ELKTON, MD — Cecil College is preparing to unveil a striking collection of student creations as part of its Art and Design Student Exhibition and Pottery Sale, a year-end showcase highlighting the capstone achievements of emerging artists whose work represents the culmination of their academic study. The exhibition opens Friday, Dec. 5, at the Elkton Station Gallery and will run through Jan. 6, 2026.
The fall exhibition features drawings, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and design work selected by faculty to represent the range and ambition of the Art and Design Program. This year’s capstone cohort includes three students whose projects reflect deeply personal themes, technical growth, and diverse creative influences.
Rachel Applegate, an Ambler, Pennsylvania–born artist, brings a darkly imaginative approach shaped by storytelling, emotion, and psychological exploration. Working in oil, charcoal, and ink, she creates unconventional characters infused with introspective depth. Applegate plans to transfer to Arcadia University to pursue medical illustration.
Pennsylvania-based animation and film student Maureen Lysle offers work rooted in color, fantasy, and narrative inspiration. Influenced by the Warrior Cats and Percy Jackson series, her art spans both two- and three-dimensional media. Lysle’s earlier piece Nature received an honorable mention in the Spring 2025 Elkton Station exhibit, and she has earned a place on the President’s List each semester. She intends to continue her studies at Moore College of Art and Design.
Maryland artist Rachel Wylie, originally from Delaware, blends artistic practice with her background in psychology, using botanical studies and expressive portraiture to explore perception and the human experience. Her work has appeared in multiple gallery exhibits and has earned honorable mention recognition. Wylie plans to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts with K–12 art education certification.
The annual exhibition also doubles as an open house, inviting visitors to explore Cecil College’s studios and learn about opportunities in fine arts, graphic design, ceramics, and art education. Proceeds from pottery and gallery sales will directly support art students.
The opening reception will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 5, coinciding with the Elkton First Friday Art Loop. The gallery, located at 107 Railroad Avenue, maintains extended hours throughout the week, though weekend hours vary in January. A virtual gallery featuring capstone work is available at arts.cecil.edu/FallExhibit/.
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