Stony Brook Student and ART Tank Winner’s Artwork Finds A Permanent Home in the University’s President’s Office

STONY BROOK, NY- August 5, 2026-The State University of New York at Stony Brook (Stony Brook University) student Raymond Lizzol '27's vibrant digital artwork, The Eye of Stony Brook, has been installed in the welcome area of Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith's office. Lizzol created this 6.5 x 5-foot piece as part of the university's Campus Beautification Committee's (CBC) second annual ART Tank competition.

Selected as one of the winning ART Tank entries, The Eye of Stony Brook reflects the CBC's mission to enhance campus spaces while creating a lasting legacy of student creativity and artistic expression.

Lizzol said The Eye of Stony Brook melds his view of Stony Brook's excellence, with inspiration from Michelangelo's David which he studied during a study abroad experience in Florence while reflecting on his own artistic style. Lizzol is thrilled to leave a similar mark at Stony Brook University, "that I hope has meaning for the entire university community," he said.

"Getting the opportunity to be a part of ART Tank and to have my art in such a prominent and influential space made me so happy," said Lizzol. "And it empowered me to think that I could actually be successful at making art into a career and not just doing it on the side."

Lizzol says the positive feedback he received has reinforced his belief that he can create "real art, not just color on a wall, but something that really means something to the people who view it." For the political science and business management student, the ART Tank competition also provided an opportunity to grow as an artist. "I felt like this was not exactly a test run, but a really good opportunity to kind of flex my muscles a little bit, if that makes sense."

"When a student's vision becomes part of the landscape of our university, we see the true meaning of belonging," said Stony Brook Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Judi Brown Clarke, who also serves as the CBC's executive sponsor. "The Eye of Stony Brook reflects a dream realized through talent, perseverance and opportunity. By showcasing this work in a prominent campus space, Stony Brook affirms its commitment to excellence, student success, and empowering every Seawolf to leave a lasting legacy."

The ART Tank experience also gave Lizzol a taste of working on a commissioned piece, requiring him to refine his design to fit a specific space. "We went back and forth a lot, and I was continually making adjustments to make sure the piece best fit the space, and I really liked that part of the process, which was new for me," he said.

Lizzol also made sure the colors were right for the Stony Brook brand and for the office where the work was going. "I picked very specific colors and literally made sure the hues and digital hex color codes were the same as those we put out there as our marketing standards for Stony Brook University. I also played around with the lighting and filters to get the glossy finish I was looking for and used a lot of brush techniques to accomplish the smooth look I was seeking."

Lizzol is about to spend another semester abroad, this time at SUNY Korea, where he will take his first college-level art class, "Introduction to Drawing." He's especially excited about the location, as South Korea's capital of Seoul is recognized as a global design capital, and Lizzol said his goal, when he was younger, was to be a fashion designer.