06/01/2026
Art as Research: Three of our Molloy Art Faculty worked with our Art students this Spring semester taking different approaches submitting their art as research in the Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference 2026 (MURC 2026)
Six art students mentored by Dr. Hwa Young Caruso, Professor of Art, applied their studio art making as a research project and submitted it for the MURC conference. This innovative form of expression combined research, creative art making, reflection and presentation skills. For two students, the fine art object-based research was part of their internships in the Molloy University Gallery where they helped to prepare for the Kellenberg Gallery Summer 2026 exhibition. Four students focused on their personal choices of themes such as landscape, self-portraits, and a 3D cityscape. Students were Julia Ferreira, “Fine Art Object Based Research for the Kellenberg Gallery” Tuana Yuksel, “Research on Joys of Summer Exhibition in the Kellenberg Gallery”, Martha Brooks, “Self Portrait: Scents That Trigger Memories”, Madison Manfredo, “Landscape: Seasons of Life”, Grace Passerello, “Self-Portrait: The Mind, The Body, The Spirit” and Rophnaica Desruisseaux, “Three-dimensional Diorama of a Tsunami-resistant Coastal Bridge and City.”
Dr. Jenny LaMonica had her students using the Kellenberg Art Gallery as a learning lab. Students selected works from the Molloy art collection, researched the history of their selections and curated an exhibition in the Kellenberg Gallery and Larini Room. Student curators were Melanie Arvanitis, Kristien Koppe, Nicoletta Esposito, Callie Todd, Vincent-Guida Feguson, and Renyia Tolliver.
Professor Rosa Berland had students create poster boards and 1 of her students presented in front of the entire group. Students were Patricia Suna Brito, MURC presentation on Eduardo Kingman on identity, art and labor and Faith Nenty, presentation at MURC on the intersection of identity and gender in the work of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun. An audience of students, parents, faculty mentors, and staff gathered in Hays theatre to view the creative artworks.