Gallery Reception: VAST students Sophie Replogle and Taylor Wheeler

Penn State Altoona will host a gallery reception for Visual Art Studies (VAST) students Sophie Replogle and Taylor Wheeler from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, in the Titelman Study of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. Replogle's exhibit "Tethers and Ties" will be displayed in the Sheetz Gallery, and Wheeler's "Creating: Whispering Pines" will be displayed in the McLanahan Gallery from April 2 through 10.

The galleries are open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The reception and exhibition are free and open to the public. For further information, call the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts at 814-949-5452.

"Tethers and Ties" by Sophie Replogle

Replogle is a visual art studies major minoring in art history at Penn State Altoona, intending to graduate in May. While working in charcoal and mixed media, she explores themes of personal storytelling through fragmented representations of familiar imagery. Replogle received the Fine Arts Award in 2025, and her work has been included in “Work Out,” the annual student art exhibition at Penn State Altoona. Additionally, her work was published in “Hard Freight,” Penn State Altoona’s literary arts magazine, and her piece “Chiang Mai Elephant” was chosen as the cover art for the fall 2025 edition.

Replogle explores how the experiences that shape who we become and the paths we take are endlessly linked to our past, present and future lives. Specific circumstances, beliefs, people and places have guided her in countless directions. These circumstances act as personal tethers that anchor her in moments of comfort and pull her towards challenges, growth and unfamiliar paths. She stated, “No matter where I am physically, my upbringing and experiences will follow me down every path, whether that may be spirituality, a new friendship, or another corner of this world.”

"Creating: Whispering Pines" by Taylor Wheeler

Wheeler is a visual artist working in two-dimensional digital illustration, focusing on character design and concept art. They received the Kenneth M. Kuhn Memorial Award of Visual Arts in 2023, and they intend to graduate from Penn State Altoona with a bachelor of arts in visual art studies in May. Taylor was born in Jacksonville, Florida, but was raised in the small town of Mount Union in central Pennsylvania. After graduating, they will look for work as either a character or concept artist.

Wheeler creates a conceptual world made for highlighting the importance of creative labor, concept art and visual development, which takes place behind many beloved shows, movies, graphic novels and other media. They state, “I want the audience to feel the intention and care that went into these designs, so that they begin to be curious about all the work that goes unseen when viewing their favorite forms of entertainment media.”