Paintings, animations and mixed-media pieces filled the walls of the Bostwick Design Partnership Gallery on April 23 as students gathered to present their work during the opening of the 54th Annual Student Art Show at Cleveland State University.

The gallery buzzed with conversation as students pointed out details in their work, explained their creative process and reflected on the ideas behind each piece. For many, the exhibition was not just about displaying art, it was about sharing something deeply personal.

Eddie Grier is a junior graphic design major with minors in studio art and marketing. For him, the exhibition represented a year of intentional preparation. He submitted four pieces, including two acrylic paintings, a multimedia marbling work and title sequence animation.

“I spent the past year working on material to submit for this specific show,” Grier said. “So hearing that all of my submissions were selected made me feel like that hard work had paid off.”

For Julia Whitaker, the exhibition marked the end of a chapter. As a graduating student, this was her final time showing her pieces in the show.

“This is my third time participating, and my last time,” Whitaker said. “I wanted to create something that connects my younger self with what’s ahead in the future.”

The annual juried show, which runs through May 23, is a key event for CSU’s Department of Art and Design. Open to students of all majors, it provides a space to showcase work created during the academic year while connecting with the broader creative community.

But beyond the finished pieces on display, the show revealed something less visible – the time and meaning behind each work.Grier's paintings, “Burden” and “Out of Line,” were created as a connected series — something he had never attempted before.

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  "Burden"  by Eddie Grier (credit: Eddie Grier)

“‘Burden" focuses more on internal struggles – confusion, identity and self-doubt,” Grier said. “In contrast, ‘Out of Line’ expands outward into a more complex reflection on life and death.”

His second piece incorporates planets, abstract forms, and growing vegetation inspired in part by the film “Interstellar.” A recurring line motif ties the composition together, symbolizing time and existence.

“At the core, both works are connected through the theme of mortality,” he said. “Just approached from two very different perspectives.”

Creating the pieces required balancing multiple responsibilities.

“I juggled working on them with school, work and my band,” Grier said. “Each painting probably took around two to three months.”

His marbling piece, “Middrift,” took a different direction – more open-ended and emotional.

“For me, it brings back the feeling of floating in water as a kid,” he said. “Just letting the waves carry you. It’s calm, it’s quiet, it doesn’t need a strict narrative.”

Whitaker's painting, “Wonder,” reflects that idea through a symbolic scene of rabbits in a forest interacting with an antique mirror.

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 "Wonder" by Julia Whitaker (credit: Kateryna Kopylchak)

“It’s kind of like a full-circle moment,” she said. “Once you graduate, you don’t really know what’s ahead, so it’s about reconnecting with that sense of curiosity.”

In addition to her painting, Whitaker submitted two animation projects. One, titled “Manna,” was inspired by a biblical story and created during a difficult period in her life.

“I felt like I was going through a really dry season,” she said. “It was about trusting that things will work out, even when you don’t see it right away.”

Her second animation, a collaborative stop-motion project, took a lighter approach featuring stuffed animals collecting trash and turning it into art.

“It was super silly,” she said. “But also fun to create something different.”

Despite the differences in style and subject matter, both artists emphasized how important the exhibition is for students.

“Events like this are incredibly important,” Grier said. “They create a space to share original work and connect with other artists you might not normally cross paths with.”

Whitaker agreed that the show allows students to express parts of themselves that may not always fit into their academic path.

“Sometimes you have to choose something practical for your career, and your passion gets pushed to the side,” she said. “This gives students a chance to be recognized for their creativity.”

You can see these works and dozens of others at the Bostwick Design Partnership Gallery, located at 2731 Prospect Avenue E., Cleveland, OH 44115, from April 21 - May 23, 2026. Admission is free.