Now Trending 10th Annual Alpay Scholarship Exhibition
June 6 – July 2, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 6, 6 – 9pm
Congratulations to the 2026 Alpay Scholarship Award recipients:
1st Place: Alexzander Lopez, California State University, Long Beach
2nd Place: Rae Rae Villarreal, California State University, Fullerton
3rd Place: Jasmine Duong: California State University, Long Beach
Current art and media students from Southern California colleges and universities were invited to submit engaging new work to be showcased in Palos Verdes Art Center’s 10th Annual Alpay Scholarship Exhibition, Now Trending. This call was open only to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students in Southern California.
All media were considered, including but not limited to: Painting, Drawing, Printing, Sculpture, Glass, Ceramics, Fiber Art, Photography, Video, Film, VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality), Installation Art, and Mixed Media.
JUROR: Marie Thibeault
Marie Thibeault received her MFA from UC Berkeley and is Professor Emerita at California State University, Long Beach. Her works have been exhibited across the United States and abroad in cities such as London, Tokyo, Seoul, and Düsseldorf, and are in the public collections of the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, CA, and the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, CA, among others. Thibeault’s work has been reviewed in multiple publications, including L.A. Weekly, the San Francisco Chronicle, Artillery Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and Art in America.
JUROR STATEMENT
It was a great honor to serve as a juror for the Now Trending: 10th Annual Alpay Scholarship Exhibition. While reviewing the many applicants, I was impressed by the wide range and depth of artistic voices represented. I was particularly drawn to works that imaginatively challenged everyday perception, demonstrated strong technical skill and craftsmanship, and took risks through pictorial and formal innovation. Common themes included poignant explorations of personal and cultural narratives, responses to the sociopolitical landscape, and bold
speculative inventions.
I was deeply moved by each artist’s courage to take creative risks and forge a unique vision. As both an artist and a former professor of art, I appreciate the focus, discipline, and bravery required to pursue an artistic path. I selected works that exhibited technical mastery, personal vision, and a compelling intensity of commitment.
Choosing the final selections was incredibly difficult given the high quality of the submissions. Many outstanding pieces could have been included, but the works in this exhibition represent the very best from a strong group of applicants.
I am grateful to all the students for their hard work and for offering us a window into their unique creative processes. Many thanks to the staff and the Palos Verdes Art Center for providing this opportunity to our extended community. Congratulations and best wishes to all the students who submitted. I wish you all the best as you continue on your creative path.
Marie Thibeault, Juror
