A self-portrait of Serena Elsasser ’27.
An education abroad trip to Florence led Serena Elsasser ’27 to discover a refreshing new perspective on art.
A studio art major at Moravian University pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an English minor, Elsasser spent a week in Italy during the spring semester reflecting on historical places and the art within them, writing down what she saw and felt, how she was inspired, and how her own pieces coincided with the artwork.
Elsasser visited many sites in Florence, including the Medici Chapels to see Michelangelo’s tomb sculptures; the medieval stone-arch Ponte Vecchio; museums such as the Museo Nazionale di San Marco, the Brancacci Chapel, and Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, and best known as the home of Michelangelo’s sculpture David.
While witnessing the artwork, Elsasser says, “You could see what the artists went through in life and what they valued—when they were hopeful and proud, and when they were vulnerable and weak—because it was reflected in their art.”
The experience was deeply personal and human, she added, emphasizing how differently art seemed to be valued in Italy, with its rich historical roots, compared to America.
“It made me remember why we create . . . for deeply human experiences. We need them in our day-to-day lives because it reminds us to be mindful, to tap into our emotions, to lean into them, and not to adapt to ‘hustle culture’ or become robotic.”
Angela Fraleigh, art professor and department chair of Moravian University’s art program, says studying abroad allows students to encounter works of art and architecture in their original context, encouraging them to think more critically about how art functions culturally, politically, and socially.
She says the sketchbook, journal, and on-site assignments the art department puts together are designed to help students slow down, look carefully, and process what they’re encountering in real time.
“It becomes less about producing ‘finished’ work and more about developing a way of seeing—one that is attentive, reflective, and responsive. That shift is often where the most meaningful growth happens,” Fraleigh says.
It’s clear Elsasser experienced that growth while abroad, saying the atmosphere was a gentle reminder for her to focus on the deeper meaning of her creations and not get stuck in the routine of simply creating only to meet deadlines.
It also reminded her of the purpose of her honor’s thesis—that pure abstraction offers the most authentic form of self-portraiture. In her thesis, Elsasser proposes that art should be understood as a process of arriving at a deeper truth, and when the self is not externally defined, it is discovered through gesture, material, language, and form.
During Fraleigh’s conversations with Elsasser in Florence, she observed how Elsasser was deeply attuned to details, noticing not just what was there, but how it lived.
“[Elsasser] has a way of moving between what she sees and what it means, allowing observation to open into something more expansive: questions of time, belief, and human presence,” Fraleigh says.
While Elsasser’s time abroad offered her a refreshed creative vision, Moravian’s studio art program provided the vital community Elsasser needed to bring that vision to life.
“You get to be really great friends with everyone you’re doing art with,” she says. “At Moravian everyone is working toward a common goal together and helping each other get to where they want to be. That’s the most important part of art: to build a community and create for that community and yourself.”
From talking about their art and what inspires them to new artist discoveries and more, this group of passionate and engaged students forms an essential support system—one that Moravian University’s art professors and its program experiences, such as studying abroad, help elevate.
When Elsasser was in secondary school, her interests included not only art, but science and English. When she began applying to colleges, she initially applied as a biology major, but then she noticed a feeling that kept pulling her.
“I thought to myself, ‘you know what, I’m going to put myself out there as an art major, and at the end of the day, if it doesn’t work out, at least I tried and I’m not constantly wondering what if.’”
Elsasser taught herself art from an early age, learning anatomy on her own and constantly drawing to sharpen her ability. From calculators to shoes and ceiling fans, she painted anything she could find to practice her art skills.
“It clicks for me. My brain just works in a very artistic way; it makes sense,” Elsasser says. “With art I feel like I could do something more. I’ve been doing it for such a long time. It’s been more than a hobby for me.”
Elsasser’s art path at Moravian was solidified after visiting South Campus.
“It was beautiful, and there’s all the history,” Elsasser says. “I also felt the intimacy of the campus and the smaller student-to-professor ratio would help me build up my art. It’s important for me to have one-on-one time so I can really thrive as an artist.”
Elsasser’s goal in life is to experiment with every kind of art. She already has experience in photography, ceramics, bookmaking, paperworking, printmaking, and additional types of mediums. She enjoys working at a highly conceptual level and plans to be a college art professor, helping bring students a step further both in their creativity and personal growth—like Moravian did for her.
Elsasser says Moravian introduced her to people who are driven, educated, and well-spoken—qualities that inspire her. “Moravian gave me a space to be around a lot of role models who are invested in who I am and my journey.”—Davin Fields
For more information on traveling abroad while at Moravian, visit: moravian.edu/center-global-education/global-programs/short-term-programs.