Artist as Activist

GLASSBORO, NJ – Rowan University Art Gallery & Museum is excited to announce the participating artists who will be included in the 2025 New Jersey Arts Annual for Fine Art, presented in partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, opening Saturday, June 7th, 2025, 4 -7 pm.

Our esteemed jurors, Brittany Webb, Evelyn and Will Kaplan Curator of 20th Century Art and the John Rhoden Collection, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), and Dejay Duckett, Director of Curatorial Services, African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) selected artists from over 300 entries and include:  

Catherine Allen, ShinYoung An, Ellis Angel, Donna Bassin, Kristian Battell, 

Kirstin Demer, Laura Frazure, Ellen Hanauer, Sam Horowitz, Christopher Lopez, Chanika Svetvilas, Hui Tian, Ylvia Asal, Michael DalCerro, Adam Gustavson, 

Tony Khawam, Krystle Lemonias, Jazlyne Sabree, and Alan Willoughby,

Artist as Activist presents work that are artistic responses to the concept of activism. The selected artists use their creative practices to challenge societal norms, raise awareness, and inspire audiences to engage critically with the world around them.

The works address a broad spectrum of urgent topics—including human rights, environmental stewardship, racial equity, health and well-being, and political engagement.

Rather than employing overt or reactionary tactics, these artists adopt a more nuanced approach. Their work invites viewers to engage with complex issues on their own terms, promoting personal reflection and dialogue rather than prescribing a singular viewpoint.

Some artists employ humor to disarm and draw in the viewer, while others use ambiguity or conceptual forms to allow multiple interpretations. Scale is also used deliberately, amplifying the urgency of the challenges we face collectively.

Ultimately, this exhibition presents art as a vehicle for advocacy—illuminating injustices, proposing alternatives, and envisioning change. Through emotion, experience, and truth, these artists seek to cultivate empathy, spark conversation, and inspire action.

The gallery is located at 301 High Street in Glassboro, NJ. Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public. Regular gallery hours are Monday – Wednesday, 10 am to 5 pm; Thursday - Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm. Directions can be found on the gallery website. Free parking is available in the Mick Drive parking garage across from the gallery. For information, call 856-256-4521 or visit www.rowan.edu/artgallery.