Veteran Students Among Artists Featured in Inaugural Gallery Exhibition
When Tyler Hart enrolled in an art class at Moreno Valley College, he did not expect a recurring image from his childhood to shape his creative direction.
Early in the semester, Hart found himself returning to a memory or impression that would not fade. It was a forest from his hometown, an afternoon that shifted from play to unease, and a lingering sense that something had changed in the atmosphere around him and his friends. He translated that image into a digital painting.
“I don’t recall if this was a memory or a warning, but this image had been stuck in my head ever since,” Hart wrote about the work, titled Chilling Forest Trail. “This is when I knew that not only was art therapeutic, but it provided proof that this is what I want for a career.”
Hart’s work was included in the Inaugural Student Art Exhibition presented by the MVC Art Gallery and was on view May 11 through June 5. The exhibition featured work from 27 student artists across studio art, applied digital media, and photography during the 2025–2026 academic year. Works were selected through a juried process drawn from classroom projects developed over the course of the year.
Also included was Quiet Order (2026), a water-mixable oil painting on canvas by fellow veteran student Yujeong Park. Together, Hart and Park are student veterans whose work reflects a broader tradition of military veterans who have pursued creative study and practice after service.
Mark Diaz, Veterans Services Coordinator at Moreno Valley College, said the exhibition reflects what he sees among veteran students on campus.
"As a Veterans Services Coordinator and fellow veteran, one of the greatest rewards is watching our student veterans discover new passions and pursue them with the same dedication they demonstrated in military service. Tyler Hart and Yujeong Park embody the courage, creativity, and perseverance that define our veteran community. Their selection for this inaugural exhibition is a powerful reminder that military service is not the end of a Veteran's story, but often the beginning of a new chapter of purpose, achievement, and inspiration. Our entire MVC Veteran community is immensely proud of them."
Lauren Johnson, Ph.D., associate professor of art history, oversees the MVC Art Gallery and has worked to expand opportunities for students to present their work in a formal exhibition setting.
“This is their work and their voice,” Johnson said. “The gallery provides a space for students to present it publicly.”
To learn more about the MVC Art Gallery and upcoming exhibits visit mvc.edu/gallery.