The Florida State University Libraries Art in the Library program centers on bringing art from the FSU student body into our library spaces, celebrating the artistic and research endeavors of our local creative community. The exhibition series The Artists of FSU Libraries expands that mission by highlighting the creative practices of those who work within the libraries themselves. Now in its second iteration, this exhibition presents artwork created by current FSU Libraries employees, offering a glimpse into the artistic lives of colleagues across the organization. The pieces featured in this exhibition showcase a wide range of artistic techniques, media, and subjects, illustrating the creativity and depth that exist within the professional community of FSU Libraries.
Meet the Artists of Florida State University Libraries:
Mina Akbari
Research Management and Discovery Services
I am an Iranian artist deeply inspired by the rich visual language of Persian culture, especially the handmade Persian rug, where flowers and trees create visions of paradise. In my work, these traditional symbols are reimagined as a living landscape of connection. For me, paradise is not distant — it exists here, wherever friendship grows.
Taylor Henning
Special Collections and Archives
I embroider because it’s an artistic outlet that brings me joy. The steady rhythm of creating stitches forces me to slow down and find mindfulness in my daily life. It allows me to express myself and to create anything I’d like with needle and thread. I also enjoy the subversive nature of embroidery. Once regarded as a feminine, domestic, and even subservient craft, today it can be used as a medium for political, social, and personal expression. Though my art tends to be less politically overt, I embrace a traditional art form while employing modern designs as a tool for transformation.
Amber-Lynne Jensen
Research and Learning Services
Amber is a Filipina-American artist that strives to create works that manifest the influential power of human art. As an illustration, web design, film, and photography enthusiast, Amber is passionate about accessible and intentional design, celebrating cultural identity, and exploring art as a limitless outlet for channeling one’s physical and emotional energy.
Katie Kimberly
Information Technology Services
Katie is a multidisciplinary artist and IT professional with degrees in Studio Art and Information Technology. Living with a stutter, she uses drawing, painting, and photography as powerful forms of self-expression, exploring communication, identity, and resilience.
David Maki
Research and Learning Services
David Maki grew up in Snellville, Georgia, and in Ft. Myers, Florida, with a creative imagination and a love for stories, myth, and legend which were the foundations for his later involvement with art. David read comic books, played Dungeons and Dragons, and was influenced by Frazetta and science fiction. He has traveled extensively, serving four years in the United States Marine Corps, and he was part of Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War. His exposure to war and travels to Japan and to the Middle East have influenced his perceptions of Western Culture and engendered a deep appreciation for Japanese culture, art, and Sumi Ink art. David pursued martial arts for many years and is a 3rd degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. David graduated from FSU in 1997, after which backpacked through Europe for two months. His exposure to art in Europe, particularly Van Gogh and Rembrandt, has left a deep impression on how he composes and uses light in his photography and art. David loves nature, history, and paradoxes often found in human drama. His art reflects his capacity to see things from many perspectives, letting the viewer form their own judgment. David paints in oil, acrylic, and watercolor. You can find more of his work at www.MakiClan.com.
Emily McClellan Lopez
Research and Learning Services
I love photographing as a way of remembering: vacations I have taken, traditions and holidays, loved ones, and the everyday places and things I cherish. Everything I know about photography began with my high school photography teacher, Ms. Davis. She created a foundation for me that focused on creative expression, from pinhole photography to scanner art. I was privileged to learn not only the principles of photography but also how to process film negatives in a darkroom. Most importantly, she taught me that interesting photos can be taken with a cell phone and that I should never limit myself based on the tools I have available.
Stephanie Shrewsbury
Special Collections and Archives
Working with the medium of collage has allowed for me a whole new way to interpret and experience the creative process. The gathering of materials from old magazines, the impulsive selection, and assembly of one form into another have all relied on a much more intuitive lead than what I normally experience when working on illustrations or paintings. It is here with these works that I aim to trust my intuition and to fully embrace uncertainty with openness. My works lately have often expressed themes of duality, contradiction, and struggle while living here in Florida’s Panhandle.
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