Moriah Roland poses with her artworkVia MSU Department of Art Visiting Assistant Professor Jingshuo Yang

A senior in the Department of Art at Mississippi State University has been accepted into the new Modern Visual Arts Gallery (MVA) in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Moriah R. Roland will have a standalone piece, titled “Radiant Dawn," on display both in-person and online via the gallery's Instagram page: @mvaartgallery.

The Jackson native was encouraged to submit her work by Visiting Assistant Professor Jingshuo Yang.

“I didn’t think it’d be accepted," Roland said. "I only finished it for an assignment, but Jingshuo encouraged me to submit it, and the rest is history. I spent a lot of time ensuring it met my standards, so it being accepted felt very rewarding, to say the least."

For reference, the art student said she used a simple photo of colored paper layered over a yellow head lamp.

“It strangely gave off a very ethereal feel that I tried to capture in chalk pastels," she said. "To me, what mattered most about this piece was the feeling I could instill in the viewer through my understanding of color and lighting."

As she is relatively new to the selected medium, Roland found the experience both challenging and rewarding.

"I am happy with what I was able to produce despite my inexperience with the materials," Roland said, "and I hope that those who see it can appreciate my work."

The new Modern Visual Arts Gallery is dedicated to exhibiting the work of artists of all backgrounds from every region of the country. MVA encourages and supports the creative activities of artists working in a variety of styles, fostering an exciting environment within a close community to showcase such work.

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the MSU Department of Art offers concentrations in fine arts, graphic design and photography.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.

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