Clemson University students and alumni from the College of Architecture, Art and Construction (CAAC) are among those selected to exhibit in the prestigious ArtFields, an annual event that brings hundreds of works of art into public spaces throughout Lake City, South Carolina. Since its founding in 2013, ArtFields has expanded from a nine-day event to a seventeen-day festival and is now and a year-round organization that supports exhibitions, public art and programming while contributing to increased tourism and economic activity in the region.
“ArtFields is an essential cultural force for South Carolina,” said Ece Erdogmus, dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Construction. “It connects communities with artists and creates opportunities for students and alumni to engage with broader audiences. Darla Moore is a true visionary whose commitment helps sustain these opportunities.”
Participation in ArtFields reflects Clemson’s emphasis on student experience and community outreach. The festival places artwork in accessible locations, including local businesses and public venues, creating opportunities for engagement beyond traditional gallery settings. These experiences align with the Clemson Elevate strategic plan by connecting academic work with public audiences and professional practice.
Among this year’s participants are MFA students Rachel Lane Updegraft and Tyson Gentry. Updegraft’s Conversation Piece, an oil on canvas work, examines replication, mimicry and questions of authenticity. Drawing from expressionist traditions and craft-based imagery, the work references an industrial object found in a communal academic space and considers how context influences interpretation and value.
Gentry’s Everything and Nothing Has Changed uses hand-drawn pixelation to explore memory, decay and ambiguity. His work draws connections between rural landscapes and digital imagery, pairing depictions of dilapidated buildings with text-based elements that provide context while leaving space for viewer interpretation.
Clemson alumni are also represented in the festival. MFA graduate Ethan McKellar ’25 presents Folding, a wood-fired ceramic vessel that examines grief and physical strain through form. The piece features visible cracks and distortions that reflect both process and subject matter.
BFA alumna Felicia Greenlee ’93 exhibits Over the Land and Home of the Free and Brave, a mixed-media work created in recognition of the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026. The piece addresses themes of national identity, history and shared experience.
MFA alumnus Deighton Abrams ’16 presents Blu Time, a sculptural work that examines environmental conditions and political contexts through symbolic imagery, including cloud forms and skeletal elements.
Darla Moore is a dedicated supporter of Clemson University, whose generosity plays a vital role in expanding access to education and advancing opportunities for creative practice. Her contributions help empower students, strengthening the University’s mission and broadening its impact within the community and beyond.
Clemson students, faculty and alumni participate in ArtFields each year as part of ongoing engagement with the festival and its programming.
