Carnegie Mellon University

CMU Community Art Show

  1. Mandala Heart Magnets
    Emily Salerno, University Communications & Marketing
    • Acrylics and gel/water-based stains on 4" wood cutouts
    • "Watch how I make these mandalas on my YouTube channel and while you're there, explore my other videos for more art ideas and inspiration!"
    • Magnets shown start at $10 each and can be ordered online for June delivery. Open for commissions for the summer.
  2. The Iron Roses – Emblem of Peace
    Thomas Laurent, University Communications & Marketing
    • Oil painting, 48" × 48"
    • "The Iron Roses of Norway were created as a memorial to those lost in the domestic terrorist attack of July 22, 2011. In an outpouring of love and solidarity, artists from around the world forged and shared metal roses — symbols of grief, unity, and remembrance.

      But time moves forward, and even these beautiful offerings have begun to rust. Their colors have shifted, their surfaces changed. Rust is often seen as decay, a flaw — a sign of wear. Yet it, too, can be beautiful, like the fiery transformation of leaves in autumn.

      This work reflects that evolution. It captures how even acts of love, however enduring in spirit, are touched by time. The memory remains, even as the form changes.

      This is the first in a series honoring these iron roses, their transformation, and the enduring meaning they carry."
    • $1,800
  3. Wood Ear Mushrooms
    Liza Boffi, Architecture
    • Watercolor on 300 lb cold pressed paper
    • "An original watercolor painting of wood ear mushrooms on a fallen log, painted from a found photograph."
    • Water and Leaf | LB Etsy Shop
    • $650
  4. Beyond the Break: Naples, FL
    Katy Simovski, University Events and Engagement
    • Watercolor, salt and seashells
    • "Beyond the Break is a series of 3D artwork that gives new life to shells that would otherwise be pushed aside and overlooked on the shores of Florida. This series features fragments of shells from the coasts of Naples, FL. Currently displayed in an 8" × 8" shadow box frame with a 4.5" matted opening. Artwork is 5" × 5"."
    • whenkatypaints on Instagram
    • $50 per piece or $125 for the set of 3 (unframed)
      $80 per piece or $200 for the set of 3 (framed)
  5. Help
    Chris Small, Computing Services
    • Graphite
  6. Bowery Coffee
    Steve Pajewski, Tepper Undergraduate Programs
  7. Nesting Box
    Gretchen Graff, UEIS
    • Linoleum block print — oil printmaking ink, paper
    • Not for sale
  8. Hummingbird
    Colleen Everett, Computer Science Department
    • Stained glass, 15" × 15"
    • "This window was a mother's day gift to my mom and was installed in my parents' front door, the house I grew up in. It was there for over 20 years. My parents are now passed and I have reclaimed this window. Just as the light shines through this glass, the memories shine on in my mind of our family of seven in that little house, where we never ran out of space to make new memories."
    • Not for sale
  9. In Flight
    Kelly Rembold, University Advancement
    • Mixed media. Costume jewelry on canvas. Displayed in a 5" × 7" shadow box frame.
    • "Created with family heirloom costume jewelry."
    • Not for sale
  10. Breath of Autumn,
    Last Light,
    Spring Path
    James Ward, Tartan Ink
    • Acrylic on canvas
    • "3 8" × 10" paintings done in different seasons."
    • $60 each
  11. Collaborative Self-Portrait Project
    CMU Children's School
    • Framed collection of children's drawings
  12. Life in Full Color
    Debra Tobin, Robotics Institute
    • Digital art
    • "Life in Full Color is a radiant and unapologetic sequel to my earlier piece, Life Interrupted. Where Life Interrupted lingered in restraint and muted tones to reflect a period of uncertainty and emotional pause, Life in Full Color bursts forth with intensity, energy, and unapologetic presence. This piece represents a reclamation of vitality — a reawakening of self after silence, stillness, or sorrow.

      Rendered in digital media, the figure looks upward in a posture of hope, reflection, and possibility. Every color is intentional: the electric blues, molten golds, and acid greens signify the richness of emotional and psychological complexity. The exaggerated textures and neon outlines create a dreamlike, almost psychedelic effect that speaks to the surreal beauty of embracing life again — fully, vulnerably, and vividly.

