A practical guide for planning, promoting, installing, presenting, and closing your
senior exhibition

The John and Elva Griffon and Lon Nuell Memorial Scholarships

Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students entering Fall 2027.
Application Period: Monday, December 1, 2026 – Monday, March 1, 2027

MTSU Todd Art Building

Showcases Faculty Creative Practices

The Todd Art Gallery at Middle Tennessee State University presents the MTSU Department of Art and Design Faculty Biennial Exhibition from Tuesday, September 8, through Saturday, October 3, 2026. The exhibition brings together recent work by 24 faculty artists and designers, offering audiences an opportunity to experience the creative practices that inform both their teaching and professional work.

A public reception is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, from Noon to 1 p.m. in the Todd Art Gallery, located in the Todd Art Building, Room 224A.

Presented every two years, the Faculty Biennial highlights the breadth of creative and scholarly activity within MTSU’s Department of Art and Design. Encompassing contemporary art, fine craft, design, and illustration, the exhibition offers a closer look at how faculty members investigate ideas, develop new work, and contribute to their respective fields. Together, the works celebrate the distinctive practices of the participating artists and designers while reflecting the department’s collective creative energy.

“Our faculty bring their professional creative practices directly into the classroom, and the Faculty Biennial gives students and the broader community an opportunity to experience the work behind that teaching,” said Jimmy Mumford, chair of the MTSU Department of Art and Design. “The exhibition reflects the range of ideas, disciplines, and perspectives that make our department such a dynamic, creative community.”

Participating faculty are:

Erin Anfinson, Michael Baggarly, Douglas Dabbs, Kelsey Duncan, Kim Dummons, Donald Guevara, Todd Herzberg, Jarrod Houghton, Sisavanh Houghton, Kate Kinder, Joshua Lynn, Noël Lorson, Mark McLeod, Chelsea Moulder, Jimmy Mumford, Melissa Newman, Kathy O’Connell, Ambrose Prince, Tony Rodriguez, Nick Satinover, Sheri Selph, Stephanie Simkin, Holly Strickland, and Jake Wells.

The Faculty Biennial offers students and community members an opportunity to encounter the department’s faculty not only as educators, but also as active artists, designers, researchers, and creative professionals. Together, the works reveal both the distinctive character of each participant’s practice and the collective creative energy of MTSU Art and Design.

The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Todd Art Gallery is in the Todd Art Building, Room 224A, on the MTSU campus at 1301 E. Main St. in Murfreesboro. For GPS directions to nearby visitor parking, use 1512 Military Memorial, Murfreesboro, TN 37132.

Campus visitors must obtain a visitor parking permit or use an available pay-by-plate parking area. Permit information and pay-by-plate options are available through MTSU Parking and Transportation Services. Parking questions may be directed to parking@mtsu.edu or 615-898-2850.

Gallery hours are Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. The gallery is closed on federal, state, and university holidays; on home football game Saturdays; and on other dates designated for exhibition installation and preparation.

For exhibition information, contact Eric V. Snyder, Exhibitions and Engagement Coordinator, at ToddArtGallery@mtsu.edu or 615-898-5532, or visit art.mtsu.edu.

About the Todd Art Gallery

The Todd Art Gallery presents exhibitions and programs that connect the MTSU community and the public with contemporary art, design, scholarship, and creative practice. Through faculty, student, regional, national, and international exhibitions, the gallery advances the Department of Art and Design’s commitment to learning, engagement, and artistic discovery.

Art that Moves. Design that Matters.

Awarded to continuing majors in Art and Design, Music, Dance, or Theatre who demonstrate exceptional promise and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Selection: Each September, the chair of the Department of Art and Design selects the Art and Design recipient based on faculty recommendations.

The recipient is then eligible for consideration as the College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Student.

Deadline: Friday, September 18, 2026.

Questions: ArtandDesign@mtsu.edu or ToddArtGallery@mtsu.edu

Installation Images

Representative Exhibition Images

In the News: “Artistic Expressions” Kicks Off MTSU Todd Gallery Season

MTSU Department of Art and Design’s Todd Art Gallery (TAG) opened its Fall 2026 season with “Artistic Expressions: Let Your Voice Be Heard.” Featuring the work of 34 artists, the exhibition explores a wide range of themes and artistic media.

The exhibit will be on view Aug. 8-29 at TAG, located in Room 224A of MTSU’s Todd Art Building. A public opening event was held on Saturday, Aug. 8, at 2 p.m. 

