UK School of Art and Visual Studies celebrates 10 years in Bolivar Building

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 2, 2025) — The University of Kentucky School of Art and Visual Studies (SA/VS)  will celebrate its 10th anniversary in the Bolivar Building, its creative home since 2015, with a free public event 6-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, in the Art and Visual Studies Building, 236 Bolivar St.

Reflecting on the building’s legacy

A decade ago, the Bolivar Building was unveiled as a state-of-the-art academic and creative space. The 100,000-square-foot facility, housed in a repurposed historic tobacco processing plant, ushered in a new era for SA/VS with five digital media labs, a multi-purpose 3D fabrication lab, photography and ceramics studios, a print shop, and workshops in drawing, painting and foundation design.

“When I interviewed to become dean of the College of Fine Arts in 2017, I was struck by the marvelous visual arts facility that is the School of Art and Visual Studies building on Bolivar Street,” said Mark Shanda, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “The unique, renovated historical building provides an outstanding platform for artistic exploration, hands-on education and studio spaces for collaborative interactions between our students, faculty and staff. Having conducted more than 30 program reviews across the country, I can proudly declare that we have one of the best facilities to support art and visual studies education in the United States.”

Designed to promote open collaboration, the building features transparent studio walls and expansive studio areas totaling 7,300 square feet, encouraging artistic exchange among students and faculty. With more than 4,800 square feet of gallery space, including a front gallery, hallway exhibition areas, a black-box theater and climate-controlled presentation spaces, the Bolivar Building has served as a hub for exhibitions, dialogue and creative growth in the Lexington arts community.

“Ten years ago, moving into the SA/VS building marked a transformative moment for our Art and Visual Studies program,” said SA/VS Director Ruth Adams. “This state-of-the-art facility, designed in close collaboration with Omni Architects, has been instrumental in shaping an environment where creativity, scholarship and innovation thrive. A decade later, the building continues to inspire and empower, and we are excited to be celebrating this anniversary with our alumni, students and communities.”

10-year celebration: UK SA/VS alumni show

This milestone will be commemorated with the UK SA/VS Alumni Exhibition 10-Year Celebration, featuring a collection of alumni work from artists who have been part of the SA/VS community between 2015 and 2025.

The Alumni Exhibition presents 87 works by 53 artists, selected from more than 173 submissions. The participating artists who were part of the SA/VS community from 2015 to 2025, represent art studio, art education and digital media. Together, their works demonstrate a wide range of media, techniques and approaches that reflect both individual creative expression and the educational foundation fostered within the School of Art and Visual Studies. In many ways, the exhibition also echoes the building’s original mission: to provide a collaborative, state-of-the-art environment that encourages experimentation and cross-disciplinary exchange.

“This milestone not only recognizes the anniversary of the Bolivar Building but also acknowledges the artistic development that has taken place within its walls,” said SA/VS Professor Emeritus Marty Henton, who served as juror for the exhibition. “The exhibition serves as a marker of the creative energy that has defined the School of Art and Visual Studies over the past decade. The selected works illustrate the breadth of approaches explored by our alumni and the lasting influence of their professors and peers.”

Additional exhibitions

In addition to the Alumni Exhibition in the Bolivar Gallery, visitors are invited to explore several independent exhibitions running concurrently during the Sept. 5 celebration. The BFA and MFA Exhibition in the Atrium Gallery will feature work by 13 current Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA.) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) students, curated by MFA student Mitchell Burleson, recent winner of the $50,000 ArtFields Grand Prize. Artists include Alyx Petty, Chad Troyer, Vincent Donahue, Vinny Verburg, Brandon Keller, Isabel Shirey, Zachary Adkins, Abigale Page, Haley Younce, Piper Petry, David Marquez, Kiana White, Mitchell Burleson, J.T. Dockery and Kaden Caudill.

The Education Abroad Exhibition in the Hall Gallery will showcase works from students who participated in the Paris Art Adventure education abroad program last summer, under the guidance of senior lecturer Lee Ann Paynter. On the second floor, the Faculty Exhibition features selections highlighting current research and creative activity by SA/VS faculty.

All exhibitions will be on view Sept. 2-27.

Additional exhibitions

During the Sept. 5 celebration, alumni will be encouraged to take a selfie and sign the SA/VS yearbook. All visitors are welcome to enjoy snacks, music and conversation while exploring the exhibitions.

“This celebration brings together our alumni, faculty, students and community in the same creative space that has nurtured so much growth over the past 10 years,” Adams said. “It is both a reflection of where we have been and a vision of the creative futures our students and alumni continue to shape.”

Parking is available in UK lots along Bolivar and South Broadway.