From Homecoming celebrations to late-night study sessions, Queen’s students have no shortage of memories worth holding onto, and one alumnus wants to turn those moments into artwork.
Marcus Sorrell, ArtSci ’25, alongside his brother John Sorrell, are launching ArtUp, an initiative that invites Queen’s students to submit photographs of their university experiences for a chance to inspire original artwork. The project aims to connect students with local artists, who will be commissioned to create pieces that reflect life at Queen’s.
The contest is scheduled to close on Dec. 10, with a prize of up to $500 in the form of a prepaid Visa gift card.
The finished artworks are expected to go on sale in the spring of 2027, giving graduating students and their families an opportunity to commemorate their time at Queen’s while supporting artists.
Marcus Sorrell spoke with The Journal to explain the contest in more detail.
Sorrell explained the idea grew out of his experience at Queen’s, where he studied history and art history, and ultimately became involved in the Kingston arts community.
During his first years at university, Sorrell spent time at a local artist’s studio where he met artists who were working to establish themselves while managing the financial pressures of pursuing arts.
“I wanted to create infrastructure for artists to become successful,” he said.
Sorrell’s own path through Queen’s wasn’t without challenges. During his third year, he suffered a concussion that affected his academic performance and his ability to participate in varsity cheerleading. Despite receiving academic accommodations, he continued to struggle with his coursework, and was eventually required to withdraw from the University for a year.
The experience made Sorrell reconsider his priorities. After returning to Toronto in 2023, he began exploring the art industry. He eventually resumed his studies through online courses, graduating from Queen’s in 2025.
While attending art fairs and galleries in Toronto, he became increasingly interested in the challenges artists face when trying to make a living from their art.
Through ArtUp, he hopes to take on responsibilities for artists like marketing, managing sales, and organizing transportation, while connecting artists with an audience already invested in their work.
The initiative begins with students.
On ArtUp’s Campus Canvas platform, participants are invited to submit photographs capturing their experiences at Queen’s, from major campus traditions to smaller, everyday moments. Students can also view and vote on submissions from others.
Sorrell said the project isn’t limited to aesthetic photography or recognizable campus landmarks. Instead, he wants to share moments that genuinely reflect university experiences.
“Students give the whole project a theme, a voice,” he said.
The winning photographs will inform the themes and subjects of artworks created by participating artists.
At the time of the interview, Sorrell said the contest had received 11 complete entries, each consisting of three photos. His goal is to collect 90 by December.
Sorrell said he has reached out to artists and organizations in Kingston will developing the initiative, including Union Gallery, the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, and the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning.
He hopes participating artists will produce three to five paintings between November and March, which will be sold as prints, with online pre-sales planned from March to May, then selling the artwork during Queen’s May and June convocation period.
Although the initiative is still in its early stages, Sorrell hopes it can eventually become an annual project.
Tags
arts competition, Contest, photography
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