In a striking blend of art and engineering, University of Cincinnati's own Ava Collins has seen her canvas stretch from the familiar confines of a college art studio to the grand walls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, noted for its immense collection and historical significance. This engineering student's passion for art has thrust her into the limelight, as revealed in an interview with UC's official news publication, confirming that her work is now part of the iconic New York museum's display.
Despite her successes now, Collins' path to UC was a serendipitous one, after a last-minute hike in tuition at another institution drove her to enroll as a Bearcat mere weeks before her freshman semester—yet, as fate would have it—and perhaps thanks to these unforeseen financial aid complexities, her dual interests in engineering and the arts would find a nurturing home in Cincinnati.
Collins' high school years were decked with advanced International Baccalaureate classes, giving her a deep dive into her subjects and preparing her for the rigorous educational journey ahead. "My senior year art class was a lot of research, and forming my portfolio pieces around that research," she described in the interview, as obtained by UC News, outlining the intellectual groundwork that would eventually catch the Met's eyes. Her piece explores the nuances of sibling dynamics within communities of color and mirrors her own bond with her younger brother.
The recognition by the Met was an unexpected honor for Collins, who had participated in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards since her freshman year in high school, her piece being one of the few chosen for display is something that her and her art teacher missed in the initial announcement, by the middle of the following summer their shock turned to excitement when they stumbled upon the news in her email. "It was different, it was surreal," Collins told UC's news site, reminiscing about her trip to the Met and the surreal realization that her creative endeavor was being acknowledged by visitors to the esteemed venue.
In her architectural engineering studies, Collins leverages her artistic perspective, aiming to blend form with function and bring aesthetic delight to structures in underserved neighborhoods. Beyond the classroom, she engages with the Black Arts Collaborative and other cultural organizations, all this while pursuing an Accelerated Engineering Degree program, a commitment that suggests a future where cities might get a little bit brighter thanks to her blend of technical knowledge and artistic vision.
