Campus Clinic displays student’s artwork

In the room at the end of the hallway, deep blues and vibrant reds swirl into curling tendrils of a mane. Rainbow paints blend into the piercing point of a unicorn’s horn. 

In another exam room, the long, slender neck of a giraffe interrupts the scene of a soft blue sky appearing to move idly by.

In the waiting room, a stout red cardinal sits perched on a thin branch, the background a blend of steel grays.

In the main office, gentle strokes of blue emerge from a flower’s textured yellow center. A small ladybug with perked antennas inches along one of the vibrant petals. 

Each painting hangs in the Campus Clinic, all the result of the craftsmanship and creativity of Rylee Amato, a second-year Augie Access student. 

During the fall semester, Sanford Health sponsored the display of six of Amato’s paintings in the Campus Clinic in Solberg Hall, which was renovated in 2022. 

Amy Meyers, Augustana’s employee health educator, said the staff had been hoping to add some color to the clinic’s all-white interior. When Meyers stumbled upon Amato in Viking Grounds in April 2023, she found the artist for the job. 

“It was actually an accident. We met just by chance in the coffee shop,” Meyers said. “Initially she was by herself, and I just struck up a conversation.”

Meyers learned that Amato was an artist, and Amato soon pulled out her phone to show Meyers pictures of her artwork. Then, Meyers asked Amato if she would be interested in helping bring artwork to the walls of the Campus Clinic. 

“Rylee was super proud,” Amato’s mother Kerri Amato said. “I think she understands how unique and special [the display] is for her.” 

Rylee Amato sent images of her previous paintings to the Campus Clinic staff and Becky Leonard, nurse practitioner, chose the six that would make it to the bare white walls. 

“We told [Rylee] we wanted bright colors, something that’s fun, cheery, to make everything more exciting around here,” Leonard said. “And I thought it was really cool to get a local person who is part of the college to support our arts department.” 

When asked how she felt about having her art on display on campus, Rylee Amato had one word: “excited.” 

With the cloudy weather and spring temperatures, Rylee Amato sported a long, elegant pink peacoat with shiny gold buttons and a playful dark purple t-shirt. A soft cascade of sandy blonde hair grazed her chin, and her ocean blue eyes assumed a focused stare.

“People really gravitate towards her for some reason and realize how special she is as soon as they talk to her,” Kerri Amato said. “She used to work at LaurieBelle’s, and everybody loved her there. They were like, ‘If you’re having a bad day, go talk to Rylee because she’ll just brighten your day.’” 

Now 24, Rylee Amato has fostered a love for art since she was a child. Her mother said she loved to draw and even illustrated a book about a unicorn when she was in middle school.

“We’ve gone through lots of paper,” Kerri Amato said. “And we bought it by the caseload.” 

Today, Rylee Amato paints, draws and even sculpts. She said her favorite images to create are landscapes, animals, flowers, characters and celebrities — unicorns are her favorite, though. Each style requires trips to Hobby Lobby for acrylic, oil and watercolor paints.

Born and raised in Sioux Falls, Rylee Amato’s art has spanned the United States, reaching Florida, Michigan and Ohio. A team at her dad’s work has a unicorn theme and has purchased several of her paintings to hang in their offices across the country.

The watercolor unicorn painting in the Campus Clinic is also printed on vegan leather bows at The Effortless Bow, an inclusive studio where Rylee Amato works. 

In her free time, Rylee Amato also takes on commission projects, many of which involve painting people’s dogs. 

In 2022, Rylee Amato fulfilled a dream she established early on in high school by enrolling at Augustana. 

“We took her there and she, of course, fell in love with it,” Kerri Amato said. “They showed her the dorms and you could just see her placing her stuff everywhere. This year, she decided she wasn’t even going to come home on the weekends anymore.” 

With three semesters now completed, Rylee Amato has already taken painting, drawing and ceramics classes with art professors Scott Parsons and Molly Uravitch. The people are one of her favorite parts of Augustana. 

“They support me,” Rylee Amato said. 

Jessica Lamb, the Augie Access program director, said she recognized Rylee Amato’s love for art when they met in 2021. 

“Right away it became very readily apparent that art was just woven into the fabric of who she is as a human being,” Lamb said.

Lamb said Rylee Amato is a kind person who is concerned with the well-being of others. 

“If somebody’s sad, she wants to help fix that and make them feel better,” Lamb said. “She’s just a very friendly person in general. She’s so willing to talk to anybody at any time about anything, so that’s a big essence of who she is.” 

Other members of the campus community also admire Rylee Amato for her positive energy.

“She’s a whole lot of fun,” Meyers said. “She’s bubbly, and she’s just a ray of sunshine. She’s fun to be around, and she has so many talents in addition to her artistic abilities.” 

On Dec. 1, the Campus Clinic held an artist reception for Rylee Amato to showcase her art and celebrate her work. Meyers said close to 30 people attended the reception, including the Sanford Health staff, Rylee Amato’s parents and grandparents and Augustana employees and faculty. 

“Just to see the talents and individual hard work of any student showcased anywhere is important and something we want to see,” Lamb said. “But when it’s a student with disabilities, it’s just amazing to watch how they’re breaking down those barriers and showing other people with disabilities what trying something new and hard work can get you.”