of the body we are looking at and more about recognizing how our own experiences shape what we see. In the end, the work does not demand a single interpretation. It asks only that we stay long enough to look and to look again.

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Using her own body as the subject, Román creates tightly-cropped compositions that deconstruct the human figure into a series of abstract shapes and forms. Wearing pastel bodysuits and tights, the artist transforms her flesh into undulating landscapes and still-life compositions by photographing her body in a series of unconventional postures. The result is an intimate, provocative, and dreamlike installation that invites viewers to consider the human figure from a point of true abstraction and inquiry.

Román has long been interested in portraiture, often choosing women as her models. According to the artist, she loves photographing people, putting her subjects in strange positions, and emphasizing the essence of the portrait through fashion and prop selection. In this exhibition, however, it’s the artist herself who is in the crosshairs of the camera lens. Román says she has avoided self-portraiture for years, but now finds the approach freeing both artistically and psychologically.

“I think self-portraiture may be the most challenging genre of artmaking,” shared Román. “To turn the camera on ourselves takes a good deal of bravery. In these images, we reveal ourselves in a multitude of ways.”

Roman’s evolving artistic process has led to a shift from single-frame photography to composite images that border on collage. This new approach allows for greater control and scale, resulting in photography that is at once meticulously crafted and emotionally raw.

“Here, my body is the environment,” Román explains. “It’s too big again, but this time, that’s the point. This is what I want people to feel: that bigness is not a flaw. It’s a presence.”

While Roman’s newest exhibition is very personal, it’s also widely accessible.

“I find it thrilling when people connect with the art on view and bring their own experiences, memories, and stories to the work,” shared Román. “I create the initial meaning, and then my viewers create their own layers of meaning.”

“This exhibition is another example of how, as part of ������Ƶ, Sarasota Art Museum is able to draw on the talents and expertise of our accomplished colleagues to ensure that our exhibitions are exciting and compelling,” shared Executive Director Virginia Shearer. “In the past, we’ve been able to engage the talents of faculty like Joe Fig (Contemplating Vermeer, 2024) and Jamie DeRuyter (Future Now, 2025). This season, we are pleased to be bringing these wonderful photographs by Ringling photography faculty Selina Román to the Museum to share with Sarasota locals and tourists alike.”

In addition to being a faculty member at ������Ƶ, Román is a proud Floridian and Tampa Bay-based artist. Her work is currently in the collection of the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs, The Tampa Museum of Art and Hillsborough Community College, as well as numerous private collections.

Román will give an opening-day talk about the exhibition on Saturday, August 30, from 11 am-12 pm at Sarasota Art Museum’s Sarasota High School Alumni Auditorium. Learn more or buy tickets on the website. ������Ƶ students, faculty, and staff can attend for free, but must reserve a seat.

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The photographs depict scarred landscapes, cleared for building and sometimes mid-construction, that look more like war zones than signs of growth or prosperity.

Murphy explains, “The work is meant to get our community thinking about how our area, and Florida in general, are rapidly expanding and destroying our environment and hurricane defenses.” 

Growing up in the neighboring town of Venice, Florida, Murphy has a strong relationship to the land here. He recalls adventures with his dad, walking on trails, learning about snakes, and hearing his father’s stories of being chased by wild boars. He watched that land transform into strip malls and housing developments.  

“With these images, I didn’t want to glorify the destruction, but instead show what other artists don’t always show: not the distant, federally protected lands, but what we’re doing now, right next door,” he shared. 

After graduation, Murphy plans to continue working on this series and further his research into the impact of expansion happening here in Florida and throughout the United States. He also plans to join the Navy as a photographer next year.

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McCleaf explains, “Students in Documentary Photography are encouraged to engage with their communities in thoughtful ways that resonate with their interests. Utilizing photography, interviewing, and captioning, students create meaningful documentary stories.” 

Maddy Getty ’26, Photography and Imaging, described her experience, “This class pushed me to explore new sides of documentary photography and helped me overcome the fear of approaching strangers for portraits, not just with taking the photo but also really communicating with people. It helped give me the confidence to step outside my comfort zone and trust the process. Now I feel more grounded in how I approach storytelling and the kind of photographer I want to be.” 

They find their subjects in unexpected places—from gas station employees to club bouncers. Cecilia Marty ’26, Photography and Imaging, attended a local motorcycle and music festival for her series. “I had been wanting to attend Thunder by The Bay for a while, and I saw my documentary class as a great way to get me out there,” she shared. “It’s a really awesome charity event hosted by Suncoast Charities for Children. I grew up attending motorcycle festivals, and I hadn’t been to one in a long time, so I was excited to reconnect with that part of my life.” 

The students were often drawn to represent people whose jobs put them in between places—places we pass through on our way to a destination. Angie Boonsiri ’25, Business of Art and Design with a minor in Photography and Imaging, described her motivation in choosing subjects for the class, “To me, one of the most beautiful things about documentary photography is the opportunity to spotlight people who often go unnoticed, especially those who work long, late hours in roles where they’re typically ignored.” 

