Roost Boost Previous Winners
Congratulations to the 2025 Roost Boost Scholarship winners! Check out their work as examples for your own application.
Nguyen Minh Doan
First Place
My works investigate the profound influence of colonization and imperialism on Vietnam, examining the historical narratives from French colonization to the impact of US imperialism in the 20th century and even up till now. Through my artwork, I reflect on how these events and stories have shaped my personal experience and the broader Vietnamese community, both in Vietnam and globally. I draw inspiration from historical moments, personal stories, oral histories, and my interactions with Vietnamese communities around the world. These encounters serve as the starting point for my conversation, exploration, and reflection on identity, memory, collective experiences, and cultural resilience.
In my practice, I emphasize the use of colors and geometric shapes, drawing from the rich patterns found in Vietnamese traditional textiles and the architectural features of modernism. I also incorporate collage techniques using historical photographs, masking tape, and kozo paper. These methods allow me to visually express my perspectives, emotions, and reactions to how history has influenced me and my community. My current works include both painting and sculpture, which allows me to experiment with different mediums to communicate the layered complexity of these historical events and their ongoing impact on the Vietnamese diaspora.
Right now, I’m working on a large-scale, life-size sculpture for my undergraduate thesis. The project consists of 4 detached, full-scale flying buttresses made of rigid construction foam. Each buttress is composed of 2 profile cutouts connected by 62 decorative shapes. These interior connectors transition in color from bright to dark, while the exterior buttress panels are painted yellow ochre. The inside faces of each buttress panel are collaged with historical photos. By putting selective historical images of recognizable events in the history of Vietnam, I create visual layers to reflect and question how these histories continue to sha and appear in our present.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m1nhhhhhhhh/
Jackson Powers
Second Place
As an elementary student, I routinely finished my classwork ahead
of time, and was often told by my teachers to draw at my desk, while waiting for the rest of the class to catch up. ​ Drawing and painting opened an avenue of personal exploration that was previously absent in my academic studies, and led to a growing curiosity in art history and art theory. ​ I am particularly drawn to artists who pursued innovative and experimental approaches to art-making like Willem de Kooning, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Joan Mitchell, and Chaim Soutine. ​ Their raw reinterpretation of what is possible in art is something I seek to explore in my own practice. ​ This past summer, I spent two weeks taking Experimental Drawing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I created a series of paintings and mixed-media works beyond the creative boundaries of what I had previously been permitted to produce in high school art classes. ​ In part, this was a matter of scale, as the instructor encouraged my interest in large-format work. ​ Working on a seven-foot canvas allowed me to make big, physical, gestural compositions—a process of both creative discovery and self-discovery that allowed me to combine several small technical aspects and many large personal themes
Erin Smith
Third Place
Art has always been a huge part of my life. ​ Since I can remember I have been drawing. I had quite a large obsession with mermaids back then, so I would draw them all the time. ​ Even when all we did was finger painting, I loved going to art class. ​ After that, I fell in love. ​ The idea that I could see a beautiful mermaid in my mind and then put her on paper was mesmerizing. ​ One thing that has especially inspired my art is films. ​ I have always loved the uniqueness and creativity of shots and how they affect the viewer. ​ Another thing that has influenced my ideas is music. ​ Since I can remember, I always had an immense passion for music. ​ I would listen to songs, imagine, and then draw. ​ It has helped me grow as an artist and person. ​ While movies and music heavily inspire my art, the most important thing that inspires me is people. ​ That has been my answer since I started drawing. ​ Life in general is extremely inspirational. ​ Seeing others' emotions, uniqueness, and talents, but also their faults, gave me my love of realism. ​ Overall, art has given me the chance to spread my fears in a way that has helped me cope with them. ​ It has also given me the chance to express myself and my ideas in a way that feels very gratifying. ​ Mostly, my art has helped me tremendously when no one else could.