Alumni
Baylor Art Graduates
Graduates in Art and Art History find success and fulfillment in every walk of life. The value of an education in Art & Art History is reflected in the range of jobs our students get, the quality of the graduate programs and professional schools they enter, and the rewarding careers they build. Here, we follow our alumni as they contribute to society in significant and thoughtful ways.
Featured Alumni
Victoria Gonzales | Painting
"My time at Baylor transformed my career path and gave me lifelong connections. The rigorous learning environment and opportunity to explore a variety of mediums pushed my conceptual ideas and technical abilities. Working as a studio assistant taught me classroom management skills, gallery experience, and an understanding of how to maintain multiple studios. I also learned professional practices that shaped my understanding of exhibiting artwork and networking. The faculty were incredibly supportive, and seeing Professor Rusiloski work with students helped me make the decision to attend graduate school and pursue teaching. Everything that I learned and experienced has a clear connection to my current career as an artist and professor. Since graduating from Baylor, I earned my MFA in Drawing and Painting from the University of North Texas, and I am now an Assistant Professor of Art. I have also had the opportunity to exhibit artwork in multiple solo and group exhibitions including winning the 2020 Texas National Competition, a solo show at Pencil on Paper Gallery Dallas, TX and a group show at William Campbell Gallery Fort Worth, TX. I am grateful for the art department at Baylor and everything I learned during my time there. "
Meredith Noles | Graphic Design
“My experience in Baylor’s Art and Art History department was transformative, largely due to the mentorship of Dr. Ruth Smith. Her belief in me was incredibly formative, and she struck the perfect balance between rigorous discipline and fostering experimentation. Through her textiles courses, I developed a deep appreciation for the interplay of design, materials, and craftsmanship—elements that continue to shape my creative approach today.
The variety of other courses I took, including drawing with Greg Lewallen and ceramics with Paul McCoy, further nurtured my curiosity and refined my creative process. I learned that your education is what you make of it, and it’s incredibly fulfilling to see just how far you can push the boundaries of a medium. These experiences taught me how to harness my creativity within the structure of a project timeline, a skill I now use daily in my work as a designer and consultant.
I also made a point during undergrad to take full advantage of the resources available—maxing out my access to the studios, the library, immersive coursework and applying to as many internships on my own as possible to widen my horizon. Now, with many years of industry experience, I view design not just as an art form but as a means of storytelling—combining artistry with purpose, grounded in the foundation of a viable, wearable product. This philosophy has been the backbone of my work, especially in the knitwear industry. Working with fiber and materials in this way has allowed me to bring a unique perspective to my designs, where sustainability and craftsmanship are always at the heart.”
Chenxi Gao | Painting
"At Baylor, I found my voice in art. When I transferred here in 2018 as an international student with little experience in art, I was fortunate to meet with dedicated professors such as Winter Rusiloski, Kyle Chaput, and Dr. Mary Ruth Smith. They taught me not only the technical skills but also what it meant to be a professional artist and a caring educator to students.
Through the various studio art courses that I took at Baylor, I realized that my work will always be authentic because they are made with my hands and about my personal stories – whether the work is a painting, a print, a quilt, or an installation.
After graduating from Baylor with a BFA in painting, I received my MFA in Printmaking from the University of North Texas in 2024. In Fall 2025, I will join Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia as an Assistant Professor of Printmaking. As an artist and educator, I am excited to share my knowledge to the students, guide them to discover the power of artmaking, and help them find their own voices in art."
Laura Martin | Art Historian
"As a PhD student in Art History at SMU, I am deeply grateful for the invaluable learning experiences I had in Baylor’s Art and Art History Department. As an undergraduate, Dr. Heidi Hornik not only encouraged me to present at Baylor’s URSA Scholar’s Week and the Midwest Art History Society Conference but also provided me with formative opportunities to sharpen my research and professional skills. The classes I took at Baylor didn’t just educate me—they ignited a lifelong passion for art history."
