Graduate finds her canvas at CSUB

Lucy Fitzgerald had long dreamed of becoming an artist, but it was a goal she initially believed was unattainable.

Fitzgerald felt too self-conscious about pursuing an art degree when she began her higher education journey at Los Angeles Valley College in 2014. She chose instead to major in art history. While she enjoyed the major and went on to graduate in 2016, Fitzgerald couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing in her life.

"I've always loved creating, but I was really intimidated about doing art in LA. I didn't think I had the skills or the ideas to do it," she said. "After graduating, I just focused on work. I wasn't creating anything. That was the period of my life when I was most unhappy."

Fitzgerald knew she needed a change. A chance encounter with her favorite author - whom Fitzgerald declined to name for privacy reasons - would set her on a new path.

Fitzgerald emailed the author in 2019 just to express her love for their books. That email sparked an ongoing conversation that ultimately led the author to encourage Fitzgerald to pursue her goal of becoming an artist.

"They convinced me to chase my dreams, that I had the capability to be an artist and that I just needed to put myself out there. They've just been really inspiring me," she said.

Fitzgerald decided to move to Bakersfield and enrolled at Bakersfield College in 2021 as an art major. Her first big project was a collage that ended up being selected for a student art exhibit at the college.

"It was just crazy to be able to do it. I submitted it believing there was no way it would be selected," Fitzgerald said. "It gave me the encouragement to keep going."

Five years later, Fitzgerald is now preparing to graduate from California State University, Bakersfield with her bachelor's degree in studio arts. After taking a year break, she plans to continue her education by attending graduate school.

While Fitzgerald has gained experience with most art mediums through her classes at CSUB, collages are her favorite to work with. Many of her works explore ideas about identity and the human body.

"I like being able to create something new out of pre-existing materials. That's what I find very exciting and a lot more expressive than other types of art," she said. "I like being able to express the weird and fun ideas that pop in my head and translate them into an object that other people can be exposed to and explore those ideas."

Fitzgerald has been able to display her art pieces at various exhibits at CSUB and in the community. What was once a source of anxiety for her has become one of the most meaningful aspects of her experience as an artist.

"If you make stuff and you never share it with anyone, you miss out on that major ingredient. Art is meant to be shared with others," Fitzgerald said. "It feels incredible being able to share your ideas with a community. There's such a rich, vibrant and supportive community here at CSUB, and that's what I really like about the university environment."

Associate Professor Dr. Bill Kelley, who serves as chair of the Department of Art and Art History, said Fitzgerald has excelled in the studio arts program at CSUB and believes she has a bright future ahead of her.

"Lucy Fitzgerald is one of those rare students that is both well-read and intellectually ambitious for undergraduate studies, while also maintaining a level of humble curiosity that will certainly keep her motivated and on track as she pursues her academic and artistic ambitions," he said. "She shows a level of curiosity and intellectual maturity that will serve her well in graduate school and in her future career as an artist."