Louisiana Tech University's Visual Integration of Science Through Art (VISTA) Center welcomed alumna Almira Bradford Winans back to campus Oct. 5 for an art exhibit celebrating her artistic journey and the connection between art, science, and personal expression.
Winans, a 2016 Louisiana Tech School of Design graduate, is known for her large-scale, realistic floral paintings that explore light, color and the natural world. Her work has been exhibited throughout the Denver metropolitan area, where she continues her career as an artist and educator.
Born in Kazakhstan, Winans discovered art at an early age as a means of communication and self-expression. After being adopted and moving to the United States as an early teen, she relied on art to navigate the challenges of adapting to a new language and culture.
"Art has always been a quiet, grounding space for me, a universal language that helped me express emotions when I couldn't yet articulate them fully," Winans said. "That early connection to art continues to shape the way I create today."
Winans initially pursued engineering at Louisiana Tech before transitioning to graphic design and earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. As a student, she participated in an interdisciplinary art and science initiative that helped establish the foundation for today's VISTA Center. In 2016, she won a student digital art competition for her illustration of an antibody-antigen interaction, demonstrating the power of visual communication in science.
Her return to campus highlighted the lasting impact of mentorship and interdisciplinary education while providing an opportunity to support future artists. Proceeds from a silent auction featuring Winans' artwork will help fund a VISTA student's study abroad experience through the University’s Tech Rome program.
"Almira's story is an example of what makes Louisiana Tech special," said Nick Bustamante, director of the VISTA Center. "I often remind students that they aren't simply taking classes in Ruston for four years. They are part of a community, with opportunities to make a lasting impact. Almira embraced those opportunities, and her journey reflects the mission of the VISTA Center: providing meaningful experiences beyond the classroom that shape not only careers but lives."
The exhibit, held in University Hall, was free and open to the public. It was sponsored by Louisiana Tech alumni Justin and Jeanette Hinckley and hosted by the VISTA Center.
Listen to Winans on Beyond 1894, Louisiana Tech’s official podcast.