On Thursday, Aug. 27, an artists’ panel will be held for the benefit of the MTSU campus and the community. This panel currently includes Dalia Garcia, Jairo Prado, Fred H. Reaves, and Carlton Wilkinson. A brief, informal gallery conversation between artist Carlton Wilkinson and Dr. Paige Medlock, president of the Tennessee Art Education Association and a faculty member at MTSU, will follow.

Through media including painting, collage, sculpture, photography, mixed media, graphic design, and digital processes, this exhibition explores how visual art can convey ideas and experiences that extend beyond language. Each artwork will address subjects such as memory, environmental change, cultural hybridity, identity, social realities, and the expanding presence of data and artificial intelligence in contemporary life.

Some works offer social commentary, uplift, or critique, while others envision futuristic possibilities and realities. Throughout the exhibition, traditional techniques are extended into experimental, innovative, and hybrid practices.

“Artistic Expressions asks us to consider not only what artists have to say, but how their choices of material, imagery, and process lend form to that voice,” said Eric Snyder, Coordinator of Exhibitions and Engagement for Todd Art Gallery. “The exhibition allows distinct perspectives to exist beside one another, creating connections, contrasts, and opportunities for meaningful conversation.”

Among the works receiving special attention is the return of Carlton Wilkinson’s “Crucifixion,” a participatory photographic and mixed-media work centered on the image of a Black male figure in a cruciform pose. The central image is surrounded by handwritten names, signatures, and remembrances that accumulated through audience participation, allowing the work to evolve as individuals contributed memories and personal connections to its surface.

When “Crucifixion” was exhibited at TAG in 2025, Medlock studied the many inscriptions and unexpectedly recognized her late father’s full signature among them. Her father—a Kentucky resident who had lived in Lexington—had died only months earlier.

The discovery created a connection among Medlock, Wilkinson, and an internationally recognized artwork concerned with remembrance, participation, sacrifice, and how individual lives continue through collective memory.

“Paige’s discovery reminds us that an artwork’s meaning does not necessarily end when the artist completes it,” said Jimmy Mumford, chair of the Department of Art and Design. “A work can continue gathering associations, experiences, and relationships as it moves through the world. In this instance, TAG became the place where an artwork and a family memory unexpectedly met.”

For more information, be sure to visit the Todd Art Gallery’s website and social media. 

Article courtesy: Murfreesboro.com

From Tennessee Voices to America’s Future

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

WHAT IS VISUALIZE?

Visualize is a statewide celebration of student creativity, artistic achievement, and educational excellence presented by the Department of Art and Design and Todd Art Gallery at Middle Tennessee State University.

Visualize brings together outstanding student artists, educators, schools, homeschool programs, and community-based youth arts organizations from across Tennessee through exhibitions, awards, scholarships, and recognition opportunities.

WHO MAY PARTICIPATE?

Participation is open to Tennessee educational programs serving students in grades K–12, including:

• Public Schools
• Private Schools
• Charter Schools
• Homeschool Programs
• Virtual and Alternative Schools
• Community-Based Educational Programs
• Youth Arts Organizations

WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF VISUALIZE?

Visualize consists of four interrelated components:

• Visualize: A Winners’ Circle Invitational K–12 Exhibition
• America 250 – Tennessee Poster Division
• Tennessee Art Educators: Exemplary

DOES ARTWORK HAVE TO ADDRESS AMERICA’S 250 THEMES?

No.

Participation in the Winners’ Circle Invitational Exhibition does not require artwork to address America 250 themes.

Students are encouraged to submit work reflecting their current artistic interests, classroom experiences, and creative exploration.

The America 250 – Tennessee Poster Division offers a dedicated opportunity for students to engage with themes related to Tennessee, America, citizenship, history, community, innovation, freedom, and the future.

WHO SELECTS THE ARTWORK?

Artwork is reviewed by a selection committee assembled by the Department of Art and Design and the Todd Art Gallery at Middle Tennessee State University.

The committee may include:

• University faculty and staff
• Tennessee art educators
• Members of the Visualize Art Educators Advisory Structure
• Professional artists, designers, and arts administrators
• Representatives from community arts organizations and exhibition partners

Partner organizations may include representatives affiliated with initiatives such as:

• Stones River Crafts Association (SRCA)
• Boro Art Crawl
• Art Studio Tour
• Artists’ Row
• Other participating arts organizations and educational partners

The committee strives to achieve excellence, fairness, geographic representation, media diversity, and broad student participation.

HOW ARE STUDENTS SELECTED?

Schools and educational organizations may submit artwork for committee review in accordance with established guidelines.

A selection committee will review all submissions and determine final exhibition participation based upon available space, grade-level representation, media balance, and overall exhibition quality.

