In the summer of 2025 I had the amazing opportunity to join the first ever Hite Institute of Art & Design study abroad to Venice, Italy. Over three weeks I wandered the winding and narrow streets of Venice, learning about art and architecture, Italian culture, and trying to understand why this ancient city was slowly crumbling. We were tasked with observing and photographing Venetian life in ways that where unique, trying to find a fresh take on a city known for its iconic imagery.

After looking through all the photos I took while in Venice, I realized that there were patterns everywhere. Patterns in the marble floors of basilicas, in arches on door ways, in fabric and textiles in museums, and even patterns in the foregrounds and backgrounds of paintings. This inspired me to create my own patterns in the form of posters and flyers for the Veniceness show, curated by Critical and Curatorial Studies graduate student Katherine Brooks, that was held after the trip.