Mixed-media artwork by Iowa State integrated visual arts graduate student Alyssa Killin

Iowa State University integrated visual arts graduate student Alyssa Killin shared mixed-media artwork exploring her relationship to nature as an artist and a woman of color in her master of fine arts thesis exhibition, held Nov. 3–10 at the College of Design.

“Ecowomanist Aesthetics: Art, Ecology and Activism” was on view from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays in Gallery 181, located on the first floor of the College of Design building on the west side of the Iowa State campus. The show featured ceramics, photography, paintings, and sculptures. A closing reception took place from 5–8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10.

Killin’s thesis, “Black Ecologies: Gathering and Art,” delved into the intersection of environmental justice and visual arts. The landscapes and ecosystems of the Midwest inspired much of her work, she said. She reflected on the environmental issues facing the Midwest region and worked to inform the communities that could be impacted.

“Whether through installations that highlighted the beauty and resilience of the region’s ecosystems or through events that brought together diverse communities to discuss issues of environmental justice and sustainability, my goal was to create art that was rooted in a deep connection to the land and people of the Midwest,” Killin said.

About the artist
Killin, from Des Moines, received her bachelor of fine arts in interior design from Iowa State in 2015. She served as a graduate assistant at the Margaret Sloss House and previously worked as a graduate teaching assistant for integrated studio arts courses.

In July, she was one of 15 inaugural fellows selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants to participate in the 2023 Black Midwest Initiative Summer Institute in Chicago. In October 2024, her artwork was featured in the Black Midwest Symposium at the Dayton Metro Library in Dayton, Ohio.

Killin graduated with her MFA in integrated visual arts from Iowa State in December 2023.