Columbia students collaborate on “Renaissance Rising,” a new Student Center mural inspired by President Bolton’s strategic plan and grounded in real-world professional practice.

A new mural on the fifth floor of the Student Center does more than brighten the space—it gives students a visible role in shaping Columbia College Chicago’s next chapter. 

Created in a mural painting course taught by Cheri Charlton, assistant professor in the School of Visual Arts, the large-scale work, titled “Renaissance Rising,” was conceptualized, designed, and executed collaboratively over the semester. Installed in one of the most active areas on campus, the mural reflects both student creativity and the institutional energy behind “Renaissance Rising,” President Shantay N. Bolton’s comprehensive three-year strategic planning initiative. 

Developed in partnership with the Office of the President, the project invited students to explore themes of renewal, resilience, and creative innovation. Rather than imposing a single vision, Charlton guided the class in shaping a cohesive design that unified their distinct perspectives and styles. 

For Charlton, the course intentionally connects classroom learning to professional practice. 

“This is truly one of my favorite classes to teach,” she says. “I get to bring my own professional experience into the studio and help students build both the technical skills and business knowledge essential for working as professional painters and muralists.” 

Drawing from her career as a muralist, Charlton integrates real-world skills into the curriculum—from proposal writing and client communication to budgeting materials and maintaining safety on a job site. Because much of her work takes place in Chicago—including her recent Lincoln Park Tunnel mural—students often witness professional projects unfold in real time. Those experiences become practical case studies as they move through concept development, delegation, and production planning for the Student Center installation. 

Collaboration is at the heart of the course. Students must balance individual ideas with shared ownership—learning to revise, compromise, and build something larger than themselves. 

Valerie Cheng, a senior BFA Illustration major, describes the process as both demanding and meaningful. She says she understands how strongly students and staff value community and inclusion, which made contributing to a mural celebrating Columbia’s growth especially significant. 

Narrowing the concept proved challenging. With illustration students contributing a wide range of ideas, the class revised repeatedly and went back to the drawing board to bring multiple perspectives into one cohesive design. Working as a team allowed them to exchange feedback, refine concepts, and divide responsibilities across the wall. 

As the imagery took shape, the symbolism became more personal. Through discussion, the class chose to incorporate flowers that held individual meaning. “The flowers symbolize us as artists growing and evolving simultaneously with the college, while being a part of the wonderful Columbia community,” Cheng says. 

For Cheng, the mural carries an even deeper layer of significance. “To see my work permanently installed in the Student Center, means the utmost to me,” she says. As a first generation, Cambodian-Chinese American, she intentionally included the romdoul, the national flower of Cambodia. “My goal as an illustrator,” she says, “is to create the Cambodian-Chinese representation I rarely saw growing up.” 

Now, in a space where thousands of students gather each week, that representation is part of the campus landscape—embedded in a mural that reflects both institutional renewal and the individual voices driving it forward. 

More than an installation, “Renaissance Rising” reflects what’s possible when institutional vision and student artistry take shape together. 

• Business and Entrepreneurship
• President Bolton
• Visual Arts

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