The 2026 Senior Art Exhibition

KATELYN THOMAS
PHOTOGRAPHER
STAFF WRITER

3/16/2026

Each winter semester Alma College Art and Design Seniors hang their capstone projects as a collective in the Clark Art Flora Kirsch Beck Gallery starting Mar. 8. The presentation of their projects will take place on April 2, which is Alma’s Honors Day, and April 4 in front of several reputable jurors.

This show, the 2026 Senior Exhibition, truly captures each senior’s passion for their personal artistic vision and dedication to their professional development.

These nine seniors have pulled inspiration from various topics to compose meaningful pieces that they will use to propel themselves into their professional endeavors. Through photography and graphic design, students have crafted new stories and have provided the stage to uplift the voices of others.

“I pulled inspiration for this project from many graphic novels series that I loved, but in particular the series “Something is Killing the Children” by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Erdra,” said Cael Dempsey (‘26).

Professor Lee VanderKooi and Professor Jillian Dickson have helped mentor students through their process of developing and creating their capstone projects. Both Professor VanderKooi and Professor Dickson guided students through challenges and adversity.

“I love witnessing students connect with their senior project. It’s a joy to see a student find their voice, and work toward refining that voice through the process of building a senior exhibition, said Dickson.

The nine Art and Design seniors include Hannah Whitley (‘26), Faith Buckingham (‘26), Walter Hancock (‘26), Alexis Marqardt (‘26), Lindsey Zarka (‘26), Hannah Grewe (‘26), Emma Smillie (‘26) and Dempsey.

Many Art and Design students have been working on the early stages of their capstone projects since August. One student, Cael Dempsey, has been working on the concept of his graphic novel since middle school.

“Technically speaking I’ve been working on elements of this project since middle school, however I didn’t actually start writing it properly until the second semester last year,” said Dempsey.

Cael is an Art and Design Major with a Minor in Philosophy. He has used his passion for both graphic design and philosophy to guide him in the creation of his senior project.

“I believe that philosophical and ethical questions are everywhere, but in our everyday lives, we can struggle to approach them because they are frequently far too real and depressing to think about. However, if a person escapes into a story and world that they know is fake, it creates an opportunity to tackle and ask these questions in a less threatening way,” said Dempsey.

Cael has crafted a transcendental first five chapters of his graphic novel, “The Ghost That Follows.” He plans to complete the novel and publish it after graduation. Cael’s work is just one example of engrossing storytelling on display. All nine of these seniors have reflected a shared level of excellence that will clearly be exhibited on April 2 and 4.

If you are interested in attending Alma’s Honors Day, stay on the lookout for updates on presentation schedule. Whether you are passionate about art, an Alma College student or a member of the Alma community, this show will provide a rare opportunity to engage with young, passionate artists joining the professional field.