I was selected for the 2025 commission based on my earlier digital painting From Deep in My Chest, which used expressive florals and a painterly style to explore emotion and growth. Building on that visual language, I created a new piece centered on the university’s signature red doors. These doors hold deep meaning, as they’re passed through only twice, at orientation and graduation, symbolizing the shared journey every student takes, regardless of age, background, or field of study.

In the painting, tulips sprout from the red doors - delicate but resilient, representing new beginnings, transformation, and the ways learning shapes us. The florals mimic the emotional tone of From Deep in My Chest, while shifting focus from personal growth to collective experience. The work honors not only the faculty recipient, but also the space they help create for students to flourish.

Digital timelapse and full image featured below.