The University of North Texas’ College of Visual Arts and Design (CVAD) is set to open its doors to the public with the much-anticipated ‘CVAD Celebrates’ event. Scheduled for Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the event will be held at the UNT Art Building located at 1201 W. Mulberry St. This open house-style gathering is designed to welcome prospective students, alumni, donors, and community members.
CVAD Dean Karen Hutzel expressed the significance of the event, stating, “This event provides us a moment to open the doors wide, welcoming alumni, donors and friends to experience the boundless talent within the College of Visual Arts and Design. CVAD Celebrates reveals the emerging creativity and leadership shaping our future.”
Registration for the event can be completed online, allowing attendees to experience one of the nation’s largest art and design schools, which boasted an enrollment of over 2,300 students for the Spring 2025 semester.
Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the 238,000-square-foot Art Building, renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities that include advanced fabrication labs, a digital studio, and a full-scale photography studio. The Art Annex, housing the Studio Art ceramics program and multiple graduate-student studios, will also be accessible for tours.
The event will feature meet-and-greets with CVAD faculty and staff, along with lectures, art demonstrations, and exhibitions. Notable exhibitions include a dual show by sculptor Kirupa Sargunaraja and fashion design teaching fellow Lasya Aji Silpa at the Cora Stafford Gallery.
Interactive experiences are planned, such as trying on a Roman toga as part of the ‘The Weight of Power’ art history demonstration and engaging in metal stamping activities. Demonstrations by the Printmaking Association of North Texas Students will also be highlighted.
The CVAD Gallery will host opening receptions for two new exhibitions: ‘An Irrational Fancy,’ which explores themes of technological and environmental change, and ‘The Word is Not Lucky’ by artist Eileen Maxson, focused on personal and familial narratives.
Overall, ‘CVAD Celebrates,’ according to Dean Hutzel, is more than an event — it is a celebration of creativity, innovation, and the power of art and design to shape cultural understanding. The event underscores CVAD’s regional and global prominence.
About the College of Visual Arts and Design:
The College of Visual Arts and Design at UNT is recognized as one of the most comprehensive visual arts schools in the nation. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including exclusive programs like the only Ph.D. in art education in Texas and the top-ranked Communication Design program. The college is committed to fostering creativity and innovation through its extensive facilities and resources. More information can be found at cvad.unt.edu.