'Roots'

'Roots'

Ohio Wesleyan's 2026 Graduating Fine Arts Students to Exhibit Works at Ross Art Museum

DELAWARE, Ohio - Nine of Ohio Wesleyan University's graduating Fine Arts students will present "Roots," their senior exhibition April 11 through May 8 at OWU's Richard M. Ross Art Museum.

"Roots" will feature pieces selected for display by their Fine Arts professors. Simultaneously, the Ross will showcase an exhibition of Midwest-inspired landscapes created by Ohio artist Rod Bouc, MFA, retired executive deputy director of operations for the Columbus Museum of Art. Both exhibitions will open with a free community reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. April 11 at the museum, 60 S. Sandusky St., Delaware.

Kristina Bogdanov, chair of Ohio Wesleyan's Department of Fine Arts, says "Roots" allows the students featured in this year's show to explore where they've been and where they are going as artists.

"Roots imply genealogy of artistic growth and authenticity in a time overwhelmed by content derived by artificial intelligence," said Bogdanov, MFA, professor of Fine Arts. "Graduating seniors in the 2026 class stand for being rooted in the artistic processes, materials, and art histories from where they will sprout and continue their unique creative journeys."

Ohio Wesleyan graduating seniors exhibiting works in "Roots" and their academic and artistic interests include:

• Meaghan Buckler of Delaware, Ohio, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) major with a concentration in drawing and an English minor. "I plan to try to enter the graphic design industry and explore my interest in either art education or counseling. Depending on how that goes, I may pursue a master's degree to help secure those positions." Buckler is a graduate of Rutherford B. Hayes High School.
• Alexis Fomby of Grove City, Ohio, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) double major in Studio Art and Psychology. "I plan to take a gap year before going to a graduate school and becoming certified to be an art therapist. ... I also will be expanding my online art presence more. ... I will continue to work on art no matter what happens." Fomby is a graduate of Metro Early College High School in Columbus.
• Rory Housh of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, a B.A. major in Art History with minors in Renaissance Studies and History. "I want to keep growing in both photography and ceramics, especially through experimentation and building a consistent studio routine. My goal is to … expand my portfolio, stay engaged creatively, and prepare for whatever comes next, whether that's graduate school or beginning my career within the museum field." Housh is a graduate of Wilmington High School.
• Sam Johnson of Kinsman, Ohio, a B.A. major in Studio Art. "I am planning on going back home to explore other opportunities. I also plan on traveling as much as I can so that I can see all kinds of art around the world." Johnson is a graduate of Maplewood High School.
• Hannah Jones of Hudson, Ohio, a B.A. double major in Studio Art and Psychology. "I'm hoping to find work as an administrative assistant or case manager within a psychology or mental health setting, where I can learn how the field operates from the inside. I see that as an important first step to get hands-on experience and figure out if I'm headed in the right direction. My long-term goal is to attend graduate school and become a licensed mental health counselor." Jones is a graduate of Hudson High School.
• Elisabeth Madore of Galion, Ohio, a B.A. double major in Studio Art and Psychology. "I plan to pursue a master's degree in Counseling with a focus in Art Therapy. I am currently in the interview process for a few schools and hope to make a decision soon." Madore is a graduate of Lexington High School.
• Leona Messer of Cincinnati, Ohio, a BFA major with a concentration in painting and a B.A. major in Art Education (Multi-Age Education). "I plan to use the degree and licensure I obtained from this University to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming an art teacher. ... I never want to stop learning about the art, people, and cultures that have impacted me. I hope to inspire every generation of students that I interact with as an educator to be confident in their creative journeys, just as my art professors have inspired me." Messer is a graduate of Princeton High School.
• Delia Misterka of Russell, Ohio, a BFA major with a concentration in Photography and a minor in Philosophy. "I hope to move back home and work at a small, local art gallery." Misterka is a graduate of West Geauga High School.
• Allyson Pang of Blacklick, Ohio, a B.A. double major in Studio Art and Communication and minor in Women's & Gender Studies. "I hope to possibly pursue museum work or go into special collections or library work. I developed an interest in these fields during my time here through classes and on-campus work experience. … I hope to take the skills I have gained from my time at Ohio Wesleyan both in and out of the studio and continue to create art and something meaningful to me." Pang is a graduate of Licking Heights High School.

The "Roots" graduating senior show will conclude May 8, in advance of the students' May 9 graduation ceremony, but Rod Bouc's landscape exhibition, combined with a showcase of never-before-seen landscapes from the Ross Art Museum's permanent collection, will run through April 28.

In his exhibition, Bouc will feature works created with oil sticks, charcoals, and pastels. "Because of my interest in surface, color, and composition, the work sometimes moves from the representational to abstraction," says Bouc, who earned his Master of Fine Arts in painting and drawing from The Ohio State University. "In this way, I can achieve a new synthesis of representation that includes saturated color and attention to surface." Learn more about Bouc and his work at https://www.rodbouc.com.

During the academic year, the Ross Art Museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Between May 15 and June 28, it will be open Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. before closing for summer break. The museum is handicap-accessible, and admission is always free. Call (740) 368-3606 or visit owu.edu/Ross or https://www.facebook.com/RossArtMuseum for more information.

Created in 1864, Ohio Wesleyan's Department of Fine Arts was one of America's first college art departments. Today, it offers both Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees. Learn more about the department, its majors and minors, and its faculty at owu.edu/FineArts.

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.