Visual Studies recent grad, Kailyn Hill has secured a spot in the Orr Street Gallery Artist in Residence program. Encouraged by faculty, Chris Daniggelis, Hill says they have used the skills they gained and the work they created during her time at Mizzou toward developing a cohesive body of work for a portfolio.

"Throughout my undergraduate coursework I tried to remain within a relatively consistent conceptual framework. Being able to talk and write about my work is just as important as the portfolio itself. So once my application was approved and I was invited to an interview I thought about questions I had been asked about my work previously and made sure I knew how to answer," says Hill.

The residency essentially gives the artist the space and opportunity to create work. Orr Street Gallery's Artist in Residence program offers 24 hour access to a private studio, a stipend to go towards materials, as well as a free membership to the Columbia Art League. Another invaluable resource the residency provides is a community of artists. Nearly all the artists at Orr Street Gallery are available for questions and give good advice for new artists.

Hill says the School of Visual Studies prepared them for this position through their coursework as well as advice and encouragement from nearly all of their instructors. Outside of class time Hill received a lot of support which ranged from showing them how to use a camera to get professional level photos of their work to providing resources and links to opportunities they should apply to.

"The genuine support and mentorship I received during my time at Mizzou in conjunction with the practical skills and knowledge I gained has allowed me to trust the strength and vision of my work. I can't be more grateful for that."