Jonathan Howard | Painting
"While at Baylor University, I discovered not just a place of learning, but a community that truly felt like home. The professors were more than educators; they were mentors who were deeply invested in our growth, both academically and personally. I spent countless hours working in the studio and had the privilege to get to know many of my professors. Their passion for their subjects was contagious, and their dedication to fostering a supportive, engaging environment made every class a transformative experience. I am truly grateful for the Baylor Art Department's support and mentorship. My work as a painter has been showcased in various galleries and juried shows. This past summer I had the honor of painting in Northern Ireland, where the region's stunning landscapes and historic charm profoundly inspired my work. Each of these experiences has enriched my journey as an artist and person."
Jessica Just | Photography
“My time at Baylor was one that I will never forget. Within the art department, I was surrounded by professors who not only cared about the quality and content of my work, but also cared about me as an individual person. Even after I returned to teach at Baylor with some of the faculty that taught me, I was welcomed back, and taught much yet again. I can say for certain that I would not be where I am now as an artist and educator without the faculty within the Baylor Art Department. I would especially like to thank Professor Jennings Sheffield for seeing something in me, encouraging my pursuits in photography and teaching, resulting in my becoming a professor.”
Josh Martin | Graphic Design
"I chose to major in the arts because I saw it as an amazing challenge. In other things that I have studied, I’ve found that there are usually singular correct answers to problems. When it comes to art and other creative fields, there is an infinite amount of solutions that work for any given problem. It really comes down to the artist’s voice when conveying and idea and that really excites me."
"I chose Baylor simply because it felt most like home to me. Everyone I met while touring here was so kind and caring that I knew it would help me become the person I am today. At Baylor I was not just a student who gets a degree and moves on. I’m a person who is taught how to make a difference beyond the classroom and who is given the tools to do it." After being a finalist in the 2018 Imaginations Competition with Walt Disney Imagineering, Josh is now working with the Environmental Design and Engineering Department at Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, CA.
Erica Thorpe | Photography
"I love that Baylor gave me individualized attention as well as the freedom to explore so many different topics with my art. It can be very easy once you graduate to feel like you're stuck in a box but I truly attribute my innovative thinking to my experiences in the art department at Baylor. I'm so thankful that the art program requires you to take a class in nearly every medium and extensive courses in art history as well."
"After graduation I knew I needed a big change, so I took a leap and moved to New York. I am working as an image editor at Christie's Auction House here in the city. My role is to color match and retouch images for their auction catalogs and online sales, which can include everything from Edo era paintings and Greek antiquities to works by Monet or Rauschenberg. I get to spend extensive amounts of time with each piece of property and work alongside specialists in the respective art departments, so it's almost like working in a museum where you can touch everything and learn all about the backstory of each piece. I also have a few freelance clients in the luxury goods and fashion world that I assist with art direction + content strategy, which is more business oriented and a really fun challenge.
Ray Im | Photography, Ceramics, Fabric Design
Ray Im came to Baylor with no art background. However, in just a few years, he developed his unique skills in photography, ceramics, and fabric design. Making full use of the resources available at Baylor Art, Ray realized the possibility to be a full-time artist.
While at Baylor, Ray focused on three things; photography was his concentration, but he spent time in both the ceramic and fabric design studios. He became very comfortable using different materials, technologies, and work which helped him build his unique style and stand out from other candidates while applying to graduate programs.
After Baylor, Ray studied and received a MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art, one of the top-ranked, graduate-only programs in the world. Ray says, “Baylor taught me that what other people do is not important, what is important is what I am creating and what I can do with my ideas.”
Cade Kegerreis | Studio Art
Cade Kegerreis started his career at Baylor as a Photography Major and switched to a degree in Studio Art. Cade says of his Baylor Art experience "Baylor honed my art skills greatly and taught me how to think as an artist. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly one thing, but overall my learning experience impacted me greatly."
Cade is currently working at Galleywinter Gallery in Fort Worth as a Resident Artist and assistant manager, as well as staying busy in Waco with mural work and selling Waco Skyline shirts.
Cade was recently featured in an issue of the Wacoan Magazine. Read the article