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Fast food and art meet in the work of Kyani Garces, a senior studying photography and print media at �鶹��ý.

Her art was featured in the recent Juried Student Exhibition at the university’s Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries.

The exhibition displayed three of her photos, all of which depicted fast food items in an artistic arrangement.

Her inspiration for these pieces was the modern commodification of food — despite it being a necessity for survival.

“One day I was just sitting watching YouTube, and it felt like I was just being constantly bombarded by ads!” she said. That made her think of how strange it was that companies profit off a basic need.

Garces originally came to Old Dominion to study engineering. She switched to photography, her passion.

She completed a summer internship with the Perry Library on campus, working in archives, which include historic photographs. She was delighted to find that her photographic knowledge had a practical application.  

While Garces was originally unsure that studying art in college would be helpful to her, she ended up learning about many things she hadn’t considered, such as the technical and legal aspects of making art and gaining exposure to other artists.

After graduating, Garces wants to study library and information sciences and continue to pursue photography.

She feels bittersweet about graduating from Old Dominion and expressed appreciation to her professors and peers. “I really found my people,” she said.

Garces is passionate about photography and grateful to Old Dominion’s Art Department.

“I feel a lot more connected to school,” she said. “I kind of found my place. I really appreciate all of them.”