USU Showcases Tiny Houses Exhibit, Plus Alum Tiana Godfrey's Art

LOGAN, Utah — A new exhibition at Utah State University’s Tippetts and Eccles Galleries showcases the work of Art + Design graduate Tiana Godfrey, alongside Tiny Houses designed by students from the USU Interior Architecture and Design Program.

Godfrey, a graduate of USU’s Art + Design program, is known for her abstract realism in oil painting. Reflecting on her time at USU, she expressed appreciation for the support she received.

"The faculty were incredibly nurturing and encouraging during my studies. I'm grateful for the chance to display my work in a place that feels both welcoming and conducive to my growth as an artist," Godfrey said.

Complementing Godfrey’s art, the exhibition also highlights innovative tiny house designs created by students in the Architectural Graphics and CADD courses. As part of their coursework, students were tasked with designing a custom residence that accommodates two people within approximately 500 square feet. The project includes presentation sketches, three-dimensional models, construction documents, and both interior and exterior renderings, all conforming to Utah’s building codes.

Tiana Godfrey's work exemplifies the collaborative spirit cultivated at Utah State University, showcasing the powerful synergy between creativity and professional training within the Art + Design program. Her art not only reflects her individual talent but also the result of a community that fosters artistic growth through mentorship, peer collaboration and real-world experiences.

Godfrey’s ability to produce such compelling and thoughtful work is a direct outcome of the comprehensive education and hands-on training she received at USU, where students are encouraged to push boundaries and refine their craft in a supportive, yet challenging environment.

“Tiana not only knows what she’s painting, but she also finds it as she works,” said Woody Shepherd, associate professor of drawing and painting. “It tends to talk back to her as she forms new layers,” he added, describing her creative process and how her work might be perceived by viewers.

This artistic development reflects how students grow in the Art + Design program as they refine their skills and put them into practice, as Tiana demonstrates in this exhibition.

Inspired by her instructors at USU, Tiana looks forward to teaching as well.

“I obviously had great professors,” she said, noting Shepherd as one of her mentors. She expressed her desire to inspire others in the same way her teachers inspired her.

The exhibition opened Monday, Aug. 26, and will be on display through Friday, Sept. 27, at the Tippetts and Eccles Galleries in the Chase Fine Arts Center.