Hickman Gallery to host Michigan Art Education Association State Art Exhibition
Posted Friday, March 13, 2026
Adrian College’s Hickman Gallery will host the annual Michigan Art Education Association State Art Exhibition from March 16–28, featuring 340 works of art created by students from across Michigan representing elementary, middle and high school levels.
A reception will be held Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hickman Gallery. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public.
Forty of the artworks will receive additional recognition through the Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) yearlong exhibition. After the exhibition concludes, those selected works will move to the Michigan Department of Education offices in Lansing, where they will be displayed for 11 months.
Travis Erxleben, chair of the Department of Art and Design at Adrian College, said the exhibition highlights exceptional creativity and artistic achievement of young artists from throughout Michigan.
“Selected works represent a wide range of media and artistic approaches, offering visitors a compelling look at the strength and diversity of visual arts education in schools across the state,” Erxleben said. “This exhibition is always an inspiring reminder of the incredible creativity and potential of young artists. We are honored to partner with the Michigan Art Education Association to celebrate the work of these talented students and the educators who support them. Events like this reinforce the importance of arts education and the role it plays in helping students develop creative thinking, confidence, and visual communication skills.”
“The MAEA State Show showcases the outstanding work of Michigan’s art students and their dedicated art teachers,” said Roger Drabant, vice president of the Michigan Art Education Association. “Seeing the scope of work from pre-K through high school in one exhibition is a true delight.”
The event also provides an opportunity for Adrian College students to engage with professional art education organizations. Ashlyn Vaculik, a senior in the Adrian College art education program, is serving as a K-12 art education student intern and liaison with the Michigan Art Education Association, assisting with the coordination and installation of the exhibition.
“Being part of this exhibition is really exciting,” Vaculik said. “Seeing the creativity and dedication of these young artists from across the state is truly inspiring, and this experience reminds me why arts education is so important in our schools.”
Hickman Gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment. Admission is free.
For more information about the exhibition, contact Erxleben at 517-265-5161, ext. 4374 or terxleben@adrian.edu.
