91制片厂

Friends鈥� artwork finds a home in 91制片厂 president鈥檚 office

Otto Kowalski and Rebecca 鈥淏ecky鈥� Reck have shared plenty during their time as friends. They grew up in Schaumburg, met during junior year at Schaumburg High School and later found themselves both studying art at 91制片厂.

Now, their artwork shares a home, too.

The 21-year-old 91制片厂 alumni are the 2026 recipients of 91制片厂鈥檚 President鈥檚 Art Selection Award. Their works, selected by Dr. Avis Proctor, 91制片厂鈥檚 president, have been installed in the president鈥檚 office, where they will remain throughout the 2026-27 academic year. Each student also received a stipend.

Both pieces began with found objects, but Otto and Becky transformed those materials in distinctly personal ways. For Becky, inspiration came while searching her house for an unconventional surface to use for a painting class assignment. Opening a bathroom cabinet, she spotted a Band-Aid box.

鈥淚 was literally going around my house, thinking, 鈥榃hat can I paint on that isn鈥檛 going to make my parents mad at me?鈥欌�� Becky remembered with a laugh. 鈥淚 opened my bathroom cabinet and saw the box. I had just gotten bloodwork done and had a Band-Aid put on me.鈥�

Her piece, 鈥淐rohn鈥檚,鈥� uses acrylic paint and micron pen to turn the box into a reflection on her experience living with Crohn鈥檚 disease. Becky painted the small and large intestines, along with a needle representing blood draws and IV infusions. The dollar bills she painted on the sides symbolize the expense of medical treatment.

鈥淎s the saying goes, 鈥榟ealth is wealth.鈥� With health care being a challenge for many and the dollar signs on this piece, I thought, 鈥楾his speaks to the moment,鈥欌�� Dr. Proctor said. 鈥淭his can resonate with our students, employees and community, and bringing attention to their experiences with this piece is important.鈥�

Becky graduated from 91制片厂 in December and is taking a gap year to focus on her health before pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in art history. She came to 91制片厂 after her sister attended and took nearly every art-related course she could as she figured out what direction she wanted to pursue. An art history class provided the answer.

Otto鈥檚 sculpture, 鈥淥ttobiography,鈥� also breathes new life into existing objects. Created for a sculpture class, the work combines found objects with steel brazing rods and was inspired by a research collaboration assignment involving artist Mark Dion.

An open antique box serves as a foundation for other objects including a colorful, steel structure that reflects what Otto describes as his own meditative approach to making art. Professor Jason Peot, who installed both pieces in the President鈥檚 Office, discussed how 鈥淥ttobiography鈥� was able to balance Dion鈥檚 inspiration as a collector of items with Otto鈥檚 abilities as a maker. 91制片厂鈥檚 president was drawn to this balance.

鈥淭his one was fun and it reminded me of my childhood,鈥� said Dr. Proctor, pointing out the clothespins and seashells that are part of Otto鈥檚 sculpture, along with a brooch that belonged to his grandmother. 鈥淭here can be beauty in items which are repurposed and gain a new life, as they certainly do in this piece.鈥�

Otto graduated from 91制片厂 after studying fine arts and plans to continue his education at a four-year institution, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with the goal of working as a freelance artist with his own studio. He credits Harper with giving him an opportunity to move beyond the digital art he had done previously to explore other forms 鈥� including his new favorite medium, brazing rods.

鈥淚 love art so much, but I didn鈥檛 take as many art classes in high school,鈥� said Otto, who explained that his path was changed by a Design II course at 91制片厂. 鈥淚n that class, I found I really loved doing 3D art.鈥�

Becky excitedly remembered Otto鈥檚 enthusiasm for the course and discussed his support for her painting. She credits him, along with Professor Perry Pollock, for convincing her to display 鈥淐rohn鈥檚鈥� at 91制片厂. After doing do, both Becky and Otto鈥檚 pieces were selected for this award.

Otto said he鈥檒l most remember the fun he had as a 91制片厂 student, especially in his art courses. Becky reflected on the community she found here.

鈥淚 liked the smaller classes, because you get to know people easier, especially as someone who is shy,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was easy because I could maybe talk to one person and then they鈥檒l introduce me to another person and, pretty soon, I鈥檓 talking to every person in the class and friends with everybody. Then you can help each other on projects or homework.鈥