Austin College Students Selected for TASA Artovation 2024
SHERMAN, TEXAS — The Texas Association of Schools of Art (TASA) has chosen artwork by two Austin College students for inclusion in the Artovation Student Show 2024. Artovation is a statewide art competition open to all students in two- and four-year colleges, as well as graduate students.
Two paintings—Daisy and Blue Giraffe—by Alyssa Vyrva ’24, an art major with a minor in education, were chosen for the exhibition. “I have been painting since middle school,” she says, “and my favorite things to paint are animals.” Vyrva, who plans to become a professor, continued, “I painted the giraffe as a gift for my aunt who escaped Ukraine and now lives in Texas. Daisy is a portrait of my dog.”
Metal sculpture Native Metal, by Seth Fulenchek ’25, a business administration major with a minor in art, was also selected. “I did this piece during a JanTerm sculpture course this past January and thought it would be a good piece to put into the competition for people to see—and hopefully win,” he says. “It took a while to complete, so I thought it would also be a good opportunity to showcase my work.”
All Artovation Student Show winners and selected pieces can be viewed here.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.