UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When students walk into Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), they are now greeted by intentionally created student artwork thanks to a collaboration between the College of Arts and Architecture’s School of Visual Arts (SoVA) and CAPS.
Instead of stock artwork that had hung in the offices for years, the hallways now feature 10 student works filled with color, movement and emotion.
The shift is part of “Harmony Through Hues,” a collaboration that was developed to offer a sense of calm for the students who come to CAPS, often at vulnerable moments in their lives, according to CAPS Staff Psychologist Sultan Magruder. Magruder described the initiative as a way to intentionally connect mental health work with student creativity.
“‘Harmony Through Hues’ was created to blend the work that we do here at CAPS in the mental health field with the artistic underpinnings of the School of Visual Arts,” Magruder said.
The collaboration grew out of long-standing conversations between CAPS staff members and College of Arts and Architecture faculty and staff members about how the CAPS offices feel to students when they first arrive.
“For years, we wanted to make our space more inclusive and accessible to the diversity of students that we encounter,” Magruder said. “One of those efforts was looking at our physical space and trying to make that more inclusive, such that when students come in, they see themselves in the art.”
For Magruder, the atmosphere inside CAPS is not incidental to the work that happens there.
“It’s about creating a visible display of safety, security, comfort and inspiration,” Magruder said.
Natalie Hernandez, CAPS senior director, connected the initiative to broader, long-term goals within the center.
“This artwork welcomes students and stakeholders to our space and can communicate more than signage or other mechanisms can,” Hernandez said, adding the student-created work makes the impact more personal.
“By making sure this art is made by students, those that enter our space can recognize the universality of their experience and engage in awe, the feeling of reverence or being in the presence of something powerful that was created by their peers,” Hernandez said.
Thousands of students pass through the center each year, many navigating trauma, anxiety or the most difficult days of their lives, according to Hernandez.
She emphasized that the environment itself can support care.
“This work, in this particular space, does just that,” Hernandez said.
The practical side of the collaboration began when CAPS decided to remove long-standing stock images and replace them with student work. Interim School of Visual Arts Director Eduardo Navas proposed a juried exhibition model with new selections every two years.
Cecil Fish served as the faculty lead and organized a pop-up show in October 2025 where students submitted work for consideration. CAPS leaders attended the pop-up show and selected the final pieces themselves.
When the artists spoke about their inspiration at the show, Hernandez said, the connection to therapy and self-reflection became even clearer.
“One shared that she wanted to convey that her ‘mind is a comforting place to be,’ which could be a systemic goal of high-quality therapy,” Hernandez said.
The review process was anonymous and intentional.
“It really was about what felt like the best fit for our space and for the students,” Magruder said.
For Fish, the connection between art and mental health is inherent.
“So much of making artwork has to do with delving deep into oneself and using what is found there to produce objects and images,” Fish said.
He believes that process can resonate deeply with viewers.
“Making feelings solid in this way allows viewers access to perspectives they may not have considered, or, if they happen to be of similar mind to the artist, creates a sense that they're not alone,” Fish said.
When the installation was complete in January 2026, staff and student reactions were immediate, according to Magruder.
“There was a lot of shock and awe from the staff when the art went up,” Magruder said. “It brought smiles to people in the waiting room, knowing it was created by fellow students.”
For Hernandez, the positive reaction to the project speaks to the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration.
“SoVA leadership were miracle workers coming into our space, charting out options for the displays and seeing the project through to completion,” Hernandez said. “This was a true collaboration, and we hope the students [artists and those visiting CAPS] feel seen, respected and encouraged.”
CAPS donor funding supported this initiative.