Fall 2025 marked the culmination of Lilly Vergnes’ academic journey in Florence. She departs The American University of Florence with a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media and a vision shaped by the journey she experienced in Florence. On December 11, 2025, her work took center stage at the Palazzi Community Center during her final student exhibition entitled: When will it be, like it never was. The gallery was filled with friends, classmates, and family members who traveled from near and far to show their support, creating a warm and emotional atmosphere for the evening.

This photography exhibition marked a powerful milestone for Vergnes. As guests moved through the space, quiet conversations and visible emotion filled the room. Tears welled in the eyes of several family members as they took in the deeply personal work lining the walls. For Vergnes, the turnout and support affirmed not only her artistic growth, but the courage it took to share her story. 

Vergnes’ journey at AUF began not as a degree-seeking student, but as a curious creative with a passion to travel. After graduating high school in Amsterdam, Vergnes took a leap choosing a gap semester studying abroad at Florence University of the Arts to pursue her interest in fine arts and photography. The intimate environment and mentorship she found here transformed everything. Here, she enrolled in Introduction to Digital Photography. 

“The classes were small and personal… my professors really guided me,” she shared. Her professors, Marco Gulatieri and David Weiss, encouraged her to experiment and fall in love with film, pushing her to move across countries and commit fully to AUF as an undergraduate student. She not only found artistic direction, but community, as this year she became a Resident Assistant, supporting fellow students navigating their own journeys abroad. 

Process Through Film 

Two years ago, Vergnes bought her first film camera. The artistic shift was immediate. “I’m not very tech savvy, and in a world where AI and photoshop is normal, film brings a different connection– it's raw,” she describes. Film photography is about crafting and triggering a therapeutic and grounding experience. “You only have 12 exposures and 1 roll. It becomes intentional making you present,” added Vergnes. In a busy city such as Florence, her work offers a moment of stillness that draws people in and fosters connection.

Her style blends portraiture, fine art and documentary storytelling. As she shoots, develops and processes each image, she creates a moment of reflection. Her final series on was captured during her trip back home to the Netherlands this past summer. Although this being her final thesis project, she had free will for this project, taking this as an opportunity to confront layers of her personal history– something that wasn't always easy to grasp. Through her lens, she navigates her relationship with her father. 

The exhibition unfolds through two visual languages: color film and black-and-white. 

Her color self portraits appear soft and dreamy, as though they exist in the space between memory and reality. Meanwhile, the black-and-white frames focus on her father. Sharp, honest and sometimes distant.

“There’s a separation there,” Vergnes shared. Between lens and reality is where her art lives, in the delicate space where seeing becomes understanding. For her, photography is not just documentation, but a bridge that allows her to dig into this connection, distance and healing all at once. Each frame becomes a negotiation between what is visible and what is felt. She captures the shifting shape of family and the evolving story of selfhood, witnessing how art can reveal what words often fail to express.

What’s Next

Vergnes’ time in Florence has fostered artistic technique and confidence in her voice. With the support of her mentors, Barbara Leolini, David Weiss and Marco Gualteri, she has been accepted into the Danish School of Media and Journalism (DMJX) in Denmark – one of only ten students selected. As the exhibition came to a close, Lilly Vergnes reflected on the moment with pride. Surrounded by loved ones and supported by her community, she left the evening feeling affirmed and ready for what comes next. She has since begun her next chapter this January at DMJX, ready to deepen her documentary practice and pursue photojournalism with the confidence Florence gave her.

Lilly Vergnes' solo exhibition: When will it be, like it never was will remain on display at the Palazzi Community Center until February 11, 2026 inside of Corridoio Fiorentino. Can't make it in-person? View the online catalog and archive of all past exhibits available at Corridoio Fiorentino's website.