“Imago et Similitudo” by UMKC student Chris Hoog is a collection of works in pencil and colored pencil. Some of the works are in custom frames built by the artist. Chris is studying biology and plans to graduate in 2028. This exhibit is on display in the UMKC Libraries’ First Floor Gallery from August through December, 2026.
Statement from the artist
The essence of this particular set of work is my expression of the balance between order and disorder. This concept is synonymous with the biological idea of entropy, or the scientific study of disorder. Once presented with this concept in my entry level biology courses, I felt its creative potential and a strong need to express it artistically.
The first step in my creative process is choosing an animal or landscape that I find visually interesting with potential. The next step is rendering the subject matter realistically. This part of the process is long, and generally entails drawing the subject repeatedly until I’m painfully familiar with its realistic properties. My focus on the realistic aspects of the subject matter allows me time to study and become familiar with its movement, lines, and patterns. My realistic depiction of the animal is what I like to think of as “order”.
At this point, I introduce the “disorder”, or the entropy to the subject matter. This is when I incorporate principles of design. Symmetry, repetition, contrast, and patterning.
My goal is for viewers to adopt a different perspective on an image they might normally interpret as mundane, or uninteresting.
View the exhibit during library open hours. Metered parking is available in the parking lot north of the library, located at 800 E. 51st Street, Kansas City, MO, 64110.
This exhibit is part of the UMKC Libraries Student Art Exhibits Program, dedicating gallery space in our libraries to share the creative and intellectual work of our students. Complete the Student Art Exhibits online application to be considered for exhibition.
