Recent SVS undergraduate student, Megan Jansen, has some impressive work we would like to showcase. Here you will find some examples of Megan’s work. The link to Megan’s portfolio, including graphic and animations, can be found below.

Please take a look at Megan’s artist statement to discover who they really are as an artist.

“Every new project I start begins with a purpose; something inspiring or some unmet need for a story to be told. I aim to create compelling narratives, primarily through visuals, that often appeal to escapism but also contain components of social commentary. Almost everything I create comes from my personal experiences in one way or another, even if it’s just inspired from something real. With my current project “Girls Like Us” I am encapsulating both elements of escapism and social commentary. Visually I wanted it to feel whimsical and not necessarily grounded in a physical space, but topically, it discusses heavy themes around sexism and homophobia within the Catholic Church.

When I start a new piece, I usually start by writing out a small section of it to see if the idea is resonating with me. From there, I will focus on a core theme. Oftentimes, I like telling short stories that speak to a larger issue. For instance, “Girls Like Us” talks about a very specific, small moment that signifies an internal journey, rather than depicting a large life altering moment. Adding context to seemingly mundane moments and figuring out how to make them compelling is always a challenge I enjoy.

A lot of my previous work uses imagery that feels disconnected from reality. I often create environments using lighting and colors to make them feel ethereal. This current project builds on that and takes a personal experience from when I was in Catholic School and how it affected me later. It acted like a marker for that chapter of my life. I wanted to challenge the normalization of these institutions, especially the effects of enforcing them on youth. I attempt to use my own voice, not to speak for, but to add to the stories out there from queer women, who historically have not had control over their own narratives. I’ve always been someone with a big imagination; I was always off in my own world as a kid and I’m always trying to incorporate that nostalgic feeling into my work.”