ABERDEEN, S.D.?– Northern State University has announced the award recipients for the 2026 McQuillen Creative Group Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition, an annual showcase celebrating student creativity and achievement in the visual arts.

Presented by Northern State University’s Art Department and Art Galleries, the exhibition is held each year in Gallery X in the Johnson Fine Arts Center and highlights the work of student artists from across campus. In addition to showcasing student artwork, the exhibition recognizes outstanding pieces through a juried awards process led by a professional from the regional art community.

This year’s exhibition was juried by Liz Heeren, director of Ipso Gallery in Sioux Falls and a lecturer at the University of South Dakota. Awards were announced during a reception held March 6, 2026.

This year’s award recipients include:

First Place: Taylor Speidel
Second Place: Daria Poor
Third Place: Alicia Gedge
Honorable Mention: Rico Imus, Aly Lang and Riley Vraniak
President’s Award: Riley Vraniak
Provost’s Award: Taylor Speidel and Stephen Jewett Jr.
McQuillen Creative Group Award: Leo Beckler
NSU Foundation Award: Katie Kruger
Gallery Purchase Award: Ksenia Unser
Midwest Nice Art Award: Lawson Hansen
Faculty Merit Award: Emily Jensen
Salon des Refusés Best of Show: Ella Tuschen

Students whose work is featured in the exhibition are Anna Bain, Leo Beckler, Jensen Eckart, Alicia Gedge, Madelyn Haak, Lawson Hansen, Abigail Himmerich, Rico Imus, Emily Jensen, Stephen Jewett Jr., Katie Kruger, Maggie Kruger, Aly Lang, Heqiang Lin, Elias Londahl, Diane Mamgue Tassa, April Olson, Karli Olson, Delaynie Parker, Daria Poor, Kadence Rausch-Frank, Taylor Speidel, Jessel Stengel, Ella Tuschen, Ksenia Unser and Riley Vraniak.

The McQuillen Creative Group Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition will remain on view in Gallery X in the Johnson Fine Arts Center through March 27, 2026.

For more information, contact the School of Fine Arts Office at 605-626-2497.