Senior CWU art students hosting culminating exhibition

Five senior Central Washington University art students are currently displaying their artwork in a group exhibition in Gallery 100 in Randall Hall.

The exhibit, titled “Salon of the Five Aces,” will be on view through May 15, and will be accessible from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The artwork of Bachelor of Fine Arts students Milady Armendariz, Ruth Douglas, Evelyn Garza, Nyx Kolman, and Meredith Montgomery will be hung salon-style, inspired by the Salon de Paris floor-to-ceiling exhibition style which originated in 1667 to maximize wall space for the annual exhibitions of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture.

The students have poured their lived experiences into these works in order to present a culmination of what they’ve learned through their time at CWU.

“My works are like my diary which I use to express my emotions,” Armendariz said. “I intend for the viewer to feel seen with my works, so they know they are not alone in their own world and that there is someone out there who feels the same as them.”

There is deep intentionality in the work, too, with every line and hue carefully chosen for the occasion.

“Bright colors, simple shapes, and whimsical ideas all converge to make up my work,” Douglas said. “By using photography, sculpture, and digital drawing, I aim to make art that is visually appealing and focuses on topics of neurodivergence, mental health, and the natural world.”

Meanwhile, Garza’s work explores “themes of Mexican identity, beauty in the mundane, organic form, nostalgia, family life, and small town/urban life.”

Kolman’s photography “aims to capture topics of environmentalism and sustainability through these processes.”

The broad variety of themes and mediums on display captures each student’s unique viewpoint.

“To me, painting is visual music, and as a classically trained musician, I strive to unify my eyes and ears,” Montgomery said. “I seek to capture beauty and the gift of life through both my subject matter and personal connection to each painting. I love the way the paint moves through various painting mediums that alter flow, transparency, and motion.”

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Pictured above: Milady Armendariz, “The Lone Road," Oil paint on canvas, 2025