Each year, artists from diverse backgrounds in the Grand Rapids area come together for ArtPrize, an 18-day competition voted on by city residents.
The event has been taking place for 16 years, since starting in 2009 and has a total of $400,000 up for grabs.
This year, Ferris State University’s Kendall College of Art and Design participated in the competition in a new way.
20 students in various programs would have their artwork displayed on a billboard during the event.
The types of artwork displayed on the billboards represented the fields of illustration, fashion design, product design, welding engineering, digital art, interior design and architecture.
Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications Dave Murray explained that it was time to showcase students in KCAD programs.
“Ferris State’s Kendall College of Art and Design has been part of that creative community for nearly 100 years,” Murray said. “This felt like the perfect moment to showcase the programs at Ferris that lead to exciting careers in creative fields—both to prospective students and to the broader community.”
In the months leading up to ArtPrize, leadership at Kendall College reached out to current and former students about the opportunity and narrowed the list of those interested down to the final 20.
From there, the school worked with Outfront Media to find billboards in and around competition venues that would highlight the artwork.
“To our knowledge, this is the first time Ferris State student work has been featured on billboards—an exciting milestone,” said Murray.
The opportunity to have their work featured in this way means something different to each student.
Illustration senior Sydney Higgins expressed what it meant to have her artwork featured.
“This billboard represents a very high point in my journey as an artist,” Higgins said. “It is such a good opportunity to showcase my artwork, especially something I am so proud to have created.”
Illustration junior Ally Grant, who created color pencil drawings of frogs, felt her billboard was a sign that she was on the right track.
“As artists, we often have to deal with rejection regularly, and to be accepted for something like this makes all the other letdowns completely worth it,” Grant said. “I know to most, this is just an advertisement on the side of a building, but for me, it’s validation and proof that my hard work can lead me to success.”
The process was different for Grant, whose illustrations began as a class assignment.
To achieve as realistic a look as possible, Grant spent up to twelve hours a week observing the animal at parks, museums and zoos. While there, she studied how lighting and anatomy would affect her design.
Each billboard, part of an advertising campaign titled “Make it Here,” also features Ferris State University’s logo and acts as a representation of the kinds of programs the school offers.
Grant took inspiration from her childhood in Alaska to promote a message of understanding between species.
“For me, it’s not about the hyperrealism, it’s about trying to capture personality and emotion. Growing up in Alaska, we were taught to treat animals with dignity and respect, and since living in the States these past few years, I’ve realized that people here see animals in a completely different way, simply because they look and communicate differently,” Grant said. “With these frogs in particular, I hope that people can connect with them and see them in a way that’s relatable in some form or another.”
To Higgins, the project represents the power of art.
“I hope when people see my billboard, they feel inspired to create something of their own. Even more than that, I hope that people are motivated to chase their dreams. I never would have thought four years ago, when I started my artistic journey, that I would have my art on a billboard,” Higgins said. “The quote ‘nothing is impossible’ has really been resonating with me lately.”
In addition to these student billboards, more than 50 Ferris State University students and alumni have entries in ArtPrize throughout Grand Rapids.