The Arts & Humanities 2026 Graduate Exhibition at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at UC Davis showcases multidisciplinary projects by 20 graduate students from the College of Letters and Science. The exhibition, on view through June 20, features work in media including multimedia installations, sculpture, paintings, drawings, and collage, with students from Art History, Art Studio, Design, and Performance Studies programs. Award recipients announced at the June 4 opening include Levi Keatts (LeShelle & Gary May Art Purchase Prize), Tara K. Daly (Keister & Allen Art Purchase Prize), Sean Olmstead (The Letters & Science Prize for Excellence), and Rafael Bertacini (The Savageau Award for Design).
This exhibition matters because it highlights how emerging artists and designers are integrating technology, healthcare, and environmental themes into their creative practice, reflecting a broader trend of interdisciplinary research in art education. The purchase prizes also directly support emerging artists by acquiring their work for the university's Fine Arts Collection, providing institutional validation and career advancement opportunities for graduate students at a major public research university.