The School of Art in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce Drew Nikonowicz's M.F.A. thesis exhibition, "A Wicked Game," currently on display now through April 11 in room 316 at the Studio and Design Center, located off Hill Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard in south Fayetteville. This exhibition features a custom-built arcade cabinet housing a game developed by Nikonowicz, as well as photographs and video artworks by the artist.

The exhibition is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or by special appointment with Nikonowicz. All are invited to a public reception celebrating the exhibition from 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 11.

In a darkened gallery, a single spotlight illuminates an all-black arcade cabinet, drawing visitors to play A Wicked Game. This exhibition reimagines life as a video game with shifting rules, uncertain rewards and moments of unexpected clarity.

Inspired by David Epstein's concept of "wicked problems," where solutions are elusive and conditions change without warning, the game immerses players in a disorienting yet playful world. In his book Range, Epstein writes, "In wicked domains, the rules of the game are often unclear or incomplete … and they are subject to change without notice." Here, adaptation is key — every interaction is an exercise in learning, unlearning and relearning.

Nikonowicz reflects that just as in life, there is no rulebook handed out at the start.

"I was really drawn to this idea of a wicked domain initially because it felt so familiar to me," he said. "I hope the game I've made can encapsulate some of those feelings for the audience."

"A Wicked Game" aims to take this feeling and encode it into a constantly shifting system of challenges and video game control schemes, forcing players to navigate an experience that resists mastery. Through this work, the exhibition invites reflection on how we learn, cope and make meaning in a world where stability is often an illusion.

"I encourage folks to be prepared to be frustrated if they play the game," Nikonowicz laughed. "It really isn't a fair experience, but also I find that many folks keep coming back for more."

View "A Wicked Game" now through April 11 at the School of Art and Design Center in room 316, and join the artist at the closing reception from 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 11.

To schedule a viewing appointment, please email Nikonowicz at drew@nikonowicz.com.

Those who cannot make it to the exhibition but would like to play the game can visit Steam and add it to a "wishlist" to play.