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CU DENVER VISUAL ARTS BFA THESIS EXHIBITION
The Visual Arts BFA Thesis Exhibition is a demonstration of the artistic, creative, and scholarly spirit of the Visual Arts Class of 2026 in the areas of 3D Graphics & Animation, Art History, Art Practices, Digital Design, Illustration, and Photography. Graduating visual arts students' work will be on display at the following events:
Alumni Panelists
Will Johnston
Graphic Designer and Animator
Casual Studio
John (Johnny) McLean ('20)
VFX Application Engineer
Vicon Motion Systems
Since graduating from CU Denver with BFA in 3D Graphics & Animation, Johnny has had multiple jobs in the VFX industry and he currently works at Vicon Motion Systems as a VFX Application Engineer. He works with a variety of Film, Television, and Video Game studios to support their motion capture departments. He specializes in using Shogun, Maya, and Unreal Engine. He also works with Engineering labs and VR experiences that push the boundary of what’s possible with digital animation. His company is currently pushing motion capture to the next level, translating human animation to digital animation in real time with no MoCap suits.
You can reach out to him via his LinkedIn or email to learn more.
Chelsea Minter Brindley ('21)
Flex Art Creative Producer, Meow Wolf
Art in Public Places Commissioner, City of Aurora
Colorado-based photographer Chelsea Minter Brindley has been documenting her journey through motherhood for the past several years. As a sculptor and analog photographer, Chelsea works with materials that challenge outdated ideologies surrounding gender and place, merging the flat image with three-dimensional media to push beyond conventional boundaries. Endlessly curious and wildly experimental, she seeks to harmonize creativity, independence, and motherhood through her work. Chelsea has a BFA in Art Practices from the University of Colorado Denver; she works as a Creative Producer at Meow Wolf; and is an Art in Public Places Commissioner for the City of Aurora.
Chelsea Rieu-Torrez ('20)
Collections Assistant
Denver Art Museum
Chelsea Rieu-Torrez received a bachelor’s in art, focusing in Art History, from University Colorado of Denver in the Spring of 2020. For the past seven years she has worked as a Collections Assistant at the Denver Art Museum. Her personal interest in research includes, but is not limited to, the examination of gender in art history and is most fascinated by the history, artistry, and the global market created from antiquity trade beads.
Chelsea also takes pleasure in painting with a variety of mediums, and experiments with various techniques and styles. She was selected as a featured artist in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ "The Denver Muslim Women’s Art Collective" in 2017.
Sigri Strand ('11)
Executive Director
Union Hall Art Space
Sigri Strand has built her career at the intersection of arts, nonprofits, and community building. Strand holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Colorado Denver. Directly following her graduation, she joined the cooperative art gallery, Pirate: Contemporary Art, where she was able to exhibit her work, curate shows, and build community. She began her work in cultural nonprofits, including the Denver Film Society, Denver Art Museum, and Historic Denver, where she focused on fundraising strategies that engaged donors through meaningful experiences and demonstrated measurable impact.
She later co-founded the beloved arts and archiving organization ArtHyve, where she developed expertise in marketing, strategic planning, community organizing, and program development. During her tenure at PlatteForum as Curator and Engagement Director, Strand secured a dedicated gallery and studio space, elevating the organization’s residency program and expanding its visibility and prestige. She also brought her love of photography to PlatteForum by developing the first ArtLab photography class and exhibition with Anthony Maes and Alejandra Calvo in conjunction with the Month of Photography.
Most recently, as Director of Marketing for Denver Union Station, Strand expanded cultural programming to welcome more arts organizations into community events, amplified the landmark’s rich history through storytelling, and helped envision a future where art and culture converge in the heart of the city. She oversaw a major renovation and rebrand of the station while also collaborating on the LoDo Love initiative, raising the profile of both the LoDo neighborhood and Downtown Denver.
Strand brings an infectious reverence for the arts—particularly photography, video, and film. She keeps her own creative practice active by shooting on film, participating in photography clubs and events, and has been published in the past two editions of Not Another Film Lab’s Annual Book. Strand is the new Executive Director of Union Hall Art Space, bringing her experience, resourcefulness, and passion to guide Union Hall into its next chapter.
Jack Trujillo ('23)
Visual Arts Teacher
Hill Campus of Arts and Sciences
Jack Trujillo is an illustrator and educator based in Colorado who re-imagines ordinary food as humorous cartoon characters. He studied illustration at the University of Colorado Denver, where he developed his interest in vintage American cartooning and earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Jack started cooking up food stickers with his business, Pepperjack Art, four years ago and hasn’t stopped since. At local art markets, he serves up favorites like cherry keychains, coffee themed totes, and strawberry cat stickers. He strives to unite everyone with an adorable friend to take home.
Find Jack’s work at the Denver Art Museum where visitors can create their own characters in the art making exhibition Serious About Shapes. When he isn’t at a market or drawing, Jack is an art teacher at a public middle school. Through art education and his art practice, Jack seeks to inspire self-exploration.
Instagram
Website
Jack started cooking up food stickers with his business, Pepperjack Art, four years ago and hasn’t stopped since. At local art markets, he serves up favorites like cherry keychains, coffee themed totes, and strawberry cat stickers. He strives to unite everyone with an adorable friend to take home.
Find Jack’s work at the Denver Art Museum where visitors can create their own characters in the art making exhibition Serious About Shapes. When he isn’t at a market or drawing, Jack is an art teacher at a public middle school. Through art education and his art practice, Jack seeks to inspire self-exploration.
Website
Moderator
Andrew Palamara
Gallery Coordinator
Emmanuel Art Gallery
CU Denver Experience Gallery
Andrew Palamara is the Gallery Coordinator at the Emmanuel Art Gallery. Prior to joining the Emmanuel, he worked in education at the Cincinnati Art Museum, Dallas Museum of Art, and MASS MoCA. He holds a BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration from Belmont University and a MA in Art Education from the University of North Texas. When he’s not at the gallery, Andrew is most likely running, reading, or playing music.
College of Arts & Media
CU Denver
Arts Building
1150 10th Street
Suite 177
Denver, CO 80204
303-315-7400
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