Walking into the Rachel Cooper Gallery feels like stepping into someone’s inner world. Perception, a new solo exhibition by Illinois State University student artist Ella Gage, turns the quiet act of self-reflection into something vivid, layered, and raw. Curated through the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, the exhibit of 10 artworks runs from November 3, 2025, through April 30, 2026, with an opening reception on January 23, 2026.
Gage’s work explores what it means to see and to be seen, balancing vulnerability and courage, especially in a college setting. “I am not trying to tell a dramatic story; there’s really no hidden meaning behind these pieces. However, I know that people will see their own stories in it, and that’s enough,” she said. “Though sometimes I look at a picture and think, that’s not me, but it is, because that’s what I am working from.” Gage exudes a humble personality; she carries herself in a matter-of-fact, no-fuss way.
Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Gage is a finance major whose creative practice began long before her spreadsheets. In her day job, she helps build a money skills program, Redbirds Financial Literacy Initiative, which prepares Illinois State students for real-world financial milestones after graduation. She laughed when asked about balancing finance and art. “It’s funny because they are completely separate,” she said. “I will do Excel all day, then go home and paint.”
For Gage, painting is a creative outlet. Her work has been featured at University Galleries in the 2025 Student Annual and A Conversation Between: A Call and Response. Perception continues that dialogue through bold acrylics, oil pastels, and collage.
In Fractured, the image feels familiar yet slightly out of reach, echoing the way multifaceted identity never quite settles or resolves itself. Another standout piece on display at the gallery, Somebody, layers text that fades from blue into multiple skin tones over a grayscale self-portrait. These bold letters emotionally declare, “I wish I was somebody, anybody but myself.”
Gage explains her art:
“My work is an exploration of identity, self-perception, and mental health,” Gage said. “I use my self-portraits as a lens to show others how I experience the world as a mixed-race queer person. Each piece in the collection shows different parts of my journey throughout my time at Illinois State, such as navigating mental health struggles, finding my identity, and navigating social structures. Through this exhibition, I want to create a space where other people who may feel underrepresented or unseen can recognize themselves in the narratives I depict.”
In As I Am, drawn in oil pastel on corrugated cardboard, the piece carries a raw, tactile texture that mirrors Gage’s unfiltered process. To viewers, it may feel layered and intimate; but to Gage, it began simply as a photo of herself that she liked and wanted to draw. Through that simplicity, she hopes her work can create a space for people who feel underrepresented or unseen to find reflection and belonging. When asked why she chooses self-portraits, she said, “The world is so big that it’s hard to capture everything and do it justice, so I focus on something smaller and more relatable—myself.” Hanging across from As I Am, the painting Fruit Rollup continues that quiet exploration.
Talking with Gage, you immediately sense how instinctive her process is. “I don’t sit down with a long story in mind,” she said. “Sometimes I just find a photo of myself that feels right and start painting. So, I’ll think, ‘Oh, I want to use blue,’ and then I just go for it. It’s very spontaneous.” That trust in spontaneity gives Perception its soul. It’s art that breathes, questions, and accepts not having all the answers.
When asked who inspires her, Gage pointed to the artists she grew up admiring. “I grew up watching cartoons, and for a long time I wanted to be an animator, so I love watching Scott Christian Sava and Stephen Silver on YouTube. And Kim Jung Gi’s work is just incredible.”
Ella closes with these words.
“The meaning of Perception is open-ended; there is no singular takeaway I want to impose,” Gage said. “Although I don’t create for any specific audience, my work often resonates more strongly with marginalized individuals, because my lived experiences and personal struggles align more closely with theirs than with those who haven’t shared similar circumstances.”
Perception runs November 3, 2025-April 30, 2026 in the Rachel Cooper Gallery, Illinois State University
Reception: January 23, 2026, 2 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the artist, Ella Gage, and learn more about her creative process.
Check out the Rachel Cooper Student Art Gallery website for submitting your own art exhibit proposals.
