By Quincy Kirn
The 60th Annual Student Art Exhibition at Pensacola State College marked a milestone year, bringing together some of the strongest work produced by current visual arts students. Held at building 15 in the Charles W. Lamar Studio, the juried exhibition was open to the public from March 30 through May 1, 2026. Each year, the exhibit showcased a wide range of media, reflecting the diversity of PSC’s visual arts program. This year’s show featured ceramics, drawing, digital design, painting, photography, and sculpture, offering visitors to take a view of the broad variety of talent emerging from the college studios.
The exhibition’s juror, internationally exhibited artist Reja Penezic, brought a multidisciplinary perspective to the selection process. Having studied at the University of Belgrade, Penezic works in many mediums, such as painting, printmaking, and film. As a previous exhibited artist at PSC, his influence aligned perfectly with the exhibition’s emphasis on varied artistic approaches.
The annual reception and awards ceremony was held on the evening of April 7 and opened with a presentation of four scholarships to high school seniors, reinforcing PSC’s continued investment in developing future artists. The evening also acknowledged the lasting impact of the Lamar family, whose contributions to the college have exceeded two million dollars over the years.
Awards throughout the night recognized both technical skills and creative vision. The Presidential Award included six honorable mentions, with the top honor going to a photography piece, Afterglow by Dalton Gordon. After the exhibition, the chosen artwork will be hung outside of President Meadows office for the next year, at his request.
Sculpture and ceramics were strongly represented. The People’s Choice Award that was voted on by reception attendees, was won by Cyril Rusnak. Cyril was also awarded Best of Show and a $500 prize, based on viewer votes collected prior to the ceremony, both for his ceramic sculptures, Four Triumphs. Another unique, stand- out piece from the night was Kenzie Hoar’s wax sculpture Veiled Woman, which won first place for the Pat Regan Memorial Award. Several medium-specific awards highlighted stand out works across mediums; Keosha Horton’s ceramic piece, What the Tree Remembers received the Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Award, further emphasizing the diligence of the three-dimensional department in this year’s exhibit.
In two-dimensional work, Genevieve Zavock’s self-portrait oil painting, Paradox of Being, received the Cornerstone Award along with $250. Yu’myia Walker’s ink on paper piece titled, Ink Self-Portrait, placed second for the Pat Regan Memorial
Award and secured an honorable mention for the Visual Arts Department Awards.
There were also photograph-specific awards given at the reception; Kylan McMichael’s The Singer earned multiple recognitions, including second place for the Gulf Coast Camera Photo Award and first place for Jaco’s Photography Award. Sydni Hutchens received multiple awards for her photography piece Beauty & Beast, including the Aislinn Kate Photography Award and $250.
One of the evening’s most significant recognitions, the Anna Society Award, was presented to Ben Word for the photography piece, Kaitlyn. The $1,000 award honored a graduating sophomore based on artistic achievement, academic performance, department involvement, and contributions to peers, making it one of the biggest honors of the night. Additional awards from the Visual Arts Department and community sponsors ensured that a wide range of students were recognized, with honorable mentions to first place finishes across the categories.
For many of the featured students, the exhibition represented more than a final display of coursework; it marked milestones in their artistic journeys. For the visitors, it offered an opportunity to directly engage with local emerging artists and witness the range of talent that is developing at Pensacola State College.
With six decades of student exhibits behind it, the event has become a foundation of the college’s arts culture. The annual student exhibition is expected to return next spring, inviting a new group of student artists to step into the spotlight and continue to carry that legacy forward.