Lucretia H. Sills Gallery showcases the talent of Forsyth Tech’s faculty and alumni

During the 2025-2026 academic year, Forsyth Tech’s Lucretia H. Sills Gallery celebrated the artistic excellence of faculty and alumni through two special exhibitions—the Faculty Art Showcase and the Associate in Fine Art (AFA) Visual Art Alumni Exhibition. These exhibitions highlighted the creativity, passion and accomplishments of the artists who teach at Forsyth Tech and the graduates who have transformed their education into successful creative careers.

Faculty Art Showcase

On display from October 2025 to January 2026, the Faculty Art Showcase featured the work of Forsyth Tech faculty members Nicole Uzzell and Juie Rattley III, whose diverse artistic practices enrich both the college and the regional arts community.

A sculptor, ceramic artist and educator, Nicole Uzzell was raised in New Jersey before moving to North Carolina to study at University of North Carolina (UNC)–Greensboro and Winston-Salem State University. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the Art Institute of Boston and now teaches art at Forsyth Tech and Salem College. In addition to teaching, Uzzell instructs clay handbuilding at the Sawtooth School for Visual Art in Winston-Salem. She maintains an active studio practice at the base of Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County, where the surrounding landscape continues to inspire her sculptural and ceramic work.

Juie Rattley III brought a distinguished background in painting and arts education to the exhibition. Born in Lumberton and raised near Whiteville, North Carolina, Rattley earned an Associate Degree in Fine Arts from Southeastern Community College before completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. There, he studied under acclaimed Southern artist Tarleton Blackwell, whose mentorship inspired his artistic development and pursuit of graduate study. Rattley went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he received the prestigious Adelaide Fortune Holderness Fellowship and the inaugural Maud Gatewood Painting Scholarship. Today, he serves as an adjunct instructor at Forsyth Tech while continuing to paint, exhibit and sell his work in galleries across the East Coast.

The Faculty Art Showcase offered visitors a unique opportunity to experience the creative work of practicing artists who inspire Forsyth Tech students every day. Through sculpture, ceramics and painting, Uzzell and Rattley demonstrate how artistic practice and education work hand in hand to foster creativity and innovation.

AFA Visual Art Alumni Exhibition

Continuing the celebration of artistic achievement, the AFA Visual Art Alumni Exhibition was on display from March to April 2026. The exhibition celebrated the creativity, talent and accomplishments of graduates from Forsyth Tech’s AFA Visual Arts program.

Featuring a diverse collection of artwork, the exhibition showcased the strong artistic foundation alumni developed during their time at Forsyth Tech. Visitors experienced a wide range of media, styles and perspectives from alumni who have gone on to become artists, designers, educators and creative professionals.

Among the featured artists was Naya Sample, a 2023 graduate who went on to become a multidisciplinary artist. Naya’s work spans both two-dimensional and three-dimensional media. While painting—particularly in oil and watercolor—is her primary focus, she also creates hand-sewn tote bags and decorative keychains. Her work often balances darker subject matter with a quiet sense of reflection, encouraging viewers to engage with its rich textures and intricate details.

Giselle Edith Gonzalez-Garcia is a Winston-Salem artist and crime analyst for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. A 2020 graduate, she works primarily in colored pencil to create abstract surrealist works that explore themes of identity, vulnerability and purpose. Her recurring rabbit figures symbolize sensitivity and resilience while inviting viewers into deeply personal narratives. After graduating from Forsyth Tech, Giselle attended Appalachian State where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising and a Master of Arts degree in Data Analytics.

The exhibition also included the work of Mai Williams (2024), a non-binary black digital artist and owner of the small art business Astro Rose located in Winston-Salem. Inspired by anime, fantasy, films, games, horror and contemporary visual culture, Williams creates imaginative artwork and handcrafted items that celebrate storytelling and creativity through both digital and traditional media.

My goal is to spark a response—whether it is despair, desire, hope or happiness. If someone walks away feeling something, then the work has done what I hoped it would do. –Amber Cranfill

Another featured alumna, Amber Cranfill (2021), is a graphic designer and master engraver whose multimedia work combines acrylic paint, charcoal, spray paint, pastels, drawing and text to explore emotional experience and internal dialogue. After graduating from Forsyth Tech, Amber graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Her expressive, layered compositions encourage viewers to connect with the emotions conveyed through each piece.

Together, these two exhibitions celebrated the strength of Forsyth Tech’s Visual Arts program—from the faculty who mentor and inspire emerging artists to the alumni who continue to make meaningful contributions to the creative community.

Interested in Forsyth Tech’s visual arts program? Request more information here!