40th Annual Stilwell Student Awards Exhibition to Open Jan. 23
Now in its 40th year, the Stilwell Student Awards Exhibition is the USD Art Galleries’ most celebrated exhibition of the year, bringing students and the broader community together. The exhibition celebrates outstanding artwork created by USD undergraduate and graduate students, recognizing excellence across a wide range of media and artistic approaches.
“The Stilwell Student Exhibition is an important opportunity for students to develop professional skills while showcasing the depth of their creative and technical abilities,” said Lauren Freese, Ph.D., associate professor of art history and chair of the Department of Art.
This year, the exhibition welcomes juror Karin Campbell, Phil Wilson Curator of Contemporary Art at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. Campbell will spend the day reviewing between 150 and 250 BFA and MFA student artworks, selecting the works to be included in the exhibition.
“Campbell will not only select approximately 60 to 75 artworks, but she will also award the honor of Best in Show, which receives a $500 cash award,” said Amy Fill, director of the University Art Galleries.
“The quality of work in the Stilwell Exhibition is consistently outstanding,” said Bruce Kelley, Ph.D., dean of the College of Fine Arts. “Our students are supremely talented, eager to learn and deeply committed to their practice—traits that enable them to succeed at USD and beyond.”
The 40th Annual Stilwell Student Awards Exhibition is free and open to the public. It will remain open through Feb. 19, 2026. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
About the Stilwell Student Awards Exhibition
The Stilwell Student Awards Exhibition is an annual exhibition presented in the John A. Day Gallery in the Warren M. Lee Center for Fine Arts at USD. Established in 1989, the exhibition recognizes the talent, creativity and artistic achievement of students in the Department of Art.
The exhibition is named in honor of former Chair and Professor of Art, Wilber Stilwell, his wife Gladys Stilwell and the Stilwell family, whose continued generosity and support make this long-standing exhibition possible.
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