Rowan’s Creatives 230 and Photography Program hosted their annual “StARTup” Gallery, located in the business hall on April 18, 2026. Where students were able to showcase their prints coming to life, creating that connection from their work to the audience.  

The gallery serves to encourage community engagement, allowing visitors to interact directly with artists and gain insight into their creative processes, thereby further strengthening appreciation for student-driven artistic expression on campus. Jenny Drumgooole is the art coordinator for the StARTup Gallery and has been involved in this for nearly four years. 

“So this is the fourth year we have been doing the gallery, with both the print sale and gallery exposition. The exposition will be up for a full year. Along with the print sale, all sales go directly to the students, and it’s very important to support student artists, especially since there is a need for more of them. Along with student artists who know how to fully activate their artistic abilities for the audience and bring it to life,” said Drumgoole.     

While senior Sarah Agoston explains the way the setup of prints and different pieces transitions into different themes and tones. Along with Agoston’s perspective on photography and art as a whole. 

“For me personally, I think cameras are fascinating, and I really started to understand the camera and what’s behind the lens as a whole. I love colors, and I feel like that is evident in some of my pieces, even using an almost ombre tone,” said Agoston.  “I’m a firm believer in color theory. But getting back to the gallery, every area has its own set vibe and domestic section, from themes displayed in the exhibit, whether it’s exploring soft masculinity to nature photos, they all hold unique meaning.”

While senior Ryleigh Walker holds a similar passion for photography, as she is minoring in photography and feels that art as a whole has such a deeper meaning to it. 

“My main focus in photography is self-portraiture, along with conceptual stuff, stage settings within lighting studios, and I just feel like photography has always been a part of my life. I grew up always having access to a camera, but I have been studying photography for the last 10 years and just immersing myself in it. You can truly capture a great deal with photography and the arts as a whole,” said Walker. 

Junior Peter Valentino approaches photography with an emphasis on capturing authenticity, using natural environments to highlight emotions and overlooked details that are found within everyday life.  

“I particularly like to focus on wilderness shoots and nature as a whole. Like my jellyfish photo, I went to the Adventure Aquarium, and I feel that nature speaks for itself with its effortlessness in its beauty. And I’m simply there to capture the rawness of nature and bring it to light through the lens,” said Valentino. 

The StARTup Gallery continues to grow each year, highlighting emerging student photographers and artists’ talent while at the same time displaying creative minds, storytelling, and development in the arts that coincide with Rowan’s artistic community.