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School of Visual Art and Design

Graduate Students

Photograph of Aurora Bell

Aurora Bell

M.A. Art History

Aurora Bell is pursuing an M.A. in art history. She is interested in exploring intersections between fine art and craft. Originally from Austin, Texas, Aurora received a B.A. in comparative literature from NYU. After several years working as book editor in NYC, she moved to South Carolina to join the staff of the University of South Carolina Press, where she is currently associate editorial director.

Email: aurorab@mailbox.sc.edu

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Amy Chalmers

M.F.A. Studio Art

Amy Chalmers is a second-year M.F.A. candidate who uses image and text to illustrate experiences of new parenthood. She holds a B.A. in Art History and French from Wofford College and an M.A. in Illustration: Authorial Practice from Falmouth University.

From curatorial work to comics, Amy’s enduring interests are in drawing, graphic narrative, and design.

Email: amymc@email.sc.edu

Instagram: @amy.chalmers

Silvio Gonzales

Silvio Gonzales

M.A. Media Arts

"I want to use videography and photography to focus on expanding the narrative of Latinos in media. There is a common perception of Latin American/Hispanics as low skill manual laborers in the United States. I want to both increase the amount of representation shown and the “higher level” jobs occupied by Latinos. Currently, I’m focusing on the Thoroughbred industry."

Email: silviog@email.sc.edu

Instagram: @Silvi0Gonzales

Website: www.silviogonzalesart.squarespace.com

Photograph of Katy McCormack

Katy McCormack

M.F.A. Studio Art

Katy McCormack is pursuing an MFA in photography. She is originally from Chicago where she worked in advertising. Her interests include street photography and documentary photography.

Email: km147@email.sc.edu

Instagram: @katymcc18

Website: www.katymccphotos.com

Headshot of Jackson Shaner

Jackson Shaner

M.F.A. Studio Art

Jackson is a ceramic artist interested in both pottery and sculpture. Born and raised in Greenville, SC, he received his BA in Studio Art from Furman University. Moving forward, Jackson plans to pursue his love of teaching at the university level.

“I create ceramic artworks inspired by classical and contemporary sculpture, horror, and fantasy. Frequently using the vessel as a canvas, I aim to create dynamic compositions that pack energy, emotion, and beauty. I also enjoy contriving visual tension while incorporating the human figure. My work explores themes of emotional containment, restriction, catharsis, and somatization: when emotions cause physical sensations of discomfort, tension, and pain.” 

Email: jshaner@email.sc.edu

Instagram: @shanerceramics 

Mina Rastgartalab Tabrizi

Nina Rastgartalab Tabrizi

M.F.A. Studio Art 

"I am an MFA student and a Graduate Assistant, selected as a Presidential Fellow at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, specializing in Studio Art. My research emphasizes conceptual strength. Apart from traditional material and media, I have conceptualized my body as a tool to perform and establish more interactions between art and society. I seek to bring concepts from culture and social climate and their relation with political power into my work to gain a better understanding of how laws, traditions, and ideologies impact the perceived value of a human."

Email: minar@email.sc.edu

Instagram: @Ninarastgar


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