Meredith Mims McTigue

The Clemson University Department of Art continued its long-standing relationship with ArtFields in 2026 as students and alumni from the College of Architecture, Art and Construction (CAAC) exhibited work during the annual juried competition and festival in Lake City. Founded in 2013, ArtFields has grown into a year-round festival that supports exhibitions, public art and programming throughout South Carolina.

Clemson University alumnus Jon Bolton MFA ’23 completed fifteen hand-drawn presidential portraits now installed in President’s Hall in the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center. Rendered in graphite, the portraits depict all past Clemson University presidents and were completed over approximately one year. Clemson’s Board of Visitors commissioned the project. Bolton worked from archival photographs and historical references to develop a consistent collection representing each president.

Clemson University students and alumni from the College of Architecture, Art and Construction (CAAC) are among those selected to exhibit in the prestigious ArtFields, an annual event that brings hundreds of works of art into public spaces throughout Lake City, South Carolina.