Class of 2025

Rosemarie Adcock studied classical fine art extensively before developing her own distinctive style. In addition to theological study at Westminster Theological Seminary and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, she studied at the American Academy of Art in Chicago (1978-80) under Eugene Hall, an apprentice of the Russian painter, Alexander Zlatoff-Mirsky, who was himself an apprentice to the Russian master, Ilya Repin. She also studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (BFA 1987). She received a stipend from the Minister of Culture of Baden-Wurtenberg, Germany, and studied printmaking and monumental painting at the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Karlsruhe (1986-88) under the director Klaus Arnold, and also Max Neumann, guest professor for the class of Markus Lupertz.

Rosemarie is a published author and international conference speaker. Her paintings are in numerous private and corporate collections in the United States and Western and Eastern Europe, where she has exhibited extensively, winning multiple awards. Notable exhibitions include shows at Princeton Theological Seminary, the Museum for Florida Women Artists and twice at the Museum of Florida Art where her work received awards on both occasions. She was awarded two consecutive years of First Place awards at the Illinois State Fair Professional Artist Exhibitions.
Her earlier exhibition of over 120 paintings of Russian peasants toured in the United States and Western Europe for over 7 years. The painting tour resulted in the acquisition of humanitarian relief assistance of over $1.25 million in gift-in-kind donations for orphans and impoverished Russian families. The artist then founded the charitable organization, Arts for Relief and Missions, which she still leads as the organization’s president.

Connie Andrews spends much of her time creating art, both sculpture and paintings, in her Morton, Illinois home studio. She works with many different mediums, but her favorite is hand building with ceramic clay. Connie was honored to have one of her oil paintings on a billboard in the very first Peoria area competition in 2015. Her art is in many private and public locations throughout Central Illinois, the United States, and in Germany. You can see a couple of her public murals at the Studios on Sheridan and the Peoria Library, Main Street location. She has also been helping students of all ages express themselves and find their own unique voice through the visual arts and singing for the last 20 years. To see more of her work, follow her on Facebook, Instagram, or visit her website, connieandrews.com.

Jordan Delgadillo is a digital illustrator from Peoria, IL. He studied Fine Art and Multi-Media at Illinois Central College and continued his studies at the Academy of Art University with a focus on Animation and Visual Development. He has explored a variety of mediums, but his heart lies with digital painting. While he is likely best known for fan art centered on pop culture, his original work is mostly inspired by surrealism, mixing darker themes with eccentric humor and whimsical, dreamlike elements.

Preston Jackson was selected number six on the list of top ten Illinois architects and artists of all time in 2018. He was named a 1998 Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, the highest honor given to individuals in the State. He is Professor Emeritus of sculpture at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. His primary studio is at the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria.

Much of Jackson’s work deals with the subject of our history that he wants us to learn. Despite the hardships of the people he depicts, the pieces do not reflect bitterness or hostility, but rather an admiration for the resolution and resiliency of each individual. Jackson was awarded a Regional Emmy for hosting “Legacy in Bronze,” a television show featuring his cast bronze sculptures. Much of Jackson’s large scale sculpture centers on where we have been and where we are going, both in an historical and a philosophical sense.

Born in San Francisco, CA, a series of moves found Leslie graduating high school in Iowa, marrying a Marine with a short stint in North Carolina, and then back to Iowa City. From there it was on to Peoria. Peoria has been home since 1990.

The lampworking journey began in 2003. Through the years, Leslie has taken several lampworking and jewelry making classes and continues to network with other artists to improve her skills. The studio contains a duel-fuel (propane and oxygen) torch, small annealing kiln, many tools collected through the years, and a wide variety of glass.

While always stating that she just wants to melt glass – Leslie is exploring what other art she can create with glass and all the other shiny items found in the studio. The “Three Voices” are the first of a new adventure.

A Colorado native, Alessandra Carmona has called Peoria home for nearly six years — and proudly considers it the best place to express and experience art. A sophomore at Richwoods High School, she’s been creating for as long as she can remember, working across many mediums but has always felt especially connected to colored pencils and markers. Her passion for art goes beyond the canvas: she’s deeply drawn to the stories and emotions behind all creative forms, whether in music, film, or visual art. Every piece Alessandra creates carries meaning — she believes art should speak, question, or connect. She’s constantly exploring new techniques and tools, driven by a desire to grow and say something that lasts. For her, art is how she makes sense of the world — and how she adds something of her own to it.

A junior in high school, Sameera Joshi has pursued art through personal study as well as lessons at school. She enjoys working with gouache and oil paints, along with graphite and chalk pastel. For Joshi, art is an extension of her passions and values. She believes art can be a reflection of an artist’s perceptions of the world they live in.

Currently, Joshi is focused on establishing herself as an artist in the Greater Peoria area. She is excited to continue her professional artistic journey as she expands into more mediums and themes.