The UA Department of Art and Art History presents the Master of Arts thesis exhibition of Jigisha Kiran and the Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition of Dillan Ladner, March 18-22, 2024, in the Sella-Granata Art Gallery, Woods Hall, at UA. A reception for the artists will be held Monday, March 18, 5-7 p.m. SGAG gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Artists
Jigisha Kiran – In Betweens
As an immigrant, Jigisha Kiran explores a sense of belonging and of solitude and loneliness in her photographic practice. The yearning to belong, she writes, “often consumes me, leading me to transport and document objects that act as portals to a paradoxical dimension. The medium of photography allows me the liberty to capture the frames that evidently speak to this phenomenon. The elements of shadows, reflections, distorted imagery, and such visuals address my navigation of identity as an outsider to the surrounding environment.”
Kiran is a graduate student in photography and holds a research assistantship as a photographer in the UA Division of Community Affairs. She also works in a variety of mediums of printmaking, in alternative processes and in collage. Kiran won the Award of Merit at the 2023 Susan Nomberg McCollough Fine Arts Initiative juried exhibition. She received the BFA from Central India School of Fine Arts, and has freelanced and held internships with Rogue Code, a software company in Mumbai, India.
Dillan Ladner – Yet, Nowhere Feels Like Home
Dillan Ladner writes that as an artist, “environments interest me. A parking lot, a crowded elevator, or a street lined with buildings. Each of these spaces can hold a vast number of people, objects, and structures that form various connections with one another. I enjoy observing these interactions and how quickly a relationship can change with the slightest adjustments.” Ladner said that their work is a combination of observation and fabrication. They create forms in clay, then juxtapose and incorporate found and crafted objects with those forms to create sculptural compositions. “Bright, simple, abstract figures inspired by minimalist toys practice conversation with each other on top of platforms that act as stages for their interactions,” Ladner said. “These sculptures allow me to create calm moments that contrast the hectic and often overwhelming environments I frequently experience.”
Ladner is a graduate student in ceramics with an assistantship. They have exhibited work in juried exhibitions such as the 2023 Susan Nomberg McCollough Fine Arts Initiative, Tuscaloosa; CHROMA, Wildfire Ceramic Studio, Missoula, Montana; Southern Mississippi National Ceramics; 48th Annual Bi-State Art Competition in Meridian, Mississippi, and the 2022 Alabama Clay Conference Student/Mentor Show. Ladner was the ceramics instructor for Meridian High School (Mississippi) and a Meridian Arts and Entertainment Center adult ceramic instructor. They have served as a board member for the Meridian Museum of Art and the Meridian Arts Council. Ladner holds the Master of Arts in Teaching from Belhaven University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture from the University of Southern Mississippi. Their website is here.
The Sella-Granata Art Gallery is an essential part of the education and development of UA students and our community. Hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. when school is in session. The gallery is located at 109 Woods Hall, 7th Avenue, on UA campus in Tuscaloosa and admission is free and open to the public. Visitors are welcome, although not required, to wear face coverings inside the gallery.
For more information about The University of Alabama’s programs in studio art and art history, visit our Degree Programs page.