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Written by: Madeline McMahon M.A. '24 | Oct. 06, 2026

Campus Galleries Bring Local Artists’ Work To Campus

Amy Martz’s photography collection opened in the Saunders Foundation Gallery on Sept. 25, and Ya La’Ford’s mixed media exhibition will open in the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery on Oct. 9.

An opening reception for Railroad to River: The University of Tampa in Hidden View was held on Oct. 2. Photo by Jacob Cochran

In the new photography collection by local artist Amy Martz, she encourages the University of Tampa community to “pause, reflect or discern between classes, practices, meetings, recitals, and importantly, boundless opportunity.

“Life on campus is literally and figuratively in motion,” the introductory description reads. “It is hard to take in the details, to stand still, to not keep striving.”

The exhibition, Railroad to River: The University of Tampa in Hidden View, opened in the Saunders Foundation Gallery in the Ferman Center for the Arts on Sept. 25.

The titular railroad and river refer to the physical borders of campus, and the featured photographs showcase a particular beauty of campus architecture that is only truly seen and appreciated by a mindful eye for detail. Martz uncovers parts of campus hidden in plain sight, capturing new angles of the historic minarets of Plant Hall as well as more modern fixtures on campus like the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values.

Martz is celebrated for showcasing her unique take on visual environments with images that provide a refreshingly unexpected perspective. A master of composition and lighting, she compels the viewer to experience what is seen as mundane on a visceral level. The photographs are on display through July 23, 2027, with free admission; hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

This Friday, Oct. 9, another exhibition will open down the street in the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery in the R.K. Bailey Art Studios. Kaleidoscope: The Spirit within the Geometry of Wind, Water and Dreams will feature the work of internationally renowned artist Ya La’Ford through Dec. 11.

In Kaleidoscope, La’Ford transforms the gallery through sculpture, print and digital media, using her distinctive geometric language to explore the fleeting patterns of wind, water and dreams. Inspired by the constantly changing patterns of a kaleidoscope, the exhibition invites visitors to shift their perspective and discover new relationships within La’Ford’s work. Across the physical forms, patterns emerge, dissolve and re-form, suggesting connections between the world we see and the intangible forces that surround us.

An opening reception, free and open to the public, will be held in the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery on Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. Admission to the gallery is free; hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.