On a signature chilly Boston night, the Trustman Art Gallery opened its doors to the fourth annual student art sale. Building on the sale’s success since 2023, the tradition initially started after students asked former Events and Gallery Specialist for Gwen Ifill College, Kyle Mendelsohn, about the potential to sell their art.
The art sale comes at a perfect time. On Jan. 29, the student art exhibition “Common Ground” was actively displayed until Feb. 20. This year, the show welcomed both undergraduate and graduate students to sell their artwork for the first time.
In a conversation with Professor Loretta Park, the Trustman Art Gallery director, she explained, “For the art sale, I thought it would be more inclusive and fun to reach out to the graduate students as well. And I figured that there will be graduate students who are interested in engaging with the Trustman Art Gallery.”
Park was right. The normally spacious gallery felt like a market, packed with tables displaying endless crafts and trinkets.
Walking past tables donned with crocheted purses, prints and everything in between, the vendors introduced themselves. Many were new to the art sale.
“The opportunity to actually sell it in a very non-judgmental and comfortable spot, and I have never sold my art before so this is so cool to be able to do,” said senior public health major Abby Dixon.
While many students hadn’t sold their artwork before, either at the yearly art sale or otherwise, some artists chose to return.
Yana Zaghloul, junior sociology major, sold jewelry at the art show their freshman year. They were happy to come back this year.
“I remember that it went really well for me freshman year. And it’s just a really good opportunity, I feel like, to get your artwork out to the school,” they shared.
Looking around at the packed room, it was evident that the newfound tradition was a continued success.
Park reflected on the importance of the Simmons community having a space to connect with fellow peers and display their creations.
“We don’t have art majors or music majors anymore, but we do have a strong art minor [and] arts with illustration minor, and I think that also shows that the community is still interested.”