Submission does not guarantee acceptance.

HOW MANY ARTWORKS MAY A SCHOOL SUBMIT?

Schools outside Rutherford County may submit up to twelve (12) artworks for committee review.

Rutherford County and Murfreesboro City Schools may submit up to twenty-four (24) artworks for committee review, with up to twelve (12) designated for awards consideration.

The exhibition committee reserves the right to determine final selections.

MAY A STUDENT HAVE MORE THAN ONE ARTWORK ACCEPTED?

No.

Only one artwork per student may be accepted into the exhibition.

Schools are encouraged to provide opportunities for as many students as possible.

MAY STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN MORE THAN ONE DIVISION?

Yes.

Students may participate in each Visualize student component, provided that all division requirements are met.

Selection in one division does not guarantee selection in the other.

WHAT TYPES OF ARTWORK MAY BE SUBMITTED?

Eligible media may include:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Printmaking
• Photography
• Ceramics
• Sculpture
• Fiber Arts
• Mixed Media
• Digital Art and Design
• Illustration
• Other Traditional and Contemporary Visual Arts

Separate guidelines apply to the Poster and Expanded Poster Divisions.

ARE THERE SIZE LIMITATIONS?

Yes.

Two-dimensional artwork may not exceed 48 inches by 48 inches.

Three-dimensional artwork may not exceed 36 inches by 36 inches by 36 inches.

Additional specifications may be announced for divisions and media.

WILL STUDENTS RECEIVE AWARDS OR RECOGNITION?

Yes.

All students selected for exhibition will receive a Certificate of Praise and Recognition.

Awards may include:

• Best of Show
• Award of Excellence
• Award of Merit
• Creative Vision Award

Additional recognition may include:

• Mark of Distinction
• Juror’s Choice
• Media-Specific Awards
• Named Awards established through sponsorships or partnerships

The exhibition committee and jurors make award determinations.

WHAT ARE THE GRADE DIVISIONS?

The following grade divisions organize awards and recognition:

• K–2
• 3–5
• 6–8
• 9–10
• 11–12

ARE CASH AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE?

Yes.

Each grade division Best of Show recipient will receive a $100 cash award.

The 11th–12th Grade Best of Show recipient will additionally be eligible for a $1,000 Visualize Scholarship upon acceptance to Middle Tennessee State University and enrollment as an Art & Design major.

Additional scholarship opportunities may be announced as partnerships and sponsorships develop.

WHO MAY PARTICIPATE IN TENNESSEE ART EDUCATORS: EXEMPLARY?

Tennessee Art Educators: Exemplary is open to Tennessee visual art educators, teaching artists, homeschool art instructors, community arts educators, museum educators, youth arts leaders, and other individuals who provide meaningful visual arts instruction and creative mentorship to Tennessee students.

Separate eligibility requirements, submission procedures, and exhibition guidelines will be announced.

HOW IS ARTWORK DELIVERED?

Accepted artwork must be delivered to the Todd Art Gallery during the designated intake periods.

Participating schools, students, parents, homeschool representatives, or authorized individuals are responsible for arranging the delivery and retrieval of artwork.

Specific delivery and pickup information will be provided following the selection process.

IS SHIPPING AVAILABLE?

Limited shipping options may be available with prior approval.

Return shipping assistance may be offered in select cases if funding, sponsorships, or grants become available; however, such assistance cannot be guaranteed.

WILL FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS BE INVITED?

Yes.

Students, families, educators, administrators, and community members will be encouraged to attend exhibition events, award presentations, receptions, and related programs.

WILL THERE BE ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND VISUALIZE?

Yes.

Participants are encouraged to complete the Visualize Interest Form and watch for future announcements regarding additional statewide opportunities, including:

• AFTERWORDS — Literary Arts, Writing, Poetry, Storytelling, and Spoken Word

• STREAM Lines — Where Creativity Meets Discovery.
Middle Tennessee’s Home for STREAM, August 2027

Prospectuses, participation guidelines, and schedules for these initiatives will be announced separately.

HOW CAN OUR SCHOOL OR ORGANIZATION RECEIVE FUTURE INFORMATION?

Schools, educators, homeschool leaders, community organizations, and youth arts programs are encouraged to complete the Visualize Interest Form to receive updates, deadlines, exhibition announcements, prospectuses, and participation opportunities for Visualize, AFTERWORDS, Media Arts Tennessee, and related initiatives.

QUESTIONS?

Eric V. Snyder
Coordinator of Exhibitions and Engagement
Department of Art and Design
Todd Art Gallery
Middle Tennessee State University

From Tennessee Voices to America’s Future

A Statewide Celebration of Student Creativity, Artistic Achievement, and Educational Excellence

About.

