About

ASUCLA Art in the Union takes the place of the former Student Commissioned Art Program, which started in 1972 and commissioned more than 60 pieces of original artwork over 30 years. In 2003, ASUCLA modernized the original program and created Art in the Union as an opportunity to honor excellence in the visual arts. This contest allows UCLA students to showcase their talent and gain recognition for their work. In addition to highlighting the skills of talented UCLA students, the program adds to the growing art collection that graces the walls and corridors of the ASUCLA Student Union.

2023 Winners

Last year we had a diverse pool of applicants. Take a look at the winners below!

Jang Lee's painting called "Release"

Jang Lee “Release”

Graduate School, Community Health Sciences

This piece is based on a film still from the movie “Twilight’s Kiss” by Director Ray Yeung. I used oil paint to create this piece.

I was inspired by the movie “Twilight’s Kiss”, a Hong Kong film which tells the love story of two closeted, elderly gay men. The piece was painted in collaboration with my partner, who played Chopin’s Nocturne in D Flat Major on the piano in response to my painting. The piece reflects many themes: the simultaneous feeling of liberation and confinement, discovering love at an old age, and the obligations we hold to our past lives.

Erin O’Neil's piece called “To the Powell Cat”

Erin O’Neil “To the Powell Cat”

Third Year, Mathematics

This piece was created in memoriam of UCLA’s beloved Powell cat. The center of the piece captures the essence of those iconic UCLA buildings where the Powell cat would visit. Naturally, I wanted to surround the arch with flowers to enshrine the Powell cat's life. The patterns were inspired by sketches I have done in the past, patterns I have seen in nature and around campus, and popular papercutting works I have been influenced by throughout the years. This creation was made with the Art in the Union program in mind, so ASUCLA played a significant role in motivating me to produce something I am proud of.

Harshit Ranjan's painting called the “Sleep Deprived Dreamer”

Harshit Ranjan “Sleep Deprived Dreamer”

Graduate School, Materials Science and Engineering

The painting was hand-drawn (with an Apple Pencil) on an iPad Pro using a digital graphic designing app called Procreate. I used the following brushes: Soft Blend, Hard Brush, Tamar, and many others. I used the smudge operation to blend the different colors so as to get a smooth oil painting effect for my drawing.

I've always been fascinated by the power of dreams and how they can inspire us to pursue our passions. With this painting, I wanted to capture the intensity of those dreams that keep us up at night, that drive us to work tirelessly towards our goals, even if it means sacrificing sleep. As I painted it, I thought back to a time when I was pursuing my own dreams. I remember staying up late into the night, working on my skills, fueled by the passion and determination to succeed. Even though I was exhausted, I knew that some dreams are worth losing sleep over, and that they are the ones that push us to break through our limitations and reach our full potential. This painting is a tribute to all the sleep deprived dreamers out there who are chasing their dreams with unrelenting passion and determination.

 

Jaden Ji's painting called “Veil”

Jaden Ji “Veil”

Third Year, MCDB

I began creating this work in my first year of college, where I saw it as a sort of practice with oil paints because I'd never worked with oil paint for a personal project before. I wanted to explore the medium, so I tried doing a layer of yellow ochre, then wiping away the values. I worked on the piece every time I went home for break, which was every three months.

For this piece, I didn't do my usual surrealism because I made this piece to be sold. I wanted to do a Renaissance-like portrait, with some mythical elements, because it's pretty and that makes it easy to buy. I wanted to have a more uplifting theme for this artwork as well because other people tend to not like depressing things. My aim was to make a piece that I didn't feel as attached to so that it would be easier to sell it, because, to me, the only value of my art now is just how much money it can make. People think that art is a waste of time, and the less a person grew up with art, the less they care. Art is a luxury, and so those who could never consider such luxuries could care less, for good reason. However, the longer I worked on my piece the more I got attached to it, and I wanted to display it as my work rather than a commodity I can trade. While I work to push myself to be better, there really is no meaning unless I give it meaning. It's very easy to give up and simply devalue things that others don't value, but in the end, what is most important is whatever you, the individual, care about.

 

PAST WINNERS

 2022-2023

 2020-2021

 2018-2019

 2017-2018

 2016-2017

 2015-2016

 2014-2015

 2013-2014

 2012-2013

 2011-2012

 2010-2011