Jesse Stecklow lifts his knees and presses them up against the seat in front of him when he rides the bus, allowing the slow ride to serve as a space for reflection. Read more...

Photo: Jesse Stecklow, a design media arts alumnus, will display his solo exhibition “Staging Grounds” at M + B in West Hollywood. Inspired by public transportation, Stecklow said the pieces in the exhibition serve to highlight the hidden moving parts of the city. (Emma Skinner/Daily Bruin)

“Significant Other” blasts Céline Dion’s cheesiest hits to highlight uncomfortable truths about romance. Running April 3 through May 6 at the Geffen Playhouse, “Significant Other” depicts the loneliness that follows as the prime of youth is left behind and replaced by the expectations of maturity. Read more...

Photo: (Courtesy of Chris Whitaker)

Spring often signifies growth and new life, but Kate Parsons sees natural cycles of death and rebirth instead. The design media arts alumna received a grant from the Pasadena Art Alliance in February, which helped fund her latest exhibition, “The Dark Spring,” in which she features video art, a virtual reality experience and a floral installation. Read more...

Photo: Design media arts alumna Kate Parsons will debut her latest exhibition, “The Dark Spring,” on April 14 at the Coaxial Arts Foundation in Downtown Los Angeles. The exhibit will feature video art, a virtual reality experience and a floral installation. (Courtesy of Nichole Gawalis)

Kit Kirby faced a dilemma while opening her own solo exhibition: She is uncomfortable with gallery spaces. The graduate student in design media arts said she thinks some people see art galleries as a way to sell artwork, which is a misconception since most pieces are already owned by a museum or art collector. Read more...

Photo: Kit Kirby, a graduate student in design media arts, is opening her solo exhibition titled “Art Troll.” “Art Troll,” which will take place Tuesday through Thursday at the Broad Art Center’s Graduate Gallery will feature both visual and performance art pieces. Kirby said she purposefully selected materials not typically found in galleries in an effort to change the way the public views fine art. (Farida Saleh/Daily Bruin)