Southern Miss Art and Design

We hope everyone has a great summer break, and we look forward to seeing all of you for the fall semester. And as always, be safe.

Good luck on finals everyone! We're in the final stretch. Let's do our best work and put all your skills you've learned to the test! Before you know it, summer will be here.

Minhi Hoang Minh Bui's capstone is completed for the Spring semester. Read to see what advice Minhi offers regarding the project and life after graduation.

Emma Leslie is a sculpture major currently finishing up her senior capstone project. Read to see what she has to say about her experience and the inspiration she has to share for those approaching their capstone semester.

Abby Cross is another one of our talented Drawing and Painting majors who has completed her capstone project for the spring semester. She shares where she finds her inspiration from and where she plans to go next after graduation.

Melanie Bell, one of our very talented Drawing and Painting Majors, has recently completed her capstone project for the spring semester. Take a look at what she has to say about her experience with this project and the advice she has to give to those who are approaching their capstone semester.

New Faculty!

We’re super excited to introduce our newest faculty member who will be joining us this Fall!

Parker Estes is a freelance designer, design researcher, and teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching and making. He received his MFA in graphic design from East Carolina University in 2025. Parker’s design process integrates emerging and historic design tools and technologies to craft stories about how we interact with visual culture and our communities: online, local, and beyond. Find out more at parkerestes.com.

Welcome to the team Parker!

Corinne Croy's sculpture, Foliage Overflow, was featured in the Arts Showcase at USM's 2026 Undergraduate Symposium for Research and Creative Activity this past Saturday. Croy, a sophomore Art (Sculpture) BFA student in the Art & Design program, said that she used skills learned in several studio classes to create the various components that make up her sculpture. Foliage Overflow includes a ceramic element that was fired in USM's wood fired kiln. The smaller flower elements were cast in iron during USM's iron pour. The wood, twine, and steel elements were brought together using skills gained in Sculpture 1. Croy says she aimed to create tension between the squeeze and release of natural forms.

Summer classes are open for registration!

The two art electives that are being offered are:
ART 375 Bookmaking
ART 384/481 Photo Graphic Design

Here is a closer look at what you can expect from each one!



Southern Miss College of Arts and Sciences

The upper level sculpture recently finished up one of their newest projects, and these pieces are absolutely amazing! Here are some pics from their critique.