Senior Art Students Prepare for 'Vulnerability'
In their upcoming senior art exhibition, titled Vulnerability, artists Francis Philpot, Sydney Northern, and Rhiannon Allen bring distinct mediums and deeply personal histories to Art Wrecker, creating a unified narrative around the human experience.
For photographer Francis Philpot, the journey toward his senior showcase began long before his time at USAO.
Initially trained in cosmetology, Philpot discovered his passion for photography through high school yearbook committee work and early memories of his father capturing family moments on video. Following the loss of his father prior to entering college - an event he credits as his primary inspiration to pursue his passion - Philpot channeled his personal grief into his work.
Philpot’s medium focuses on raw moments that contrast obscure emotions against natural environments to capture candid human expression.
"Vulnerability is taking that chance, putting everything on the line, putting it out there, showing everything that makes us who we are," Philpot said. "We go through life with negative emotions like anger, frustration, exasperation. But we also have that feeling of letting it go… What builds us as a human is learning to rely on others, not just ourselves."
Ceramicist Sydney Northern did not always anticipate working in three-dimensional media. Encouraged by a professor during her freshman year, Northern initially struggled with the technical complexity of the pottery wheel before embracing the unpredictable, tactile nature of clay.
Northern’s body of work for Vulnerability explores transformation, juxtaposition, and personal history. Her pieces merge American traditional tattoo imagery with the classic blue-and-white aesthetic of Delftware and ancient Chinese pottery, painted across ceramic moth forms.
"Moths go from one thing to another - that's their whole life, and I feel like that's our whole life as well," Northern said. "It’s about new and old, soft and hard."
The motifs drawn on her vessels reflect personal elements of her own life and heritage, incorporating imagery inspired by her work as a bartender and waitress, alongside traditional tattoo designs worn by her father.
Reflecting on the exhibition's theme, Northern noted her shifting perspective on what it means to be vulnerable.
"I fought for a really long time not to be vulnerable at all, because I thought that meant being weak," Northern said. "Now that I'm older and graduating, power is being vulnerable - showing that you can cry, showing that you can love... Every aspect of what it is to be human is to be vulnerable."
Expanded media artist Rhiannon Allen utilizes a wide variety of materials to give physical weight to internal emotional experiences.
Allen’s work explores complex, often suppressed emotions that are difficult to articulate verbally. By building structured, heavy forms, Allen translates abstract internal struggles into physical, organic manifestations.
""A lot of my works deal with personal negative feelings that start manifesting or festering in your body.” Allen said. “Bringing it into a physical form has helped me express those emotions and connect with other people."
For Allen, stepping into the public eye with such personal work is a deliberate statement.
"Vulnerability is an act of courage and rebellion,"
Allen said. "Instead of putting on a mask and trying to be your best self all the time, it's like, 'Nah, I'm a bit real, I'm a bit raw, and it hurts. But I'm here.'"
Through collaborative curation, lighting choices, and spatial design, the trio has structured Vulnerability to guide visitors through a shared exploration of emotion, self-acceptance, and growth.
Vulnerability will feature work from Philpot, Northern, and Allen, offering audiences a rare, unfiltered look at the personal journeys behind the art. The exhibition opens July 31st, at 5:oo p.m. The event, located at Art Wrecker Stuidios, 222 W Chickasha Avenue, is free and open to the public.
About Art Wrecker:
Art Wrecker Studios is an innovative space for artists to bring their best work to Chickasha, Oklahoma. Dedicated to fostering artistic expression through all genres of art, this creative space pushes the boundaries of what art truly is. Art Wrecker Studios is a haven for students, professionals, and anyone that dares to think outside the box.
Contact: Hannah Thompson | 405-574-1362