Creating understanding through art: George Mason’s Veteran Artist Research Fellowship

The beauty of art has always been in its ability to change the way people think while creating understanding, and that's just what George Mason University's Don H. Russell had in mind with the Veteran Artist Research Fellowship.

George Mason alumna CJ Davis (in blue dress) discusses her art with a patron at the opening of the "As You Were" exhibit. Photo by Mason Exhibitions

Hosted by Provisions Library for Art and Social Change and funded through Mason Exhibitions, the Veteran Artist Research Fellowship runs from January 2026 through May 2027, bringing together veteran artists and others whose lives have been shaped by military service. The fellowship provides artists with funding and studio space to pursue their research and creative projects while collaborating with fellow artists.

Russell, an assistant professor and university curator who oversees Mason Exhibitions within the College of Visual and Performing Arts, created the fellowship to support veteran artists while also providing a collaborative framework for research, dialogue, and experimentation as they navigate the next chapter of their lives.

"We're committed to art as an agent of change, art as a tool almost," Russell said. "Art can be an agent of social change across almost any discipline in the university, and we seek to collaborate with scholars, students, and the general public to attract attention to George Mason as a destination for creative societal change through the arts."

Recognizing not only the veterans who served but also the important roles played by their families and caregivers, the inaugural fellowship cohort includes two George Mason alums: CJ Davis, BFA Art and Visual Technology '23; Joshua Hubbell; Nate Juncer; Michelle A. Smith, BFA '21; Kathryn "Cricket" Tate; Moira McGuire; and Luis Rosa-Valentin.

Through the fellowship, participants pursue individual research and artistic projects that draw on their experiences and explore the relationship between art and military service. Their work includes transforming immigrant stories into visual artwork, examining how fiber arts can support veterans' rehabilitation, and using photography and painting to show the experiences of wounded veterans.

Davis, whose parents were both Army medics, draws on her experience as her father's caregiver to explore trauma, healing, identity, and resilience through painting and drawing.

"It all really started here at Mason," she said, "discovering art as a tool for healing and therapy."

Fellow Luis Rosa-Valentin discusses his art with a patron at the opening of the "As You Were" exhibit. Photo by Mason Exhibitions

Rosa-Valentin, an Army veteran who lost both legs and his left arm to an improvised explosive device (IED) outside Baghdad, Iraq, in April 2008, welcomed the opportunity to connect with others traversing similar paths.

"This is a group of many stories and voices that you usually don't hear about," he said. "Being a Fellow means being a part of those voices."

The fellowship reflects George Mason's broader commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families. About 16% of the university's nearly 40,000 students are current or former military members or military dependents. In fall 2025, 20% of new undergraduate students and 25% of incoming graduate students were military-connected.

That commitment extends beyond the classroom, with art providing another opportunity for veterans to share their experiences and connect with others.

George Mason also has more than 700 pieces of veteran artwork in its collection, with works by George Mason artists currently on display at the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) at the Pentagon, which manages military personnel data and supports benefits and services for service members, veterans, and their families.

"Art becomes a bridge to address a social issue so that the Department of Defense no longer just sees numbers," said George Mason alum Steven Luu, BFA Art and Visual Technology '22, MFA '26, the program's manager for art collections, and a veteran artist himself. "They see people, they see issues, and they see the possibilities. It's a reminder to them why they go to work."

Beyond the fellowship, Mason Exhibitions supported veterans and their families through three art exhibitions this fall: In Her Image: Art by Women Veterans, highlighting the experiences of women in military service; As You Were, exploring personal transformation and healing through art; and What Remains?: The Vietnam War and Its Reckoning, examining the lasting impact of military service across generations.

Together, the fellowship and exhibitions show how art can give a voice to experiences that words alone cannot always capture. Through every medium, these artists invite others to look beyond the service and find understanding through the stories they share.

For Rosa-Valentin, sharing those experiences also offers an opportunity to inspire others.

"It feels good that people can take strength from it, that they can say to themselves that anything is possible despite any physical circumstance," he said.