
Russell Horton
Director of Holt-Russell Gallery
Creativity on Campus
About
Housed in historic Parmenter Hall on the Baldwin City campus, the Holt-Russell Gallery features art by students, faculty, and local, national, and international artists.
Students exhibit their work in an annual juried student art show. In addition, students work as preparers, curators, and organizers of their senior exhibitions.
Location
Second floor of Parmenter Hall
706 Dearborn St.
Baldwin City, Kansas 66006
Hours
Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed weekends and major holidays
Baker National 2025
February 7 – March 29
Reception & Awards | Friday, Feb. 21, 5-7 p.m.
The Holt-Russell Gallery invited artists from across the nation to apply to the Baker National 2025. All mediums were welcomed except installation pieces and time-based pieces such as videos and music. The piece awarded Best in Show will receive $500 and a solo show in the Holt-Russell Gallery during academic year 2025-2026.
This year’s juror, Trish VanOsdel, lives and works in Wichita, Kansas. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Wichita State University and a Master of Fine Arts from Alfred University, in Alfred, New York. Trish is a sculptor and co-owner of Reuben Saunders Gallery in Wichita. Her abstract and conceptual work often broaches subjects such as loss, consumption, and the human condition using a wide range of materials as well as found objects. Having a foot in both the artist and gallery arenas gives her a different perspective, and she aspires to pass on that knowledge to others.

Best in Show & Solo Exhibition Award

3D Runner-Up

2D Runner-Up
A Sense of Self / A Sense of Place
November 19 – December 13, 2024
Artists Reception | Tuesday, Nov. 19, 5-7 p.m.
A Sense of Self is how a person perceives themselves, including their traits, beliefs, and purpose. It’s a concept that’s always evolving and is influenced by a person’s experiences, memories, relationships, and values.
A Sense of Place is the way people categorize and define locations in their minds. It’s a combination of sensory impressions, memory, imagination, and reason that allows people to understand the unique characteristics and meanings of specific places.
An artist conveys a sense of self and place through the imagery they produce. Through the examination of the community or private moments, this exhibition conveys individual world views through the eyes of Baker University art students.







Dr. Ivan Boyd Arboretum Juried Exhibition
October 4 – November 1, 2024
Artists Reception | Friday, Oct. 4, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Trees play a crucial role in the ecosystem by generating oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, and providing shelter and food for a variety of species. Additionally, they are a source of wood and other natural resources used by humans. Trees also have aesthetic and landscaping value, beautifying our surroundings and providing shade and coolness on hot days.
The Holt-Russell Gallery is proud to host this tree-themed exhibition in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Dr. Ivan Boyd Arboretum on the campus of Baker University.




Elevated | Matthew Lord
August 27 – September 21, 2024
Artist Reception & Talk | September 6, 5-7 p.m.
Matthew Lord was born in Marysville, Kansas, in 1975. His art career began in elementary school, where he would swap drawings for better grub at lunch. As a child, Matthew voraciously consumed television, played video games, collected comic books, and entertained himself for hours by drawing at the kitchen table. This early love of pop culture, storytelling, and mark making greatly influenced his decision to pursue a creative life.
In 1999, Matthew graduated with a BFA in illustration from the University of Kansas. In the years since, he has achieved many milestones in his career, including several solo and group exhibitions, featured editorial illustrations, lectures, and workshops. Being an artist has allowed him to take on the roles of teacher, facilitator, mentor, and storyteller. Matthew’s goal in creating is to spark wonder with his weird, beautiful art.
Matthew’s artwork communicates a sense of playfulness and absurdity, while incorporating elements of imaginative realism. Using his preferred media of gouache, ink, and printmaking, Matthew seeks to tell thoughtful visual stories drawn from his curiosity about the natural world and a love of mythology. His projects, commissions, and collaborations vary from small paintings to gigantic woodcut prints to a moving mural on wheels resembling a jackalope.
Matthew lives and makes artwork in Lawrence, Kansas—his fingers are often covered in ink and he still draws at a kitchen table.
