UNF Student Emily Bailey comes full circle as artist in residence

When Emily Bailey was in high school, her classmates were asked to dress up as what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Bailey didn't hesitate.

"I dressed up as an artist," she said.

Today, that childhood dream is a reality.

Bailey, 32, a Tampa native and nontraditional student, will graduate from the University of North Florida this fall with her second bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in Sculpture. Along the way, she has earned one of the most prestigious opportunities available to a student artist, being named the Fall 2026 Student Artist-in-Residence for MOCA Jacksonville and Arts UNF.

The competitive residency provides Bailey with studio space at MOCA Jacksonville throughout the fall semester, where she is creating new work for a public exhibition scheduled to open in early 2027.

For Bailey, the residency represents the culmination of a journey years in the making.

"It's exciting and I'm proud," she said. "I've always wanted to be the artist-in-residence. It was something I dreamed of and worked toward."

Finding Her Way Back to Art

Although art was Bailey's first love, she did not initially pursue it as a career. Growing up in a creative household, she was constantly surrounded by artistic influences. Her father, a landscape architect and business owner, filled the house with sketchbooks and drawings. Her mother painted, sewed clothing for the family and was always creating something by hand.

Despite her passion for art, Bailey was encouraged to choose a more practical major.

"I liked writing, and communication seemed like a sensible choice," she said.

She enrolled at UNF and pursued a degree in Communications with a concentration in Multimedia Journalism which she earned in 2017, along with a minor in art. For much of her college career, art remained on the sidelines until a single class changed everything.

During senior year, she took a transformational art class that changed the trajectory of her future. While she was taking art classes for her minor, it was a printmaking class taught by Professor Sheila Goloborotko that awakened her interest.

"That was the moment I realized this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life," Bailey said.

By then, however, she was too far along in her communications degree to start over. She completed her first bachelor's degree, but the dream of becoming an artist never left.

After graduation, her father asked what she planned to do next. "My answer was going back to get my art degree," Bailey said.

That's exactly what she did.

Goloborotko said it has been especially rewarding to watch Bailey's evolution from a curious printmaking student to a dedicated artist pursuing a second bachelor's degree.

"It has been particularly meaningful for me to watch Emily's journey because I first knew her through printmaking, before she returned to UNF to pursue her second bachelor's degree in art," Goloborotko said. "To see that initial curiosity develop into such a committed, interdisciplinary studio practice has been incredibly rewarding as her professor and mentor."

Returning to UNF

Returning to UNF as a nontraditional student gave Bailey a different perspective on education. Determined to make the most of the experience, she took only two classes each semester so she could fully immerse herself in the program.

"I love going to class," she said. "The resources at UNF, the professors and being here are the greatest. I don't want to leave."

Keeping her course load lighter also allowed Bailey to balance her studies with a job at MOCA Jacksonville, where she remained immersed in the arts community while applying lessons from the classroom in a professional setting.

"Working behind the scenes, I was able to observe exhibition installations, ask pointed questions of artists and carefully study how they marketed themselves," Bailey said. "It gave me insight on what to put on a CV, how to photograph my work, how to display it and how to build confidence in presenting my work."

The experience also helped Bailey gain confidence as an artist.

Jenny K. Hager, professor of sculpture and chair of UNF's Department of Art, Art History and Design, said Bailey approached her education with purpose and determination.

"Most nontraditional students are on a mission. They know what they want to do and they are driven to do it," Hager said. "This is Emily in a nutshell. She takes her experience here at UNF very seriously and takes advantage of opportunities and experiences offered to her."

Building Confidence Through Sculpture

As a youth, Bailey never imagined herself wielding power tools or shaping metal. Yet sculpture challenged her to embrace materials and processes far outside her comfort zone.

"I like that with sculpture, the art takes up space," she said. "It's a challenge, and its physical presence can make you stop, look and think."

Much of her work explores themes of womanhood, including identity, domestic violence and society's expectations of women. She uses bold materials and large-scale forms to tell deeply personal stories.

Her artistic interests were further shaped by studying the Etruscans during an art history course.

"The status of women in Etruscan society, where women enjoyed far greater social visibility and equality than in many later cultures, was truly fascinating," Bailey said. "From then to today, there's still a lot that women have to go through."

Bailey credits much of her artistic growth to the encouragement and mentorship she received from faculty members who helped her believe in herself and her work.

"At first, I didn't believe I was a real artist," Bailey said. "I was embarrassed to say I was an artist, but through the guidance and encouragement of Jenny and others, I began to find my way. Without their guidance, I don't think I would have been this successful."

Today, Bailey creates sculptures that stand eight feet tall.

"I loved being part of Emily's academic journey," Hager said. "I feel like we have kindred spirits, as I too make work that shares my feminine perspective. In sculpture, especially in metal sculpture, the field has been mostly dominated by males, so I think it's nice to be able to share our experiences as two women navigating this work."

Lance Vickery, associate professor of sculpture, said teaching and mentoring a student like Bailey has been especially rewarding.

"I only want students to be the best version of themselves," Vickery said. "My goal is to help clear paths and give them directions to be successful. I try to be honest about challenges and what they should expect from their hard work. I will say this: Emily is a thoughtful creator."

Looking Ahead

Bailey is currently creating work for her upcoming MOCA exhibition, including a piece inspired by British artist Tracey Emin's My Bed and Etruscan burial traditions. The installation features a bed covered in baroque-shaped pearls beneath a canopy, referencing both personal experiences and the ancient practice of placing meaningful objects with the deceased.

Her creative process is highly experimental. "I like weird ideas and figuring out how to make them happen," she said with a laugh. "I like breaking barriers."

Whether constructing garments from unconventional materials, experimenting with photography or welding large-scale sculptures, Bailey continually pushes herself into new creative territory.

After graduation, she hopes to pursue graduate school while remaining connected to UNF and Jacksonville's arts community. She is also interested in combining sculpture and alternative photographic processes in future projects.

Looking back, Bailey has one message for her younger self:

"Be patient figuring it out."

Her path did not follow a straight line. She earned one degree, built a career, returned to school and ultimately found her way back to the dream she carried as a teenager.

"I followed my heart along the way," she said. "People tried to talk me out of getting an art degree, but now I have two degrees that complement each other. Nothing falls into your lap. You must get out there and do it yourself."

Now, as she prepares to graduate and complete her residency, Bailey can confidently say what she knew all along during that high school spirit week: she is an artist.