The Senior Art Exhibition 2026 at Colby College Museum of Art's Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery of Art in Waterville showcases capstone projects from 17 graduating studio art majors. The works span painting, photography, printmaking, digital media, and sculpture, created after a yearlong capstone course coordinated by Associate Professor Bradley Borthwick. The exhibition runs through May 23 and includes a catalog with artist statements and critical essays.
This annual exhibition matters because it marks a pivotal moment in the students' creative development, as noted by museum director Jacqueline Terrassa, who called it 'a moment in a lifetime of creativity.' The show highlights the fusion of traditional art-making with new technology, representing what department chair Daniel Harkett described as an 'incredible crossroads across time.' It also underscores the role of academic art programs in nurturing emerging artists and fostering community engagement through public exhibitions.