UC Davis students explore sustainability, connection in multidisciplinary showcase
June 5–22, 2025
Arts and humanities students at the University of California, Davis, engage with the world in new, thoughtful and imaginative ways. In this year’s Arts & Humanities 2025 Graduate Exhibition, students from across the College of Letters and Science create public spaces for connection and storytelling, question long-held assumptions and histories, and use artistic expression and design to suggest new pathways to a more sustainable future.
The multidisciplinary showcase is on view June 5–22 at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art and features graduate students in art history, art studio, comparative literature, design, English, environmental science and policy, music and performance studies. In all, 30 Master of Fine Arts, Master of Arts and doctoral students are participating.
“The graduate exhibition shows off and celebrates the work of our students — not only their artistic talents, but also the way they think about society and the role we all play in it,” said Estella Atekwana, dean of the College of Letters and Science. “This type of nuance and critical thinking is especially important to celebrate now. During a time when the value of higher education is being questioned, it is the students in the College of Letters and Science who remind me of our purpose and give me hope for the future.”
This year’s participants utilize photography, painting, sculpture, video, performance and textiles to explore relationships between humans and technology, the environment, and one another, and engage the public in dialogue.
“UC Davis arts and humanities students elevate the arts every single day, inspiring us with their innovative thinking and experimentation,” said Rachel Teagle, the museum’s founding director. “We are proud to showcase the culmination of their creative output and scholarship.”
Participating students
Art History: Greg Brida, MA; Darian Dveris, MA; Hattie Insco, MA; Alia Kalla; MA; Ruochen Qin, MA; Anya Thompson, MA Art Studio: Nicole Irene Anderson, MFA; Cella Costanza, MFA; Jamal Gunn Becker, MFA; Josephine Sundari Devanbu, MFA; Brenton Haslam; MFA; Joel Taylor Murnan, MFA; Raquel Marie Tripp, MFA. Comparative Literature: Chih-ching (Dill) Ma, PhD. Design: Jordan Blandino, MFA; Latrell Broughton, MFA; Isadora Goldschneider, MFA; Chengjie (Dassie) Jin; MFA; Zarina Majidova, MFA; Diego Martinez Fernandez del Castillo, MFA; Magda Rojas Valdez, MFA English: Rachel Juei-Han Wang, PhD. Environmental Science and Policy: Mei Blundell, PhD. Music: Max Gibson, PhD. Performance Studies: ac:bc, PhD; Iliya Giyahchi, PhD; em irvin, PhD; Praveen Maripelly, PhD; Elmira Mohebali; PhD; Erika Tsimbrovsky, PhD.
Award recipients were announced at the June 5 public opening:
–LeShelle & Gary May Art Purchase Prize: Cella Costanza
–Keister & Allen Art Purchase Prize: Nicole Irene Anderson
–Letters & Science Prize: Raquel Marie Tripp
–The Savageau Award for Design: Diego Martinez Fernandez del Castillo
The purchase prizes enable the Manetti Shrem Museum to purchase graduate student work for the university’s Fine Arts Collection, and the Letters & Science Prize and Savageau Award recognize and further the careers of graduates in art and design. The annual Arts & Humanities Graduate Exhibition is presented by the Manetti Shrem Museum and the arts and humanities graduate programs of the College of Letters & Science.
