“Exploring my nostalgia for home is a common theme in my artwork for this exhibition,” says Mikal Barnabas, a Studio Art major with an emphasis in Painting at Concordia University, St. Paul. Through painting and ceramics, Barnabas uses art to reflect on memory, family, and identity. Her senior exhibition, Homage to Memories, is a deeply personal collection that celebrates the people, places, and experiences that shaped her while also showing how much she has grown as an artist during her time at CSP.
Barnabas says one of the most meaningful parts of her experience in CSP’s art program has been the support of professors and peers. Over the past two years, she has seen tremendous growth in her work through constructive critiques and encouragement from those around her. “My professors and peers gave feedback that pushed me to improve,” she says. “Having a healthy environment where we did not compare our work to each other allowed me to feel inspiration instead of comparison.”
That sense of growth and confidence is reflected throughout Homage to Memories. Barnabas describes the exhibition as an exploration of homesickness filled with emotions of joy, longing, and serenity. Much of the work centers on the family members who have supported her throughout her formative years. “The most prominent people in my life as an artist, especially within the last four years, have been my family,” she explains. “This exhibition focuses on how all of my emotions tie to the people who supported me.”
At the center of the collection are reflections on her parents and two sisters, but Barnabas also highlights everyday objects and spaces connected to childhood memories. She paints scenes inspired by her mother’s garden and recalls monthly trips to the cinema, transforming familiar moments into symbols of comfort and belonging.
“I wanted to pay homage to my culture as a whole,” Barnabas says. Raised in Ethiopia, she drew inspiration from the country’s rich history and especially from the beautiful patterns found in traditional Ethiopian dresses. These visual elements appear throughout the exhibition, blending personal memory with cultural identity.
To develop the project, Barnabas used old family photographs as references and researched artists recommended by her professors, including Alex Katz and Ethiopian artist Afewerk Tekle. She says studying a range of artists helped expand her own creative process and gave her new ways to think about composition, portraiture, and storytelling.
Her studies at CSP also introduced her to unexpected sources of inspiration. In an art history course, Barnabas encountered the ancient spiral carvings of Newgrange in Ireland. She connected with their symbolism of growth and change, ideas that resonated with both her personal journey and artistic development.
Looking ahead, Barnabas is excited to continue growing in painting while exploring other areas of the visual arts. She hopes to pursue opportunities in museums, galleries, or conservation, where she can remain connected to creativity and continue learning.
For Barnabas, Homage to Memories is both a tribute to where she comes from and a reflection of where she hopes to go next. “Homesickness is not a foreign feeling for most,” she says. “I wanted to use that feeling and create paintings that remind me of carefree memories.”