seeking/found examines matters of queer identity, belonging, safety, self-expression, hope, love, and more. From rebellion to inclusion, secret love affairs to public declarations of affection, turbulent identities to jubilant self-discovery, these works encompass what it is like to live as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Through artworks laden with symbolism and personal meaning, the artists describe various facets of queer life. Many pieces speak to the challenges and joys of crafting our own realities, of creating a world where we fit in without having to edit or limit ourselves, of rejecting oppressive structures and learning how to (re)build our lives without them.

This exhibit also champions the importance of protecting future generations from the discrimination and alienation we experienced growing up. Multiple works ask the question, “what did younger me need?” Whether the answer is role models, physical safety, or assurance of a future where we can be ourselves, art provides a medium through which we can answer to and advocate for those needs.

The process of seeking and finding is not linear or binary; rather, it is a circular process that allows for a constant stream of self-discovery and affirmation. This pattern is echoed in the lived experiences of many of the artists, with artmaking playing a pivotal role in exploring and documenting that cycle of discovery. Above all, art offers a way to map out what we are looking for, what we have found, and where we are going next.

seeking/found features art by Leo Arcelay-Christiano, ’26; Dr. Irene A. Bal; Sophia Bell, ’16; Nez Blaho, ’24; Lindsey Bonavita, ’25; Professor Heather Braxton; Pat Cassidy, ’19;  Zachary Devanney, ’26; Cassidy Garcia, ’26; Izzy Guerrero, ’24; Stephanie Hils, ’25; Riley Loz, ’24; Hannah Matrangola, ’24; Em Olson, ’24; Alexis Piasecki, ’26; Sophia Randle, ’25; Sunny Swift; and Elizabeth Thompson, ’25.