Art Students Paint the Meredith College Seal in Lux Hall 

This summer, two art students painted the Meredith College seal on the floor of Lux Hall’s lobby. 

The project started when Robin Colby, chair of the English department, wanted to add a distinctive element to Lux Hall. The college seal, also known as the Lux, was the perfect fit. Colby connected with Emily Howard, chair of the art department, to find art students to bring her idea to life.

Howard asked Emma Erb, ’26, and Meredith Mills, ’26, who were eager to take on the project.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Colby and to contribute to bringing art into another campus building,” said Howard. “Emma and Meredith’s balance of creativity and diligence, and their willingness to take risks while also researching the best methods for execution, was impressive.”

With the help of Howard, Erb and Mills completed the painting in one day, including sweeping, cleaning, and sanding the floor. On the clean, smooth floor, Erb and Mills began by painting a white circle, using the square tiles as a guide. 

To paint the seal, they first projected the design onto a wall to trace it onto several pieces of tracing paper. Placing the pieces of paper over the painted circle, Erb and Mills carefully lifted each section to sketch the design in pencil. They finished by going over the sketch in black paint and sealing the entire painting with a glossy varnish. 

“This was my first time working on a painting on this large a scale,” said Erb about the experience. “In my own work, I usually rely on more loose paint strokes and organic lines, so I had to go into this project with a completely different mindset, taking my time to make each line neat and consistent.” 

Both Erb and Mills spoke positively about having their artwork on display on campus. 

“It feels great to see our work in a building at Meredith,” said Mills. “We both have a passion for painting, and it means a lot to have our artwork in such a special place.”