McKinley Arts & Culture Center

Gallery West

Nov. 17–Dec. 23, 2025

Nov. 20, 2025, 5–7 p.m.

We invite you to explore the Truckee Meadows Community College Portfolio Emphasis Showcase. “3 Visions” features a series of figurative works created by TMCC Art 298 Portfolio Emphasis students Austin Arazosa, Aileen Huerta, and Sean McHaney. Each artist presents a perspective, using painting and drawing to investigate identity, perception, and the complexities of human expression. Together, their works highlight the diverse approaches and voices emerging from TMCC’s Visual Arts program, offering viewers an opportunity to experience three distinct artistic visions united by a shared focus on figurative practice.

Sean McHaney on their work: “In the series 5 and 5, I explore the fragile line between beauty and danger. My subjects are women, depicted in vulnerable poses, placed into ominous environments that turn beauty into something both admired and threatened. By repeating the same two images across five different mediums, I amplify and condemn the tension between desire and fear.”

Aileen Huerta on their work: “En Tu Ausencia” (in your absence) is a series of acrylic paintings exploring the emotional impact of growing up with an absent parent. Through the use of small abstract line work and color symbolism, I transform memories of loneliness into dream-like reflections of acceptance. This series represents my journey towards healing and finding closure in what once felt incomplete.

Together, these three artists create a multifaceted exploration of reality, emotion, and connection. The Portfolio Emphasis Showcase is a testament to their individual visions and artistic growth. We encourage you to immerse yourself in their work and experience the unique narrative each artist conveys through their creative practices.

Gallery West, located in McKinley Arts & Culture Center is one of three galleries operated by the City of Reno. To learn more please visit: https://www.reno.gov/community/arts-culture/city-art-galleries