      The transformation from interruption to illumination is not seamless, but it is powerful. In this work, color is not merely visual; it is symbolic of returning courage, joy, and depth of feeling. This painting is a celebration of survival, a declaration of growth, and a visual anthem for anyone who has moved from numbness to sensation, from grayscale to a spectrum of new beginnings."
    • Debra Tobin Art
    • $300
  13. Blue Cruiser
    James Tobin, S3D
    • Digital photo collage/digital painting
    • "This work explores the tension between motion and memory through the lens of abstraction. At the center of the piece, the blue cruiser acts as both a symbol and a sensation — part nostalgia, part liberation."
    • James Tobin Art
    • Not for sale
  14. Roe Through the Kitchen Window
    Mary Kate Noonan, HCII
  15. What Do You Seek From Life?
    Charles Schneider, University Store
    • Collage
    • $130
  16. Ceramic Mugs (3)
    Nikki Deckard, Res Ed
    • Pottery
    • "I make a wide variety of functional pottery pieces. These items are made from porcelain and were thrown on a wheel."
    • Nikki's Ceramics on Instagram
  17. Ceramic Sake Set
    Nikki Deckard, Res Ed
    • Pottery
    • "I make a wide variety of functional pottery pieces. These items are made from porcelain and were thrown on a wheel."
    • Nikki's Ceramics on Instagram
  18. Ceramic Pitcher
    Nikki Deckard, Res Ed
    • Pottery
    • "I make a wide variety of functional pottery pieces. These items are made from porcelain and were thrown on a wheel."
    • Nikki's Ceramics on Instagram
  19. Ceramic Ghost
    Nikki Deckard, Res Ed
  20. Ceramic Platter
    Nikki Deckard, Res Ed
    • Pottery
    • "I make a wide variety of functional pottery pieces. These items are made from porcelain and were thrown on a wheel."
    • Nikki's Ceramics on Instagram
  21. Ceramic Tumbler
    Nikki Deckard, Res Ed
    • Pottery
    • "I make a wide variety of functional pottery pieces. These items are made from porcelain and were thrown on a wheel."
    • Nikki's Ceramics on Instagram
  22. Spring Gryphon
    Nancy Janda, Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation / UEIS
    • Limited edition print #8/50 of original colored pencil and gouache art
    • "My aim with fantasy art is always to make the creatures believable — like they could, just maybe, actually be out there somewhere."
    • $30
  23. Eat-o-clock, Sleep-o-clock or Who-cares-o-clock: Circadian rhythms are key to healthy metabolism
    Samskrathi Sharma, Biological Sciences
    • Acrylic paint on canvas
    • "There exists a gap between scientific discoveries made in labs and these findings being common knowledge among the public. I think art can bridge this gap by removing this perceived notion of difficulty with science and help effectively communicate complex scientific discoveries. We conduct research for public good, and as a scientist, I think I owe it to explain the implications of my research to non-specialists. This painting depicts how circadian rhythms help our body compartmentalize our biological processes and this is key to health (top). Disrupted circadian rhythms (bottom) lead to aberrant processes and can contribute to diseases like obesity. In a state of disrupted circadian rhythms, eating (pizza, day) and sleeping (bed frame, night) are no longer occurring at specified times that serve our health. Although this painting depicts eating and sleeping, this is true for many biological processes like metabolism and immunity to function correct and are key to health."
    • Not for sale
  24. Spring Peepers
    Jeffrey Flagg, Social and Decision Sciences
    • Watercolor
    • $50
  25. Petalhead
    Ally Jump, MCS Dean's Office
    • Print of pen and ink illustration. 8" × 10" artwork within 11" × 14" mat.
    • $45
  26. Succulents
    Ally Jump, MCS Dean's Office
    • Print of pen and ink illustration. 8" × 10" artwork within 11" × 14" mat.
    • $45
  27. Protea
    Ally Jump, MCS Dean's Office
    • Print of pen and ink illustration. 8" × 10" artwork within 11" × 14" mat.
    • $45
  28. Forest
    Ally Jump, MCS Dean's Office
    • Print of pen and ink illustration. 8" × 10" artwork within 11" × 14" mat.
    • $45
  29. Magnolias
    Ally Jump, MCS Dean's Office
    • Print of pen and ink illustration. 8" × 10" artwork within 11" × 14" mat.
    • $45
  30. Engelberg Switzerland. July 6, 2022
    Alli Goimarac, University Communications & Marketing
    • Watercolor pencil and pastels, 5" × 5" within 12" × 12" frame
    • "I was traveling through Switzerland with my sister in 2022 when I captured this moment and later painted the picturesque mountains."