Visualize is a statewide celebration of student creativity, artistic achievement, and educational excellence presented by the Department of Art and Design and Todd Art Gallery at Middle Tennessee State University.

Developed as a culminating component of Tennessee’s observance of America’s Semiquincentennial, Visualize brings together outstanding student artists, educators, schools, homeschool programs, and community-based youth arts organizations from across the state while providing opportunities for recognition, exhibition, scholarship, and creative engagement.

Participation in Visualize does not require artwork to address America 250 themes. The exhibition is intended to celebrate exemplary contemporary student artwork reflecting the diverse interests, experiences, perspectives, and creative explorations of Tennessee students.

VISUALIZE CONSISTS OF THREE INTERRELATED COMPONENTS

I. VISUALIZE: A WINNERS’ CIRCLE INVITATIONAL K–12 EXHIBITION

The core exhibition component of Visualize.

This statewide invitational exhibition showcases exemplary student artwork selected by educators and exhibition committees from schools and educational programs throughout Tennessee.

Media may include:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Printmaking
• Photography
• Ceramics
• Sculpture
• Fiber Arts
• Mixed Media
• Digital Art and Design
• Illustration
• Other Traditional and Contemporary Visual Arts

The Winners’ Circle Invitational serves as the primary recognition exhibition for student artistic achievement and includes awards, scholarships, certificates, and special recognition.

Beyond the Exhibition

Outstanding participants and award recipients may be considered for future solo, paired, or small-group exhibition opportunities within Todd Art Gallery and its auxiliary exhibition spaces. These opportunities are intended to encourage continued artistic growth and provide emerging artists with additional public visibility beyond the exhibition itself.

II. AMERICA 250 – TENNESSEE POSTER DIVISION

A statewide poster exhibition celebrating the role of visual communication, design, and civic storytelling.

Students are invited to explore themes related to Tennessee, America, history, citizenship, community, innovation, freedom, and the future through poster design.

Media may include:

• Traditional Poster Design
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Typography
• Digital Media
• Mixed Media Poster Design

Separate specifications and submission guidelines apply.

Beyond the Exhibition

Selected works from the AMERICA 250 – TENNESSEE Poster Division may remain on display throughout 2027 within the Todd Art Gallery and affiliated exhibition spaces within the Todd Art Building. Selected designs may also be reproduced and made available to gallery visitors, educational partners, community organizations, and exhibition audiences as commemorative, educational, promotional, or interpretive materials supporting Tennessee’s observance of America’s Semiquincentennial.

III. TENNESSEE ART EDUCATORS: EXEMPLARY

A companion exhibition recognizing the creative accomplishments of Tennessee art educators and creative mentors.

More than “Beyond the Bell,” this juried exhibition celebrates the artistic practices, research, creative scholarship, and professional work of the individuals who inspire Tennessee’s next generation of artists, makers, designers, and visual thinkers.

The exhibition is open to Tennessee visual art educators, teaching artists, homeschool art instructors, community arts educators, museum educators, youth arts leaders, and other individuals who provide meaningful visual arts instruction and creative mentorship to Tennessee students.

The exhibition highlights the importance of maintaining an active creative practice while recognizing the individuals whose contributions extend beyond traditional classroom settings and enrich Tennessee’s broader creative community.

Beyond the Exhibition

Exemplary participants may also be considered for future exhibition opportunities within Todd Art Gallery and its auxiliary exhibition spaces, recognizing the important role of practicing artist-educators in shaping Tennessee’s creative future.

VISUALIZE GUIDING PRINCIPLE

Recognize that artistic excellence takes many forms. Some students communicate through traditional visual arts, others through design, illustration, and visual storytelling. By bringing these distinct yet related forms together under a common framework, Visualize celebrates both artistic achievement and creative possibility.

AMERICA 250 RELATIONSHIP

Visualize serves as a component of Tennessee’s observance of America’s Semiquincentennial.

Participation in the Winners’ Circle Invitational Exhibition does not require artwork to address America 250 themes.

The America 250 – Tennessee Poster Division and America 250 – Tennessee Expanded Poster Division offer dedicated opportunities for students to engage with themes related to the nation’s 250th anniversary through design, communication, and creative interpretation.

LOOKING AHEAD

Visualize serves as the first component of a broader initiative celebrating creativity, communication, and artistic achievement among Tennessee students and educators.

