Courtesy of Van Every|Smith Galleries
Corporate Sludge (Blue) by DENIAL is one of many works previously offered in the ArtMate Collection. Daniel Bombardier, also known as DENIAL, is a Canadian pop/mural artist whose artworks critique contemporary politics, capitalism, consumerism and the human condition.
Dalí’s and decals. Paintings and posters. For most students, dorm decor is little more than some LED strips or fake plants. For the past three years, however, a few lucky on-campus residents have the opportunity to adopt a notable work of art for their room courtesy of the ArtMate program and the Van Every|Smith Galleries.
Growing from a 50 person pilot program launched in spring 2022, ArtMate has quickly expanded and become a campus favorite for the few who know about it. Even with 125 slots available this year, signups are expected to fill up well before this year’s Sept. 9 deadline.
Students who sign up in time receive a random selection number and time slot. Then, at Tuesday’s selection party, students will choose one-by-one from over 140 pieces—including ones by Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol—ensuring even the last person to pick will have at least 15 options to choose from. Within three weeks their works will be hanging in student dorms and apartments across Davidson (with a sheet of protective plexiglass, of course).
Gallery interns and staff install the art, but otherwise students are trusted to look after the art.
“A lot of it has to do with, one, the Honor Code, and two, that there is artwork all over campus,” said Marisa Pascucci, the gallery and collection coordinator who also oversees ArtMate. “Nothing’s ever been vandalized […] it’s a matter of a lot of respect that there is art everywhere on campus.”
Pascucci hopes to expand the program in the future to give more students the chance to participate. Next year, she hopes as many as 225 students will be able to select a piece.
Heidi McGannon ‘26 is a gallery intern who helps install art in student dorms and participates in ArtMate herself.
“It’s such a rare opportunity, especially for a young person, to be able to have such a high quality and beautiful piece of artwork hanging in your living space,” McGannon said. “It’s just a really amazing opportunity that I’m really grateful to have.”
Previous participants say there’s more to it than bragging rights. Charlotte LaBenne ‘26 said it’s also a unique opportunity for self expression.
“Seeing what pieces everybody gravitates toward, what they choose for their room and how they express themselves through their choice was really exciting for me,” LaBenne said. “It’s really cool how people personalize them.”