Fairfield University’s Lukacs Gallery is currently home to “Time and Space,” a student-curated multimedia exhibition that invites visitors to reflect on how we perceive the world around us. The show features work by nine talented Studio Art students – Megan Bacher, Julia Braatz, Eva DiMaria, Blessed Stephens, Elizabeth Ruel, Caroline Earley, Payton Rahn, Leo McNamee and Noelle Gori – and is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m., to 4 p.m., now through April 23.
With a wide range of media on display, including painting, photography, sewing, printmaking, drawing and digital art, “Time and Space” is a rich exploration of creativity, identity and personal experience. Whether you’re an art lover, a fellow creative, or just someone looking for a moment of reflection, this is a show that invites you in.
Each student brings a unique perspective to the theme. Senior Leo McNamee describes his work as a “celebration of all,” rooted in a love for nature, color and memory. “My work is reflective of the time and space I live in, the people I know and the places I’ve seen,” he shares. For him, art is all about joy, freedom and inclusivity. “Art should be seen. It uplifts people. It’s a form of communication.”
Senior Megan Bacher used the opportunity to merge her visual skills with her dream of entering the book publishing industry. Her series of digital and sculptural works include an original book cover design and a hand-bound typeset of her novel-in-progress. “It was definitely empowering to have my work shown,” Bacher says. “Even the piece I was most nervous to share – “Torn Between Blood” – became a source of pride.”
Photographer Blessed Stephens ‘25 focused on capturing people in the moment in cities like Florence, Boston and Chicago. “That connection to time, being present, is what I wanted to show,” she says. Her work is both observational and reflective, urging viewers to pause and live in the moment.
Behind the scenes, the class worked collaboratively in design, marketing and curatorial teams to prepare for the exhibition. From conceptual planning to installing each piece in the gallery, the process was a full semester labor of love, and teamwork.
As the semester winds down, there is still time to visit the gallery and support these remarkable student artists. Take a study break, bring a friend and experience “Time and Space” before it closes on April 23.
After all, these are your peers, your classmates, sharing their stories, their visions and their creative hearts. Let’s show up for them.
Senior Leo McNamee
