Lemuel Subdias’ first collegiate art exhibition resulted in the top prize.

The UNCP senior art major took home first place at the annual Peach Belt Conference Art Exhibition.

“I have always been reclusive about my work, especially when it comes to more personal work,” he said. “I’ve won a couple of awards for various art events, but this is my first exhibition since high school. I am grateful and excited about winning.”

His mixed-media drawing titled Unholy Trinity was created using graphite, gold leaf and acrylic paint. The self-portrait pays homage to religious pieces from earlier periods, as well his religious background.

The winning piece began as a class assignment, tasking him with creating a visual representation of his alter ego.

“I used three figures to represent personalities of my astrological signs, and the division of a masculine and feminine side. I am an artist at my core, and I love to create art in any medium, although my strongest is graphite.”

Subdias’ piece was shown via a slideshow presentation during the 2019 PBC basketball tournament championship. It will also be displayed on campus at the Pembroke Undergraduate Research and Creativity (PURC) Symposium on April 10.

A Moore County native, Subdias plans to travel after graduation in the fall. He hopes to use this time to strengthen his portfolio before pursuing a Master’s of Fine Arts.