Museum gallery photo: two visitors viewing colorful framed paintings on white wall

Arts and Humanities 2026 Graduate Exhibition

UC Davis graduate students in the Department of Design, Performance Studies Graduate Group, Art History Program and the Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio Program are represented in this multidisciplinary exhibition. Explore new ways of seeing and understanding the past, present and future. 

LeShelle & Gary May Art Purchase Prize: Levi Keatts

White gallery wall with two vibrant landscape paintings and 2026 Winner seal
Artwork by Levi Keatts, M.F.A., winner of the LeShelle & Gary May Art Purchase Prize.

The Savageau Award in the Department of Design: Rafael Bertacini

Gallery exhibit: blue-white curved display table with scale model and informational panels
Rafael Bertacini, M.F.A., winner of the Savageau Award in the Department of Design created the display Designing for Homeostasis: A wearable tVNS device for neurodivergent emotional regulation.

Keister & Allen Art Purchase Prize: Tara K. Daly

Gallery with colorful abstract mannequin sculptures on walls and floor.
Artwork by Tara K Daly, M.F.A., winner of the Keister & Allen Art Purchase Prize.

The Letters & Science Prize for Excellence: Sean Olmstead

White gallery: blue patched denim uniform, row of wall microphones, stacked CRTs, award badge.
Artwork by Sean Olmstead, M.F.A., winner of the Letters & Science Prize for Excellence.

Design Honorable Mention: Nathalia Guimaraes

Museum exhibit with wooden cutout figures and cage-like display crates against orange wall
Nathalia Guimaraes , M.F.A., Department of Design created the display EcoPlay Landscapes.

Read more about the opening celebration in Letters & Science magazine and in Hyperallergic

Opening Celebration

Thursday, June 4
5:30–9 PM
Manetti Shrem Museum

The free public opening features performances by master’s and doctoral students, as well as the presentation of the LeShelle & Gary May Art Purchase Prize, the Keister & Allen Art Purchase Prize, the Letters & Science Prize and the Savageau Award in the Department of Design. 

Student Presentations

5:30–5:55 PM – Events Plaza
Sean Olmstead, M.F.A. Art Studio
I Know I Am Here, But Where Is Here?

5:40–5:55 PM (Part 1) & 7:05–7:20 PM (Part 2) – Art Studio
Elmira M. Sultan Rashid, Ph.D. Performance Studies, in collaboration with Samira Danesh
Grape Blood

7:20–7:50 PM – Collections Classroom
Erika Tsimbrovsky, Ph.D. Performance Studies
Diary as Score: Asemic Embodied Citation

7:50–8:15 PM – Courtyard
Melinda Marks, Ph.D. Performance Studies, in collaboration with Adam Magill
Excerpt: The Annotated Macbeth

8:15–8:45 PM  – Community Education Room
Gino Robair, Ph.D. Performance Studies, in collaboration with Gabriel Aguilar, Sepehr Jafari Jozani, Madeline Lazarus, Esther Shih and Sam Tillett
Radical Divination (for two papermakers and musical ensemble) 

Art History M.A. Graduate Colloquium

Friday, June 5
2–5 PM
Everson Hall Room 157

Learn about this year’s UC Davis Art History master’s degree candidates through the presentation of their thesis work.

Arts & Humanities 2026 Exhibition news release