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UA-PTC student wins "Best in Show" at annual student art competition

UA-PTC 2D design student Haven Kays has been selected as the "Best in Show" winner for the 13th Annual Student Art Competitive for her 2D design color study portraits. The "Best in Show" award is the competitions highest award presented annually to a student enrolled in introductory level art courses.

"2D Design brought me many opportunities to work with different mediums. I enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere and the amount of freedom we had with our pieces. Winning this competition is such an honor and I’m truly thankful that I had this experience! Thank you to everyone who played a part!," Haven said.

The "Best in Show" award winner was selected by juror Eliseo Angel Casiano, a professional painter based in Tucson, Arizona whose paintings have been shown widely across the United States, including Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

The Annual Student Art Competitive represents students in beginning studio art and digital media production courses, providing the professional experience of submitting work for review and exhibition.

"I am so proud of the talent and creativity that we showcase in this exhibition. It is unique that we feature all beginning-level works. I want students to see what they were able to accomplish here and dream about what's next. I'd love for a student to wander in and realize they could do that, too. Just come and take an art class with us!," said Kim Kwee, Instructor of Visual Art. "Another thing that makes this show so special is that these works were made during an extremely difficult time. I, myself became a 'kitchen-table' artist. It is just amazing to see what our students could do under the circumstances."

Haven will be recognized for this award as part of Celebrating Student Milestones later this month.

Student art submitted for this competition is currently on exhibit through May 15 in the Windgate Gallery at The Center for Humanities and Arts (CHARTS) on the Main Campus. For more information about the Windgate Gallery, visit www.uaptc.edu/windgate-gallery. To view the virtual version of this exhibit, visit www.uaptc.edu/13-student-art-competitive.

Award winning 2D design color study portraits by Haven Kays.