Cecil College to celebrate 2026 Capstone students

ELKTON, Md: The Art and Design program at Cecil College will showcase the creativity of student artists in the College’s Associate of Fine Arts and Associate of Arts programs, with works by three students featured as Capstone Projects in the exhibition. Pieces in the 2026 Art & Design Student Exhibit and Pottery Sale were selected by faculty to include drawings, paintings, graphic designs, sculptures, and ceramics.

This year’s exhibition opens with a public reception on Friday, May 1, from 5 - 8 p.m., welcoming community members, prospective students, and art enthusiasts to view the work, meet the artists, and tour the studios and facilities that support the college’s art programs. The exhibit will remain on display through July 21 at the Elkton Station Gallery.

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This year’s Capstone student-artists are Mya Pedone, Ashley Sparrow, and Tara Vannoy, whose projects represent the diverse range of media and themes explored within the program. Capstone Projects are the culmination of works that reflect the technical skills, conceptual development, and personal artistic vision students have developed during their studies.

“Each semester, this exhibition reflects not only the technical skill our students have developed, but also the strength of their individual artistic voices across a wide range of media. For our capstone artists, this exhibition represents the culmination of their work in the program. It demonstrates a high level of commitment, creativity, and growth, and we are proud to share it with the community,” said Cecil College Professor of Art Lauren Vanni.

The event will also include a pottery sale and program open house, providing visitors the opportunity to purchase handcrafted ceramic works made by students while learning more about the Art & Design program’s studio spaces and curriculum. Proceeds from pottery and gallery sales directly support the student artists.

Mya Pedone, who was born in Newark, Delaware, is completing her Associate of Fine Arts degree with concentrations in drawing, painting, and studio arts. Her work spans oil painting, clay, and fiber, often exploring themes of mortality, vulnerability, and the emotional realities of life and death. Throughout her time at Cecil College, Pedone has participated in every Art & Design Student Exhibit at Elkton Station and has received multiple Faculty Choice Awards for excellence in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional media.

Her large-scale public mural at Legends on Main was highlighted in the local media and Cecil College’s Art and Design newsletter. Pedone plans to continue her education at a four-year university after her May graduation and is scheduled to present a solo exhibition at Elkton Station Gallery later this year.

Ashley Sparrow, a native of Bel Air, Maryland, currently resides in Northeast, Maryland, and is pursuing an Associate of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in studio arts. Sparrow’s work blends realism with imaginative elements, often incorporating mixed media techniques such as beadwork or gemstones applied to painted surfaces, as well as two-dimensional imagery on ceramic forms.

Her artwork frequently explores themes of love, friendship, nostalgia, and identity, drawing inspiration from family relationships and her cultural background. Sparrow has previously exhibited her work at the Art & Design Student Exhibit at the Elkton Station Gallery in Elkton, Maryland where she won an Honorable Mention for her oil painting, “A Girl’s Best Friend.” She plans to further her education, earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio arts, as well as a Master of Fine Arts. Her goal is to share her passion for the arts and become an art educator.

Elkton native Tara Vannoy is a ceramic artist whose work focuses on functional pottery that blends artistic expression with everyday use. Working primarily on the wheel, she creates large-scale functional forms and incorporates decorative techniques, including carving, texturing, altering shapes, and applying decals.

She has since exhibited her work in numerous Cecil College shows and served as a gallery work-study student for three semesters, helping curate exhibitions at Elkton Station. Her ceramics are held in private collections throughout the local community. Vannoy is currently pursuing an Associate of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in ceramics and is expected to graduate in spring 2027.

This event was funded in part by a grant from the Cecil County Arts Council, Inc., as provided by the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of Maryland and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Art and Design Student Exhibit celebrates the dedication and creative growth of Cecil College’s student artists while offering the community an opportunity to experience the next generation of regional talent. The Elkton Station Gallery is open for visitors Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to2 p.m. View the work of our capstone students online at www.cecil.edu/arts.

www.cecil.edu