By Julianna Nelson-Gaudette
Elm Staff Writer
This year, Baltimore-based artist Lou Joseph carefully hand-picked a range of stunning artwork for the Kohl Gallery’s annual student exhibition. From piñatas and stained glass to written work, the exhibit proves a true testament to the creative environment that students at the College flourish in.
On Friday, March 20, the Kohl Gallery unveiled its newest cohort of brilliant student projects. The 2026 All Student Exhibition was co-curated by Joseph and Washington College’s own Robert Blackson, which remained on display until April 4.
On opening night, exhibiting students joined Joseph in giving a tour of the space and sharing the context behind their pieces. While some students submitted work that was made for a course at the College, a lot of featured work was done without a grade or audience in mind.
Blackson tasked Joseph with accepting works that accurately portray what current college students are focusing on and working through.
“It seemed like there were two themes in the work I was seeing—self-reflection and a sense of humor—so it seemed natural to focus on works like that, while still having room for really interesting work that stood out,” Joseph said.
Junior Sage McKim displayed three works: two forms created for a sculpture class offered last semester, and a life-sized stuffed animal version of Appa from “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”
McKim’s other two pieces were a recreation of the sculpture of David as a piñata and a cube which she dubbed “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.”
McKim, who was also featured in last year’s student exhibition, has felt residual pride in sharing her art with the campus and local Chestertown community.
“Having my work in the gallery was an awesome opportunity. [These exhibits] have given me the confidence to expand my audience and speak about my art to non-artists and other artists,” McKim said.
Sophomore Ella Baldwin displayed two stained glass pieces, one depicting a screech owl and the other an abstract sun, both of which she made in her personal stained-glass studio.
Baldwin, another two-time featured artist, is no stranger to the positive impact that curations like the one in Kohl can have on young artists.
“It can be hard to put yourself or your work out there, and the student show feels very approachable,” Baldwin said.
Other works were made by a variety of different majors on campus—from biology and environmental science to studio art and political science. This set of artists beautifully represent the diversity of experience offered at the College.
Freshman Max Van Doren displayed original writing, sophomore Calynn Nelson displayed a hand-made sweater, and junior Victoria Griffith displayed a sculpture made of Styrofoam and coffee filters.
While the exhibition closed on April 4, there will be many opportunities to attend openings and support artists in the future, as the gallery is ever-changing and frequently introducing new talents to Chestertown.
As a final hoorah to the talented artists studying at the College, the next exhibit in Kohl Gallery will be the Studio Art Senior Capstone exhibition, opening April 17 at 4:30 p.m.
Photo Caption: The student art exhibit featured a range of mediums: from painting and sculpture to knitting and digital art.
Photo by Katie Trego