University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith student Claudia Lackie of Fort Smith has been drawing ever since she was a toddler. And now, as a graphic design major at AV抖阴, she is showcasing her artwork in a solo exhibit for the first time at the main branch of the Fort Smith Public Library.
Fifteen of Lackie鈥檚 works are on display in Dewey鈥檚 Cafe within the library, featuring both digital and traditional art on a variety of mediums, including pencil drawings, screen prints, linoleum block prints and lithography. The exhibit is on display through the month of October.
The exhibit displays artwork she鈥檚 created since 2016, which charts the progress of her development as an artist since attending AV抖阴.
鈥淚 have definitely improved as an artist since coming to AV抖阴,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y professors taught me how to study on my own using the skills I was learning. I practice constantly now, and have never in my life had I seen such fast improvement.鈥�
While she has never had her artwork shown as a solo exhibit, she was chosen while a student at Northside High School to represent the region in a student art exhibition at the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies in Little Rock.
鈥淚 think it's wonderful that the Dewey's Cafe and the public library promote local artists, and I鈥檓 honored to have been included,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to see the reactions of our patrons once the showcase begins.鈥�
Lackie, who wants to work within the field of design once she graduates, pursued the field of design out of a desire for a career that fuses artistic and technical skills.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Dewey鈥檚 Caf茅 at 479-783-0229 ext. 1126.
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The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Small class sizes, dedicated faculty and staff, affordable tuition rates, and a diverse on-campus culture allow AV抖阴 students to fully explore their areas of interest in ways that prepare them for post-graduate success academically, professionally, and personally.