Class of 2026

Originally from New York City, Cathie Crawford has concentrated on the color reduction woodcut since earning an MFA in 1987 from Bradley University in Peoria IL where she currently resides. Her work has been included in forty solo exhibitions, over a hundred juried national shows and thirty-five international juried exhibitions since completing a BFA from The Ohio State University in 1971. Crawford has received fifty-five awards, twelve since 2021. Her woodcuts have been exhibited in thirty-three states as well as Bulgaria, Cuba, France, Italy, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and the UK. Crawford’s prints are included in private and corporate collections in ten countries including at the Print Center New York in New York City; The American University Museum, Washington DC; The Safeya Binzagr Darat in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; the Casa de las Americas, Havana, Cuba; the Newark Public Library in Newark, New Jersey and the Peoria Riverfront Museum in Peoria, IL.

Eleanor Gentry (LNOR) is an illustrator whose imagination is always at work. Since early childhood, LNOR has drawn worlds and characters that are rooted in her experience, grow in her mind, and bloom throughout her artistic explorations. Eleanor honed in her skills by achieving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Northern Illinois University and currently works full time as a freelance illustrator. Through her business LNOR LLC, she provides art services, performs live art making, and designs her own products. Explore more with LNOR by visiting her at Studio 1B of Studios on Sheridan.

I am originally from Darien, Illinois. For most of my adolescence, I was self-taught as an artist until taking my first formal class in high school. That experience inspired me to continue my studies at Eastern Illinois University, where I focused on 2-D Studio Design. I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree while also completing minors in Art History and Psychology. During college, I received several honors and awards, including First Place, Best in Show, and Best Amateur Artist distinctions. After graduating, I completed an internship with Hostelling International Chicago as an Art Curator and Coordinator. I later became involved with the Oak Park Art League, where my work was featured in multiple showcases and earned additional recognition, including the People’s Choice Award. Since then, I have earned my Master of Education in Social Emotional Learning from Waldorf University. I currently reside in Peoria, where I work as a Special Education Teacher while also accepting commissioned work from clients across the United States as a freelance artist.

Liz Johnson earned her Bachelor of Science in 2018 from Bradley University, double-majoring in graphic design and sculpture with a minor in marketing. Shortly after, she created her first life-size bronze sculpture, Prometheus I, for the 2019 Peoria Sculpture Walk. The piece won the People’s Choice Award and is now on display at the Donovan Sculpture Garden in Peoria.

In 2022, Liz earned her Master of Arts from the University of Dallas on a full-ride assistantship. While in Texas, she exhibited work across North Texas, joined the Texas Sculpture Association, participated in an iron pour at Texas Woman’s University and served as Sculpture Graduate Assistant and Gallery Assistant for the Haggerty Art Gallery.

She completed her Master of Fine Arts with distinction at Bradley University in 2024 on a full-ride assistantship, working primarily in cast bronze. During her MFA, she taught rapid prototyping and advanced sculpture courses, helped pour over 2,000 pounds of bronze, contributed to a successful grant for the Donovan Sculpture Garden and assisted in creating the life-size sculpture of Major Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. She also exhibited work at the Peoria Food and Wine Festival and Studios on Sheridan.

Since 2018, Liz has worked in the Marketing and Communications department at OSF HealthCare, balancing her full-time career with her artistic practice.

Matt Keltner-Smith is a seasoned printing specialist based in Peoria, IL, where he was born and raised. Drawing since grade school, he brings a keen artistic sensibility to every project he undertakes. Outside of work, Matt enjoys photography, reading, listening to music, and exploring graphic design-pursuits that continually inspire his professional craftsmanship.

My name is Reese Bair and I just graduated from Dunlap High School. My favorite media to use is oil pastel which is what I used to create these fish. I am inspired by bright colors and the movement of nature. I participated in the MAP program at the Peoria Art Guild where I was able to deeply indulge myself with a variety of media and styles that have influenced my craft. Next year, I will be going to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to study advertising and continue on in a creative field.

Peggy West studied printmaking and earned an MA in Museum Studies at Western Illinois University. She holds a certificate in Botanical Art & Illustration from the Morton Arboretum (Lisle, Illinois) and is a University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist. She has taught Book Arts at Bradley University and is a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, and the national Handmade Book and Cartonnage Clubs. Her artworks have been exhibited at the Lyme Art Association (Lyme, CT), Indiana Dunes National Park, Peoria Art Guild, The Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, The Foster Gallery, The Morton Arboretum, The Buchanan Center of the Arts, The Galesburg Arts Center, The Quincy Arts Center, The MAC (Macomb, IL), fine art fairs, museums, and in private collections. Peggy maintains a print shop (Wild Type Press) and a home studio in Peoria, Illinois. She can be followed on Instagram @wildtypepress.

Elizabeth Jones is a current Junior at Metamora High School in Metamora, IL. She has been practicing art from a young age and plans to continue her art throughout high school and into college. Elizabeth has been experimenting with countless mediums, with her favorites including colored pencil, acrylic paint, and pen & ink. Her work has been displayed across Illinois in various art shows, been awarded multiple Best in Show awards, and received two gold keys. She has also displayed her work in Congressman Lahood’s Peoria office as well as his office in Washington DC. Elizabeth’s current body of work has focused on gratitude for one’s life and capturing the awe in everyday things. While she has enjoyed this field of investigation, she is excited for her next object of inquiry and plans to explore the world of fashion and textiles while challenging consumerism in fast fashion.

Josh is a student at Washington Community High School and a dedicated young artist who will be beginning his sophomore year in the 2026–2027 school year. He is rarely seen without a sketchbook or pencil in his hand. Drawing has been part of his everyday life for as long as he can remember, and it is his favorite way to think, relax, and express ideas.

Josh loves sharing his art with others. One of his favorite habits is leaving small sketches behind in restaurants, hotels, and other places he visits so that strangers can discover them. He likes knowing that someone might find one of his drawings and have their day brightened, and that thought keeps him creating.

Through his school art classes, Josh has explored different mediums, especially traditional drawing tools, digital art, video, and animation. Trying new approaches has helped him experiment with style, composition, color, and movement while still staying true to his love of drawing. These experiences have strengthened his skills and broadened the kinds of images he can create.

Josh is a devoted Detroit Tigers fan and a huge baseball enthusiast. The sport often inspires his artwork—he enjoys creating pieces based on his favorite team, as well as designing stadiums, uniforms, and other elements of the game. Whether he’s re-imagining ballparks or capturing the feel of a game, his art is a way he connects his passion for baseball with his creativity.

In addition to visual art, Josh is interested in writing, sports journalism, and broadcasting. He enjoys following sports, thinking about how games are covered, and imagining how visuals and words can work together. In the future, he hopes to combine these interests by using his art alongside writing and commentary in a career connected to sports and media.

Wherever he goes, Josh looks for opportunities for people to see and enjoy his work. Whether it is a sketch left for a stranger or a finished digital piece, he values the connection his art can create and is excited to keep developing his skills as he continues through high school.