As you walk through campus, you may have noticed the mix of different architectural styles, with a strong tendency toward brick brutalism (nicknamed “Brickalism”), which became commonplace in the 1960s; a typical look for a chemical or engineering building. But you've probably wondered why the Fine Arts building doesn't look so “artsy”?
From the outside it may appear to be a stereotypical late 60's/early 70's college building. But inside you'll find brilliant creative minds at work, taking photos, painting or rendering animations. Now, thanks to UMBC's new Arts+ initiative, a public art installation by the Cheeky Magpie Collective – comprised of more than 20 former and current UMBC artists – is transforming the windows of the first four floors of the Fine Arts Building. The bold colors and patterns give visitors a sense of the artistic processes and world-expanding learning that takes place behind the facade.
“The Fine Arts Building has truly been an integral part of our development, not only as designers, but also as growing students and now alumni. All the effort we put into this design is a direct reflection of how great all the people in the building are,” he says Thomas Hammond '25, design, member of the artist collective.
Promoting creative projects
This fall, UMBC launched Arts+ to celebrate and connect our vibrant and diverse arts scene across campus and the region. This initiative provided funding for a public art installation. The Cheeky Magpie Collective's proposal to install a window treatment at the Fine Arts Building, where many of them spent most of their undergraduate careers, was accepted. collective members Gwen Knott '25, design and Jayden Rhodes '25, Design, along with the administrators, were the lead designers on the project Jalen Boyd '25, design, Hammond and Ni Truong '25, design.
“I taught one of our capstone design courses with the students who now make up the Cheeky Magpie Collective,” he says Kelley BellMFA '06, Imaging and Digital Arts, the Visual Arts Coordinator for Arts+. “It's almost magical to see what we at UMBC have taught them in action. This was a fantastic opportunity for the fine arts and UMBC to shine and provide campus visitors and our UMBC community a new way to see our campus.”
Members of the collective say the Fine Arts Building's attention-grabbing presentation breaks down the perception of UMBC as “just a STEM school” and brings to light the groundbreaking art of UMBC students and faculty. The building and the faculty who worked in it were “huge creative inspirations for the collective as student designers,” Hammond says. The art installation highlights this creativity and becomes a beacon of encouragement and inspiration for aspiring artists.
A meaningful brand
“I knew this project would be perfect to support a group of graduates doing something extraordinary in forming this collective,” says Bell, who served as coordinator and artistic director for the job, “but the design and idea behind this design was entirely theirs,” she adds.
“It felt like we were able to make a real contribution to the university and make a significant impact on what art can do for a community and how we can use it to build our already pretty great university,” Boyd says.
The visual style is a fusion of different inspirations, chosen for the use of patterns, colors, repeating motifs, and geometric and organic shapes. The main inspirations were the Arquitectonica style and artist Sol LeWitt's wall drawings, characterized by their bold use of color and form and sophisticated geometric precision, and finally, in keeping with UMBC's modern influences, the Memphis and postmodern styles emblematic of the 1980s.
While the design was handled by members of the Cheeky Magpie Collective, the printing and installation was performed by the UMBC Facilities Management Sign Shop on cut vinyl.
“UMBC is about the community,” Truong said. “It just makes you feel at home because they're always trying to give back and support local businesses and businesses like the Cheeky Magpie Collective. And this is our way of giving back.”
Tags: Arts+, At Play, CAHSS, Design, Fall 2025, VisualArts