For her series, she went to Ybor City, Tampa, on a Friday night, walked down the strip, and interviewed every doorman she saw. She said, “I wanted to document portraits of club and bar doormen and bouncers while interviewing them about what they love most. Bouncers are often perceived as intimidating or even scary, yet many of them have the biggest hearts. Through this project, I also wanted to explore patterns of race, gender, and societal stereotypes about who is deemed intimidating.”

Getty used the platform to highlight gas station workers. “Typically, when people think of gas station workers, they don’t always have positive things to say, which was a big reason why I wanted to do this project. Many of the people who work at these gas stations don’t get all of their income from working there. A lot of these people had businesses for years before, and this is just a way to get extra money.”

The students engage with differences in meaningful ways, seeking out and getting to know often-overlooked groups. Their projects emphasize the shared humanity that underlies diverse experiences. “This experience challenged me to step outside, engage with the world around me, and start conversations with people I might not usually connect with,” Boonsiri shared. 

“I get to connect with all these wonderful people,” Marty described. “I get to hear some stories from their lives. I love getting to know who someone is.” 

Check out work from the graduating class of Photography and Imaging students at their opening on May 2 at ������Ƶ’s Stulberg Gallery.

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Voting is now open. 

The public can vote for one person per category. Cast your vote now on . To vote for your favorite project, scroll down to the four project categories and select one. Within each category, you can browse all of the shortlisted artists and projects or search for your favorite by name and select filter. Select the image for your favorite and inside the article you will find the vote button on the left side of the screen.     

Explore the Ringling alumni portfolios

• in the category of digital / visual communication / film
• in the category of digital / visual communication / film
• in the category of fine art / photography / craft
• in the category of fine art / photography / craft 
  

Arts Thread is a digital arts platform created as a launchpad for art and design students and graduates worldwide. Their annual competition consists of four categories: Fashion / Accessories / Textiles, Digital / Visual Communication / Film, Product / Architecture / Interiors, and Fine Art / Photography / Craft.

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Clark will be researching and documenting the creative practices of Trinidadian and Tobagonian artists who play a critical role in the evolution of the Carnival tradition. With his photography, Clark hopes to bring visibility to their stories and contributions to preserving cultural identities during the globalization and commercialization of the tradition. His research will highlight aspects of Afro-Caribbean identity and expression that are often underrepresented or misrepresented. 

As a student at ������Ƶ, Clark focused his photography on providing positive representations of Black identity in the United States. Through the , his upcoming photography project will contribute to providing authentic representations of Afro-Caribbean culture in global contemporary art as well as encourage mutual understanding of the diversity of Black expression and identity in Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. 

Clark said, “A lot of my work has centered around providing Black expression and experience that exists more locally in the United States. I am excited to highlight more stories that contribute to cross-cultural understanding and make images that have an international impact with my Fulbright project and research in Trinidad and Tobago. It is such an honor to be able to represent the Photography and Imaging department at ������Ƶ as the first alumni from that major to receive the Fulbright Award. My instruction at the College prepared me to take on this project, and I look forward to being a role model for more students and alumni to come.”

Liberal Arts faculty and Fulbright Program Advisor Genevieve Hill-Thomas, Ph.D. said of Clark’s award and plans, “Jesse’s project is well aligned with the goal of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program to build mutual understanding and advance knowledge across communities. By working with Trinidadian and Tobagonian artists as well as scholars at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, Jesse has the potential to substantially contribute to the study and celebration of Carnival and its related arts. It’s very exciting!”

More than 2,000 Fulbright U.S. Students—recent college graduates, graduate students, and early career professionals from all backgrounds—pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English in schools abroad each year. They are recognized alongside more than 800 faculty, researchers, administrators, and established professionals who teach or conduct research in affiliation with institutes abroad annually through the . Fulbrighters form ongoing research collaborations and lay the groundwork for future partnerships between institutions. ������Ƶ has been recognized as a Top-Producing Fulbright Institution.

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, 41 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and non-profit sectors. 

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His work has been featured in , with his photo The Space Between chosen as Best of Photovogue 2023. His photograph, Black Boy America, was included in an article from the July 4, 2023 issue of .��

His work will be included in the upcoming , along with fellow alum Mikenna Bowers ’23, Photography and Imaging, and Lensculture chose Clark for their “Editor’s Pick” for their Emerging Talent Award. 

Finally, Clark’s senior thesis, To Sting Like A Bee, was shortlisted and then selected as the winner for the . Only 500 artists were shortlisted out of 5,000 submissions.

Clark describes his work as vibrant and poetic, with soft visualizations of Black identity and beauty. He is interested in combating outdated perceptions and misrepresentations of Blackness within the media. Clark’s photography has been exhibited in SPAACES Gallery, Art Center Sarasota, and Mara Studio and Gallery. In addition to the mentions above, he has been featured by Sarasota Magazine, WEDU-PBS, and Stories To Change The World–International Activist Collection.

������Ƶ’s Photography and Imaging program builds on the photographic tradition and thoroughly investigates the future possibilities of both the still and moving image. Students are encouraged to develop an individual voice and perspective with their work that will set them apart from the casual observers of life. Graduates are fully prepared to be young professionals, ready to participate in and help define this exciting new era of photography.

