Go Beyond the Game with Newest Bisignano Art Gallery Exhibit

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Explore the multifaceted identities of student-athletes at the University of Dubuque and the many layers that exist beyond their roles in competition with "Beyond the Game: A UD Athletic Homecoming" at the Bisignano Art Gallery in Heritage Center on campus.

Hannah Bauch (C'25), coordinator of creative media, marketing, and fan engagement at UD, combines action-oriented imagery with glimpses into the lives and personalities of student-athletes to provide a deeper understanding of the person behind the performance.

"Beyond the Game: A UD Athletic Homecoming" is free and open to the public through Friday, October 30, 2026. A free reception will be held during Homecoming festivities from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 9, 2026.

Twenty-four photographs spanning 2023 through 2026 are on display. For Bauch, there is something beyond the game in photography itself: the privilege of freezing a moment in time. She can remember capturing the image and can recall the game as if it were yesterday. Bauch's goal is to give the viewer a glimpse of the experience - to allow them to feel the energy of the moment.

"There is nothing more fulfilling than capturing raw emotion and genuine reaction. The vulnerability athletes display when they compete is admirable, and I believe those moments deserve to be documented as well," she said.

Bauch's photography journey began in fall 2022 when she was given the opportunity to work for the Department of Athletics as a student. She managed the department's social media accounts, continuing to work as an intern until graduating in April 2025 with a degree in digital art and design. She now serves UD as the coordinator of creative media, marketing, and fan engagement.

"Creating this gallery has given us an even deeper perspective on who these student-athletes are beyond the field, court, track, ice, or mat. They are teammates, friends, students, leaders, competitors, and individuals with stories that extend far beyond the moments captured in competition," Bauch said.

Bisignano Art Gallery hours are noon to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday during the academic year. The gallery is also open in conjunction with all major events in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center.