"The Sick" Kevin Carroll exhibition

The UAF Art Department is proud to present “The Sick,” the thesis exhibition of works by Bachelor of Fine Arts student Kevin M. Carroll, on view November 3rd-14th at the UAF Art Gallery. An opening reception will be held on the First Friday of the month, Nov. 7th from 5pm to 7pm.

According to the Health Analytics and Vital Records Section of the Alaska Department of Health’s Division of Public Health, the number of drug-related overdoses in the state of Alaska increased by 45% from 2022 to 2023. Artist Kevin M. Carroll designed a survey to capture public perceptions of addiction through questions that ask respondents to describe addiction using adjectives and subjective reflection. Using this data, Carroll created a body of work consisting of 45 artworks, representative of the 45 percent increase. Carroll said “‘The Sick’ is my reflection on past traumas of growing up in an urban environment. I combine my own experiences with those of 45 survey respondents, reflecting on their experiences with addiction & substance abuse to answer questions about what addiction looks like to them in colors, shapes, images, and personal stories.”

The body of work is titled “The Sick,” named for the illness that inflicts those who struggle with addiction. This exhibition features soft pastel and oil glazed layered paintings. The show's central themes of poverty, addiction, and trauma are expressed through vibrant color schemes & blending of natural forms often seen in graffiti art that are both beautiful & unnerving.

All UAF Art events are free and open to the public.