Houston (April 23, 2025) – Lone Star College-University Park spotlights student creativity and imagination in its 8th Annual Juried Student Art Show, now open in the Visual & Performing Arts (VPA) Building Gallery. The exhibition features 35 standout works selected from 87 student submissions by this year’s juror, Houston-based artist and children's book illustrator Lisa Chow.
A public reception held in the VPA Black Box Theater on April 15 celebrated the selected artists and recognized this year’s top award winners:
- 1st Place: Magda Knop – ‘Vanishing People 4’ (pastel drawing)
- 2nd Place: Christina Garcia – ‘Breakfast for Dinner’ (ink drawing)
- 3rd Place: Madison Ball – ‘Tea Leaf Reading’ (photography)
Chow is a self-taught artist and founder of the Girl Crush Market. She brought a unique perspective to the selection process, celebrating both technical skill and imaginative storytelling.
Magda Knop, recipient of the first-place award, reflected on the inspiration behind her winning piece and the surprise of receiving top honors.
“’Vanishing People’ is a work about the people who were once part of my life, people I knew well and now drift in and out of my mind but will never be forgotten,” said Knop. “I was truly surprised by my first place, and I am really grateful to the talented Lisa Chow for choosing me.”
The exhibition showcases a variety of media—including painting, drawing, sculpture, digital art, and photography—reflecting the diverse perspectives and practices of the college’s art students.
"Each year, this exhibition gives us a glimpse into where our students are creatively," said art professor Kari Breitigam. “It’s a celebration of how much they’ve grown—not just in skill, but in finding their own voices as artists. We’re so proud of everything they’ve accomplished."
The VPA Gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibit runs through May 2. Admission is free.
LSC-University Park offers more than 70 programs of study, including credit and non-credit courses, workforce training, and continuing education classes. Classes are available during the day, evenings, and weekends in traditional, online, and hybrid formats. To learn more about Visual and Performing Arts at LSC-University Park, visit https://www.lonestar.edu/up-vpa.htm. For more information about LSC-University Park classes or to register online, visit www.lonestar.edu/upstudentsupport, call 281-290-2600, or email UPAdvising@LoneStar.edu.
Established in 2012, Lone Star College-University Park has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing and most innovative higher education institutions in the country. The college, led by President Matthew Dempsey, Ed.D., is devoted to impacting the community's prosperity and upward mobility through student success. LSC-University Park’s expert and compassionate faculty and staff provide students with holistic and immersive education and training in disciplines and industries that meet current and future workforce needs.
Located on the grounds of the former Compaq Computer Corporation and Hewlett Packard's world headquarters, LSC-University Park's facilities include the Visual and Performing Arts Building, the Center for Science & Innovation, the Energy & Manufacturing Institute, Learning Innovation Labs, and the Geology Rock Wall. It is also home to the University of Houston-NW Downtown, Lone Star Corporate College, and iSchool.
Lone Star College System enrolls over 90,000 students each semester, providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSCS is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D., serves as Chancellor of LSCS, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area. LSCS has been named a 2024 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. LSCS consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.