April 14, 2026
Visual arts student discovers ‘inspiring’ experience in A&A
By Sarah Buttikofer
For second-year College of Arts and Architecture student Bee Slater, sculpture became more than just a creative outlet. It became a way to connect with ideas, people and the broader arts community. With a major in visual arts and minor in arts entrepreneurship, Slater is building a practice that combines innovation, leadership and an entrepreneurial mindset.
Slater first discovered her passion for sculpture in a foundations course, where she experimented with recycled materials.
“I found that to be really rewarding, and I found a theme that I wanted to pursue for sculptures. So with that, I applied to the bachelor of fine arts program,” Slater said.
Since joining the program, Slater has been inspired by both her peers and faculty.
“Everyone here [is] super amazing. We have amazing School of Visual Arts faculty and the metal shop and wood shop staff. They’re amazing,” Slater said.
Her experience in the program has also changed the way she approaches creativity.
“How I think about art is a lot more analytical and it can be applied everywhere,” Slater said. “Having our critiques and hearing people’s thoughts and ideas and different perspectives really made me think more about my conceptual designs.”
Beyond her studio work, Slater is deeply involved in campus organizations. She serves as co-president and treasurer of the Sculpture Club and as web manager for the Queer Business Leaders Club and Mending Walls Penn State.
“Those people are incredibly creative, and they approach art making in a different way than other artists so that’s been really interesting,” Slater said.
Her current projects include a body of work for a solo exhibition, featuring an animatronic sculpture with a motion-activated mouth.
“[The sculpture] has an ultrasonic sensor that is a motion sensor so her mouth opens and closes based on interaction with the audience,” Slater said.
Slater balances her studio practice, classes and leadership roles with networking and professional development.
“Typical days are pretty busy, but I like being occupied. I always want to have something to do. I do a lot of networking with different artists or explore potential opportunities for shows and exhibitions and scholarships.”
– Bee Slater
Her minor in arts entrepreneurship complements her studio work by providing practical tools for the future.
“It gives me direction, and it really lets me embrace what I want to do without feeling stuck,” Slater said.
Community engagement also informs her identity and art practice.
“For Mending Walls, it’s given me a lot of motivation and a lot of opportunity to learn more about people, and people different from me. For Queer Business Leaders, I think it’s very vital to have queer representation,” Slater said.
Looking ahead, Slater hopes to work in animatronics or kinetic sculpture for entertainment companies while building her own independent practice. She continues to find inspiration in her peers, faculty and artistic role models, while also aiming to provide for her family.
“Something that is always motivating me is wanting to provide a life for myself and then giving back to my parents and family. I want to be able to make sure they can live comfortably, and I would like to do that through a job that I enjoy, which would be my art,” Slater said.
