Students, faculty, alumni, families, and members of the Central Florida community all gathered at the University of Central Florida’s School of Visual Arts and Design on Friday to observe the artwork done by the school’s student artists.
Art Knight is an annual open-house that offers visitors a first hand-experience to explore the classrooms, studios, and galleries that occupy UCF’s SVAD building. The artwork ranges from painting, drawing, and ceramics to sculpture, photography, animation, and graphic design. On Friday, Nov. 9, attendees had the opportunity to watch live artistic demonstrations, interact with student artists, and faculty members, and learn about the creative processes behind the displayed work.
Sydney Pollard, a teacher education major with a focus on art education, said students having their art on display for the public is a huge opportunity.
“It’s almost like being in front of a crowd naked,” Pollard said. “But if people are coming to see, you have to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Pollard said her art pieces draw inspiration from themes of identity and the human experience.
“I feel like I grew up socially isolated from other people, so that idea of what makes someone a human being is something that I’m interested in,” Pollard said.
This year’s Art Knight also featured the closing ceremony of: “The Craftsman with Care: An Exhibition Honoring Larry Cooper.”
The exhibit honors the late Cooper, who died on September 4, 2026.
Cooper was known as an integral part of the artistic community at UCF. He joined UCF in 1996 as an assistant printmaker, and for the next three decades helped shape the School of Visual Arts and Design through his work as an educator, master book artist, and printmaker.
The late senior lecturer also served as assistant director of the UCF Art Gallery, as well as Flying Horse Editions, a collaborative research studio for visual artists at the University of Central Florida.
The event also allowed prospective students to learn more about SVAD’s academic programs while giving current students and faculty a platform to share their work, creative interests, and artistic accomplishments. By opening its studios and galleries to the public, UCF uses Art Knight to highlight the importance of creativity, collaboration, and artistic expression within the university.
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