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• Currents: New Work, an exhibition of documentary photography at the Cooley Photography Center
• , a special photography exhibition of works from the Richard and Ellen Sandor Family Collection, demonstrating the visual evidence of the relationship between teacher and student as seen through their work. On view at the Patricia Thompson Alumni + Skylight Galleries
• at the Lois and David Stulberg Gallery
• at the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation Gallery
• , work from the Fine Arts department that investigate intersectionalities of the self at the Crossley Gallery
• , showing incredible work from the Freshman Illustration 3D design course, exploring costume designs, dynamic poses, and facial expressions. On view at the Richard and Barbara Basch Gallery
• , featuring work from all 13 majors in the Willis Smith Construction Inc. Gallery

Ringling Galleries has a packed year of amazing programming lined up. Following this slew of exhibitions, each celebrating either opening or closing receptions this weekend, Galleries has an incredible line up of exhibitions to take their place. ������Ƶ Galleries along with the students enrolled in the Role of the Curator class within the Business of Art and Design Department, will present —an immersive collection featuring expressive, storytelling paintings from abstract impressionist, Syd Solomon, on November 6. Also opening that week, , and exhibition of colorful paintings at Patricia Thompson and Skylight Galleries; the second annual , featuring portraits of local veterans painted by ������Ƶ students and faculty at the Selby Foundation Gallery; , a group exhibition of three ������Ƶ students who have each had extraordinary experiences in the midst of global conflict, at the Richard and Barbara Basch Gallery; in the Willis Smith Construction Inc. Gallery. The exhibition for the Spring Semester is already underway, with two exhibitions slated to open January 6, 2024—Picture this: The Inaugural Sketchbook Library Exhibition and Omar Chacón: Chromatic Echoes.

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Vote now at .

Over 5000 students submitted portfolios for the competition this year. Voting closes on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, and the winners of the judges’ vote and public vote will be announced on October 16, 2023.

Arts Thread is a digital arts platform created as a launchpad for art and design students and graduates worldwide. Their annual competition consists of four categories: Fashion / Accessories / Textiles, Digital / Visual Communication / Film, Product / Architecture / Interiors, and Fine Art / Photography / Craft. The public can vote for their favorites from each category.

The post Five Ringling grads shortlisted for Global Design Graduate Show—voting open now! appeared first on ������Ƶ.

Omarr Otero ’99 will join the Florida State Teachers Artist Residency Special Program at The Hermitage, a nationally renowned non-profit artist retreat, on July 4. This year marks the retreat’s 13th year of hosting Florida educators. The retreat offers educators the time and space to attend to their arts practices, two vital aspects to any practice that are notoriously hard to come by for full-time teachers. Each spring, five artist-teachers are selected from across the state to spend 12 days at the idyllic 8.5-acre Manasota Beach residency. 

Otero and the other residents will give a presentation of their work at an outdoor event on the residency grounds on July 14. Visit their to register for the event.

Recent grads Jesse Clark ’23 and Mikenna Bowers ’23 were both winners in Creative Quarterly journal’s periodic competition and will be featured in their next print issue, . Creative Quarterly is an international publication designed to promote the best work in graphic design, illustration, photography, and fine art. The issue will be released in November, 2023, along with an online gallery showcasing their award-winning works.��  

Frances Bukovsky graduated in 2018 from Ringling’s Photography and Imaging program. Over the past six months, they have been busy showing work in multiple exhibitions including: Wanted: A World for One Billion, a Photoville and UNFPA exhibition at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City; Anthropology of Motherhood: A Culture of Care in Pittsburg, Pa. as a part of the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival — this exhibition will move to the Dyer Arts Center at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at RIT in August; and This Skin I’m In, Kansas City, Kan., which was previously shown at the ETSU Tipton Gallery, Tenn.  Bukovsky also received the Atlanta Celebrates Photography’s Equity Scholarship for the ACP Photo Fest Portfolio Reviews this year.

Bukovsky is a co-founder of , which recently had a group show in December at The Bascom Center of the Arts in Highlands, N.C. The show is now on view at University of Georgia’s Circle Gallery in Athens, with an opening set for August 5, 2023. Also on view at The Bascom in September will be the culmination of the community photography project in partnership with The Bascom, Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy, and The Wild Azalea Garden Club of Highlands.

Ringling’s Photography and Imaging major offers students access to state-of-the-art facilities for both digital and analogue printing. Students learn under faculty with prolific professional careers and hear from a slew of visiting artists like British portrait photographer Platon; American photographer Emmet Gowin, who is famous for his intimate portraits of his family; and Brooklyn-based photographer, Tyler Mitchell, who is known for his portrait of Beyoncé for the cover of Vogue, and whose work can be seen in Sarasota Art Museum’s exhibition, . 

During their studies at ������Ƶ, Photography and Imaging students compete to spend one year studying at the in New York City, the world’s leading institution dedicated to the practice and understanding of photography. The selected students have a unique opportunity to participate in the Creative Practices Program there that exposes them to world-renowned faculty, challenging ideas and a diverse group of international students. 

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