ECC to Host 2026 Illinois Skyway Collegiate Juried Art Competition & Exhibition

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Eleven Elgin Community College (ECC) students will be featured in a statewide art competition and exhibition, hosted by ECC. The college will host the 2026 Illinois Skyway Collegiate Juried Art Competition and Exhibition on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.

A public awards reception will take place from 5 to 7 pm on March 11 in the Building H lobby and the Safety-Kleen Gallery at ECC, 1700 Spartan Drive in Elgin. The remarks will begin at 6 pm, and light refreshments will be provided.

The exhibit features award-winning visual art by student artists and designers from colleges across the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference. The conference consists of eight community colleges located in the suburbs of Chicago and supports a wide range of intercollegiate athletic sports and student activities events.

The multimedia projects include video, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, graphic design, ceramics, and sculpture.  

“Being selected to participate in the Skyway exhibition is extremely exciting and meaningful to me, especially since the work I submitted is a photography piece,” said ECC student Rosa Lopez. “Photography has been the medium that has allowed me to explore my emotions and perspectives through connections with my models, who are often my friends. These relationships have allowed me to capture moments that reflect trust, emotion, and intimacy.”

The exhibition will be on view March 11 through 27, during our regular hours of operation, 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

“I am beyond honored to have been selected for Skyway,” said ECC student Chelsea Tinajero. “Especially considering that the exhibition will be hosted at ECC makes it even more special. It's incredibly encouraging to see so many talented peers get recognition for their hard work, and I'm very excited to get the opportunity to see all of the other districts' artwork.”

The exhibition celebrates the intersections of craft, innovative ideas, and individual voice, said Katy Ro, associate dean of liberal, visual & performing arts at ECC.    

Eleven ECC students have juror selections in the exhibition, including: 

• Angrous Jeffries, with “Aisle”
• Rosa Lopez, with “Anahit”
• Gael Sanchez, with “Madonna in Phthalocyanine Blue
• Chelsea Tinajero, with “Cigarritos”
• Wanchay Itmis, with “Water Flowing Over Lava”
• Johanna Phillips, with “ Freak Show”
• Demettri Rohn, with “Vivid Cadmium”
• Aldrix Santiago, with “Stairway Between Dreams”
• Rodolfo Fausto, with “United We Stand”
• Emily Nguyen, with“Corporate America”