Murray State University Department of Art & Design presents “Professional Blend XXI” exhibit through Oct. 20

By Sam Spicer | Oct 15, 2026

MURRAY, Ky. — Murray State University Galleries and the Department of Art & Design are proud to present the “Professional Blend XXI,” an exhibit of art being held in the Mary Ed Mecoy Hall Gallery on the sixth floor of Price Doyle Fine Arts Building through Oct. 20. 

The exhibit showcases pieces created and curated by students in ART 399 Professional Practices. 

This semester, the exhibit was curated by Melissa French, a senior studio art major from Fulton, Kentucky, who said she wanted to show a wide variety of mediums, topics and designs in order to “demonstrate the talent and creativity of our department here at Murray State University.”

In this role, she selected the artworks for display, led conversations about the exhibition layout and worked alongside the other students to install the show as a team.

Students with artwork in the exhibition include senior studio art majors Kyah Bigley from Hardin, Kentucky; Julia Hendricks from Murray, Kentucky; Morgan McCubbins from Murray, Kentucky; Cora Menendez from Paducah, Kentucky; junior studio art majors Caroline Bell from Prospect, Kentucky, and Piper Von Almen from Louisville, Kentucky; senior graphic design major Cupid Branstetter; junior art education majors Charlotte Polete from Paducah, Kentucky, and Abbey Wheeler from Murray, Kentucky; and Mariela Speltz, a senior global languages/Spanish major from Richmond, Kentucky. 

The University Galleries viewing hours for fall semester 2026 are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, with extended evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 6 p.m. Admission is free, and the galleries are open to the public. 

For more information about the exhibit or the galleries, contact Professor T. Michael Martin, director of University Galleries, at tmartin33@murraystate.edu. Visit murraystate.edu/art for more information on the Department of Art & Design.