Leafless: Juried Undergraduate Student Exhibition

This fall, join us for the a juried undergraduate student exhibition, with guest juror Sara Nickleson (‘09, Industrial Design – Product). The exhibition is sponsored by the CCS Valade Speaker Series.

The leafless tree has long been considered a symbol of death and rebirth. A reflection of the season, Leafless presents a collection of student works that embrace vulnerability and place trust in art making as a tool for healing and connection. Taking on topics of spirituality, emotional and physical health, identity and belonging, the artists explore uncomfortable realities to convey the vitality and necessity of art in cultivating empathy.

Juror Sara Nickleson (’09 Industrial Design – Product) is an artist, curator, and gallery director based in Detroit, MI. Alongside her own studio practice, Nickleson works with Library Street Collective on exhibitions and special projects that have included the Shinola Hotel Art Collection and the Detroit Art Collection. An alum of CCS, Nickleson was Head Curator and Director of Collections at the Design Exchange (DX) in Toronto from 2012 -2016. She graduated in 2024 with her MFA in Painting from the Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Join us for the opening reception at Center Galleries (inside the Manoogian Visual Resource Center) on Friday, November 1, from 4-7pm. Sara Nickleson will deliver remarks at 5pm.

Free parking is available the evening of the reception at the CCS Brush St lot, on Brush just north of Frederick St.

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11am-5pm.