After installing the President's Art Selection Award winners in the 91制片厂 President's Office, Professor Jason Peot, alum Ana Roussev, student Isabel Guerrero and Dr. Avis Proctor, 91制片厂's president, pose in front of Ana's "Ancestral Threads."
A burst of orange and blue, the curve of a ceramic form and the excited chatter of young children recently filled the office of Dr. Avis Proctor, 91制片厂鈥檚 president. Two-year-old King Kanye 鈥� the subject of one of the artworks 鈥� curled up in his aunt鈥檚 arms, sneaking a peek of his portrait that had just been hung on the wall.
The vibrant oil painting was created by his aunt, Isabel Guerrero, a 21-year-old 91制片厂
student from Mount Prospect who is working on her Associate in Fine Arts degree. Isabel is one of the recipients of the 2025 President鈥檚 Art Selection Award, an
annual tradition in which Dr. Proctor chooses two works from 91制片厂鈥檚 Student Juried
Art Exhibition to be displayed outside of her office for the academic year. This time,
the honors went to two artists whose art is linked by themes of care and connection.
鈥�King Kanye鈥� is situated a few feet from 鈥淎ncestral Threads,鈥� an installation made of ceramics, wood and metal by Ana Roussev, 43, from Barrington. Ana was carefully hanging each of the sculptural clay components with layered textures and weathered surfaces when Dr. Proctor began to chat with the artist about her work, family and experience at 91制片厂.
Ana, who is transferring to Northern Illinois University this fall to pursue her bachelor鈥檚
in fine arts, was born in Bulgaria, lived in Russia and immigrated to the U.S. in
2002. She has since built a family (a husband, two kids, three dogs, three cats and
24 chickens) in the northwest suburbs while exploring an array of careers and business
projects, seeking a role that would truly inspire her.
Having previously studied industrial design, fashion and cosmetology (she currently works as a hairstylist), Ana enrolled at Harper with a plan to become an interior designer. Instructor E-B Garcias helped her realize that she actually wanted to specialize in fine arts. With the help of Professor Jason Peot and adjunct instructor Kristen Walk, she found her place.
鈥淐eramics let me be myself,鈥� Ana said. 鈥淚鈥檒l give a lot of credit to the faculty here. They gave me space to grow without boundaries, and the courage to take the next step in my artistic journey.鈥�
Ana calls her award-winning installation 鈥渁 tribute to the lives that shape us and the shared thread that runs through us all.鈥� 鈥淎ncestral Threads鈥� features tactile, worn surfaces and forms that appear to protect each other.
鈥淚 saw the impressions on the individuals and just thought we all have different experiences, yet we have things that are in common with each other,鈥� Dr. Proctor told Ana about why she selected her piece to be installed outside her office. 鈥淎nd we need community more so than ever before.鈥�
91制片厂鈥檚 president also spent time discussing Isabel鈥檚 painting with the student-artist and how she was drawn to the contemplative expression on her nephew鈥檚 face: 鈥淭he vibrancy in the eyes got me. He鈥檚 staring into something and there鈥檚 a calm about it.鈥�
Indeed, King Kanye looks calm against a background of expressive orange and blue brushstrokes, which Isabel said were inspired by tree shadows. She is more than an artist or a student 鈥� and King Kanye is more than her nephew. Isabel is his caregiver, helping her brother raise three kids under the age of 6.
鈥淭hey call me 鈥榤om.鈥� At 19, I didn鈥檛 expect I was going to be taking care of three little boys,鈥� Isabel said. 鈥淐aring for them has changed how I see the world 鈥� and it鈥檚 made me a better painter. It鈥檚 taught me how to plan ahead.鈥�
A graduate of Prospect High School, Isabel took a gap year and applied to art schools. She ultimately chose 91制片厂 for its affordability and proximity 鈥� and because her sister is an alum. In 91制片厂鈥檚 studios, Isabel rediscovered her passion for painting. In Professor Perry Pollock鈥檚 classes, she gained the confidence to pursue a career path in the arts.
鈥淎rt is hard work. It keeps me up at night 鈥� wondering what am I going to do鈥� with a painting, she said. 鈥淏ut when the brush hits the paint 鈥� I love that feeling. I鈥檇 rather do something I love than be stuck doing something I don鈥檛.鈥