Participants are encouraged to complete the Visualize Interest Form and watch for future announcements, prospectuses, and participation opportunities related to additional statewide initiatives, including:

AFTERWORDS

A statewide celebration of student writing, poetry, Spoken Word, storytelling, and literary expression. AFTERWORDS provides opportunities for students to share their voices through creative and scholarly writing while exploring the power of language, narrative, and communication.

MEDIA ARTS TENNESSEE

A statewide exhibition and showcase highlighting animation, filmmaking, video production, motion graphics, digital storytelling, game design, interactive media, and emerging creative technologies.

Additional information regarding these initiatives will be announced as development continues.

Together, these programs reflect a growing commitment to recognizing and celebrating the diverse creative talents of Tennessee students and educators.

CONCLUSION

Together, these components create a statewide platform celebrating Tennessee’s students, educators, and future creative leaders while laying the foundation for opportunities in visual arts, literary arts, media arts, and creative communication.

MTSU Art and Design Student Earns International Illustration Recognition

Lila Gordon, a graphic design major with the MTSU Department of Art and Design, holds a print of her illustration, A Little Fishy, selected for exhibition in the 2026 Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition in New York City. Gordon’s work was one of only 216 selected from more than 4,550 international entries. (MTSU News)

Lila Gordon was selected for the 2026 Student Scholarship Competition hosted by the Society of Illustrators, one of the most respected institutions in the illustration and design fields. From more than 4,550 submissions received internationally, only 216 works were chosen for exhibition, placing Gordon among a select group of emerging illustrators recognized at the highest student level.

Her selected piece, A Little Fishy, began as a classroom project and evolved into a richly detailed digital illustration inspired by a summer study experience in Cincinnati. The work combines stylized tinned fish packaging, typography, color, and intricate linework into a visually layered composition.

Image: A Little Fishy, 2026 Student Scholarship Competition Winners Gallery

“I decided to make an illustration that captured the beauty and variety of something seemingly mundane,” Gordon said. “I enjoyed illustrating all the intricate details of the cans and adding my own stylized twist.”

The illustration was created during Design Camp, a three-week summer course led by Graphic Design Director and Associate Professor Noël Lorson that combines travel, observation, and hands-on design practice. Students immerse themselves in a city environment, gathering inspiration and source material that later inform studio-based creative projects.

Noël Lorson

“It’s an amazing piece that combines typography, image, and color and deserves to be recognized,” Lorson said. “When the entire faculty works together to educate students throughout their academic careers, you see results like this.”

Associate Illustration Professor Tony Rodriguez encouraged Gordon to submit the work to the competition and noted the significance of the recognition within the professional illustration community.

Tony Rodriguez

“Having your work recognized by the Society of Illustrators means it meets a professional, industry-wide standard,” Rodriguez said. “It’s validation from the same people who are hiring and commissioning work.”

Rodriguez also credited Gordon’s discipline, initiative, and consistency throughout her coursework.

“She submits work early, her ideas are strong, and her drive to create exceptional work is what truly sets her apart,” he said.

For Gordon, the recognition was an unexpected yet meaningful milestone.

“I was absolutely shocked when I found out, and thrilled my work made it in,” she said.

While the award does not include a monetary prize, inclusion in the exhibition carries substantial professional visibility. Selected works are exhibited in New York City and viewed by art directors, agencies, publishers, and industry professionals, often creating pathways for freelance opportunities and future careers.

Gordon said her experience at MTSU helped prepare her for the next chapter.

Lila Gordon stands beside her senior showcase project during the Graphic Design B.F.A. Exhibition at the Todd Art Gallery on April 27, 2026.

“I’ve gained so much invaluable knowledge from the design classes I’ve taken and built lasting connections with my peers and professors,” she said.

Following graduation, Gordon plans to continue developing her freelance illustration practice while expanding her professional portfolio.

Her recognition reflects the broader impact of MTSU’s graphic design program, which emphasizes mentorship, hands-on learning, creative exploration, and real-world application. Through opportunities such as Design Camp, collaborative studio experiences, and national and international competitions, students are encouraged to develop both professionally and creatively.

As Gordon’s work travels to an exhibition in New York, it represents not only an individual achievement but also the continued momentum of a program preparing students to create, communicate, and compete at the highest levels.

Free and open to all, the Department of Art and Design’s Todd Art Gallery (TAG) offers exhibitions and programs that bring campus and community together through shared creative experiences.

Lila Gordon, a senior graphic design major at Middle Tennessee State University, second from right, poses with fellow competitors and the owner of LRB Skate and Record Shop during the recent LRB Skateboard Illustration Challenge. Gordon earned first place after creating an original skateboard design within the competition’s 15-hour timeframe. (MTSU News)