Alumni Exhibition & Awards

2025 Alumni Invitational: 5 Into 1

This summer, Moore partners with Philadelphia Sculptors to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their annual 5 Into 1 presentation—a show that introduces the public to recent graduates of five area art schools including Moore, PAFA, Tyler, UArts, and UPenn. On view June 14 – August 28, 2025, this iteration recognizes this monumental occasion with an exhibition in three parts: the first of which is Moore's Biennial Alumni Invitational that centers on work by six artists who originally participated in 5 Into 1 at the time of their graduation including Carolina Marín Hernández ’22, Darla Jackson ’03, Aimee Koran ’13, Sarah Montagnoli ’18, verónica a. pérez ’14, and Kate VanVliet ’07. The second is a curated presentation of work by artists who 1) contributed sculptural work to the show over the years, 2) received either a BFA or MFA from any of the above-named schools, and 3) are currently exploring work-in-the-round in their contemporary studio practice. The third component is the final occurrence of the exhibition as it has existed historically to this day, representing all 5 schools for the last time. This moment allows space to reflect on the city's legacy as a thriving center of art/design higher education and gives Philadelphia Sculptors an opportunity to reimagine the future of its landscape.

Image: verónica a. pérez, suspensión, 2022, artificial hair, wood, burlap, 36 x 48 x 12 in. Courtesy of the artist.

2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards

The Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize the outstanding professional achievements of Moore alumni, their dedication to the College, and their contributions to the field of visual arts.

The 2025 honorees will be celebrated during Moore’s Commencement ceremony on May 10. All alumni are warmly invited to join us for this special occasion.

Please note: Seating is limited — register here to reserve your spot.

For additional details on seating, parking, and more, please visit our Commencement page.

2025 Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees

Sandy Sheller ’73 (Graphic Design) is a trailblazing designer, therapist, author, and philanthropist whose career spans graphic design, trauma-informed care, and social justice advocacy. She is President and Director of the Sheller Family Foundation, where she advances initiatives in healthcare access, social justice, and addiction recovery. Sheller’s career began in graphic design, notably serving as the first female Art Director at Mel Richman Inc., where she earned an ADDY award. She later earned an MA and Post-Master’s Certificate from Drexel University and became a Board-Certified Art and Family Therapist, creating programs for families experiencing homelessness and trauma. Sheller co-developed a train-the-trainer parenting model which was disseminated to over 27 homeless and transitional housing provider agencies in Philadelphia and received The Salvation Army’s “Other’s Award” for her service. In 2020, she received the HUD Secretary’s Award for the Mural Arts Color Me Back Same Day Pay Program. This year, she is slated to receive an Honorary Doctorate from Thomas Jefferson University for her dedication to addressing the opioid crisis and championing social justice.

Leila Cartier ’04 (Studio Art with Art History Emphasis) is an influential arts leader, curator, and artist whose career spans exhibition curation, nonprofit leadership, and arts advocacy. Represented by SchmidtDean Gallery since 2006, Cartier earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2009 while also studying Arabic at DePaul University through a prestigious Jacob K. Javits Fellowship. From 2010 to 2015, Cartier served as Director of Exhibitions at the William King Museum of Art in Abingdon, Virginia, where she curated exhibitions that brought global art to the region, preserved Southwest Virginia’s material culture, and promoted contemporary artists. In 2016, she became Executive Director of CraftNOW Philadelphia, transforming the start-up into a leading advocate for the city’s craft community. In 2023, Cartier was appointed Executive Director of the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, where she now leads the organization’s renowned artist residency program, rotating exhibitions, and innovative educational initiatives.

2025 Fitzgibbon Endowed Alumni Prize

The Fitzgibbon Endowed Alumni Prize was established in honor of Cecelia Fitzgibbon, who served as the 10th President of the College. Each year, Moore alumni are invited to submit an original essay or poem responding to the prompt, “What Moore means to me," for a chance to win up to $5,000. The 2025 recipient will be invited to present their winning essay at the Alumni Exhibition Opening Reception on Friday, June 14.

Key Dates

Submissions Open | February 28
Submissions Close | March 31
Notification of Selection | Early May
Alumni Exhibition Opening Reception & Reading | June 13

Click here for more details and to submit.

2024 Fitzgibbon Prize Winner

Sunnylee Mowery ’14 (Art Education with an Emphasis in Special Populations) has taught for over 15 years in public, community, and Montessori school settings. She is the author of The Element of Choice: Choice-Based Art Education in a Functional Skills Classroom, a thesis that describes her work designing a tiered choice art curriculum for students with moderate to severe physical and cognitive disabilities. For the past decade, she has taught at the School District of Philadelphia’s prestigious Albert M. Greenfield School where she was recently bestowed a Philly AIMS Award (2023) from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine for exemplary inclusive practices in her classroom. She has been a presenter at The Kennedy Center’s Turnaround Arts Initiative and has served as secretary on the board of the Pennsylvania Art Education Association (2013-2015). At present, she is conducting research on how traditional 19th-century methods of ambidextrous, decorative, and observational drawing can benefit contemporary elementary students.