Submitted photo The exhibition “A ‘Designer’ First” features the work of Sam Mastorides of Youngstown.

The work of Sam Mastorides will be featured in an exhibition opening Monday at the on exhibit Thomases Family Endowment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation Art Gallery.

According to the artist, “When I came to Youngstown State University to study graphic design, I imagined jumping directly into design software and learning the basics of graphic design. Instead, I quickly learned that I couldn’t take the design courses I wanted until I completed a series of prerequisite art classes. At the time, this felt frustrating.”

However, as he moved through these foundation courses, he began to realize these prerequisites weren’t barriers, they were building blocks.

The work in “A ‘Designer’ First” comes directly from those classes, the first pieces he made in each medium, representing the beginning of his journey into forms of art other than graphic design.

Mastorides, based in Youngstown, is an interdisciplinary artist whose work explores the intersections of nature, physical reality and the fantastical.

“A ‘Designer’ First” will be on display through July 26 at the gallery in the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown, 505 Gypsy Lane.

An opening reception runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday. Admission is free.