MESA, Ariz. -- Aug. 29, 2024 -- Mesa Community College (MCC) Artist-in-Residence Antoinette Cauley will present a solo exhibition of her work Sept. 5 through Oct.17 at the Art Gallery on the Southern and Dobson Campus.

A reception is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 5 in the gallery and an artist talk from 7-8 p.m. Sept. 27 in Room 1 of the AC Building.

The collection of work called, I Used to Wonder What It Feels Like, is a chronological journey taking viewers through the artists growth from a young girl with a pack of crayons and a dream, to Cauley's international travels and immersion in the Berlin contemporary art scene. She returned to Phoenix to solidify her presence as a beloved local painter, curator and mentor to emerging artists.

Featuring a generous display of Cauley's personal items, the exhibition highlights previously shown works and new paintings that follow her creative path to self discovery.

"From early drawings as a child to her most recent portraits, she intimately shares the process of overcoming self-doubt as she follows her ambition and solidifies her identity and career as an artist," said MCC Art Gallery Coordinator Tracey Blocker. "The exhibition is not just a celebration of an individuals success but a call to action for others to pursue their passions and believe in the transformative power of persistence and the creative process."

"I'm having this exhibition at MCC because had it not been for my time at the college and professors like Ginger Leyendecker and Kai Kim, I would not be the artist I am today," Cauley explained. "I attribute a great part of my success as an international artist to my time at MCC, which gave me the tools necessary to find my artistic voice."

Cauley is best known for her nine-story-tall mural of American writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin in downtown Phoenix. Her work has won many awards including first place at the Artlink 19th Annual Juried Exhibition, and her inclusion in Phoenix Magazines Great 48: 48 Most Influential People in the State of Arizona. Her imagery references familiar landscapes and skyline and the Black hood culture, which has deepened her connection to the metro Phoenix community.

She has also been featured in various publications including Forbes. Cauley is often asked by the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury organizations to create art for public spaces around the Valley. Her commissioned work (including murals) can be seen in the Footprint Center arena, the basketball court of the Rose Mofford Sports Complex among other venues.

"It's exciting to return to campus as an almost decade-long full-time artist to now show the school's current students that their dreams are possible," Cauley added. It's important to be an example of life's possibilities for them as well as for my community at large. It's important for me to always honor those who have helped me achieve so much success and to pay it forward."

# # #

Contact: Dawn Zimmer, 480-461-7892, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu

Mesa Community College is nationally recognized for university transfer, career and technical programs, civic engagement, service-learning and innovative approaches to education. Host to more than 24,400 students annually, MCC offers degree and certificate programs at its two campuses and additional locations. On average MCC students provide 23,000 hours of community service annually. For more than 50 years, the college has served as a resource for education, workforce development and lifelong learning. MCC is transforming student success through Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. MCC is a Hispanic Serving Institution. Nearly 50% of MCC students are the first in their families to attend college. MCC has the largest indigenous student population of all the Maricopa Community Colleges. The American Indian Institute serves students from 22 federally recognized Arizona tribes and out-of-state tribes. Our diverse student body includes hundreds of international students from around the world. Award-winning faculty are dedicated to student success, providing the education and training that empowers MCC students to attain their goals. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, on the traditional territories of the O'odham, Piipaash and Yavapai Peoples, MCC is one of 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District. Visit mesacc.edu to learn more.

MCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org.

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. MCCCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.