Surface Tension

Please join us for the opening reception of Surface Tension, the Willamette University 2026 Studio Art Senior Thesis Exhibition at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in Salem, Oregon. The reception will take place on Friday, April 10th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The exhibition runs from April 11 to May 10, 2026. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 5:00 pm. 

This diverse collective utilizes a wide array of mediums—including painting, collage, textiles, printmaking, sculpture—alongside street photography, ink-on-paper, and large-scale multimedia installations. These tactile forms transform the gallery into a visceral landscape of reflective and immersive surfaces.

The title of this exhibition, Surface Tension, delves into body experiences, the environmental impact of human presence, and the psychological interiority of childhood, as we offer a shared reflection on place, loss, and the body. Our work navigates the delicate intersections of identity, memory, and the human condition, including challenging the claustrophobia of cultural pressures.

Senior Thesis: “Hidden Figures”

As a photographer, I pay attention to the specific, the unplanned, and the details of the people I photograph. My interest begins with people and their interactions: I notice the distinction between blending into a crowd and standing out as an individual. Details such as a wrinkled coat, a turned shoulder, or a trembling hand often reveal more about a person than words can. Even when a shot is unplanned, perhaps out of focus or blurred by movement, these elements become part of the storytelling, reflecting the vitality of my subjects.

My interest in photography as a form of storytelling began with Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, where he pairs images with brief excerpts from personal stories. I am also influenced by Soul Leiter’s philosophy, which holds that the real world has more to do with what is hidden than with what is revealed. 

These influences inspire me to observe, wait, and document moments that reveal hidden scenes, whether by capturing activity or subjects who stand in contrast to their surroundings. This perspective shapes how I notice not only outward actions, but also the emotional content of people who share space yet live in solitude. By focusing on expressions of longing, pride, or uncertainty on people’s bodies, I hope these photographs convey genuine emotions that reveal each individual’s unique spirit.

CAT

Cat

Happy

Deep Thought

Long Day

Break Time

Smoke