On the small yet beautiful Guilford campus, bulletin boards filled with papers, posters and artwork line the hallways of Hege Library and other nearby buildings. Students rush past them on their way to class, barely noticing the layers of announcements and color. But every now and then, one student stops—not to check an event flyer, but because they recognize a corner of watercolor paper they pinned up weeks earlier.
They may think to themselves, “I almost forgot this was here.”
From overcrowded corkboards in Dana Auditorium to the walls outside classrooms in Duke Hall, student artwork fills Guilford’s campus with color, creativity and imagination. But how many students actually notice these pieces—and how much do they mean to the artists who create them?
For many, the boards are simply something to glance at while waiting for the line to the cafeteria to shrink. They hold everything from colorful, informal posters to deeply personal photographs crafted by Guilford students. Some pieces stay up for months; others disappear quickly, replaced by new ResEd notices or event reminders. To onlookers, it can all feel like accidental patchwork—but each piece carries a story only the artist fully understands.
This raises a common question: How much of this artwork are Guilford students truly seeing?
Sophomore Yassine Aallam admits he rarely stops to look. “I’m typically rushing to class,” he said. “I’m mostly focused on that.”
Still, for many student artists, even a quick glance is enough. Some are art majors seeking subtle feedback. Others are students who paint, draw or print-make simply because creativity brings them joy. For younger Early College students, the boards become a rare chance to display their expression publicly.
For many students, the decision to post their work isn’t about recognition. It’s about expression.
Senior Kitana Corbett, who often works at the Service Point on the lower level of Hege Library, appreciates the pieces that surround her during her shifts. “There’s this painting of a lady who looks as if she’s working with me—like she’s pondering in front of her laptop as well,” she said.
“Overall, I love the art that’s been installed in the lower level,” Corbett added. “It gives the library more character.” She also praised the artwork in Hege-Cox Hall. “Mark, Katy and all the other art people make their students feel seen.”
Other students say they rarely notice bulletin boards across campus, but artwork in Hege Library still catches their attention. Sophomore Joshua Braswell said he doesn’t pay much attention to boards in Founders or other buildings.
“I really enjoy the art on the first floor of the library,” Braswell said. He especially appreciates the cultural pieces installed there. “I feel like coming to Guilford made me focus on and care for art more; it made me look at art differently.”
As student artwork continues to appear across Guilford College, it serves as both decoration and a reflection of campus creativity and diversity. Whether students are studying in the library or hurrying to class, the displays offer moments of inspiration and reflection that make the campus feel more personal and welcoming.
For the artists who share their work, these displays are more than decoration—they’re communication. At a college rooted in freedom of expression and community, the artwork pinned to walls and boards stands as a constant reminder of student imagination, identity and life at Guilford.
