When Chakira Gonsalves isn’t at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth police dispatch center, she’s busy embracing her artistic side.

The dispatcher is one of about a dozen law enforcement and public safety personnel with artwork on display at the “Command Presence” Star Store campus exhibit. It’s intended to show the artistic side of those working in public safety.

For her exhibit, Gonsalves picked four pieces of pop art that she had created within the past few months that were inspired by an unexplainable urge to draw mouths. Each piece was redesigned several times, she explained.

“It didn’t look like that," she said, referring to a piece displaying her signature online #GypsyLife hashtag. "I repainted over it four times. I get an urge to paint, but sometimes it doesn’t go right and I turn it into something else."

The only other time Gonsalves could recall exhibiting her art was in her eighth grade classroom. While she does occasionally receive offers to showcase artwork at different galleries, she felt the Star Store exhibit offered a unique connection to her fellow artists.

“I just felt like I didn’t have as much in common [at Gallery X]. I have a community connection with these people,” Gonsalves said.

When she’s not painting, Gonsalves dabbles in costume creation and special effects makeup, inspired by her lifelong love of Halloween. That includes creating elaborate costumes inspired by popular culture, complete with face prosthetics and makeup.

“The public forgets that we’re humans too. We do have hobbies outside of work,” Gonsalves said, adding that she also picked up roller derby.

The exhibition, now in its second year, is organized by New Bedford Police Lt. Scott Carola and Star Store campus coordinator Jessica Fernandes Gomes. Part of Gomes’ job is bringing communities together through art at the Star Store. She thought of hosting an art exhibit for members of the law enforcement community, and when she learned of an exhibit run by Lt. Carola at the New Bedford Police Station in 2015, she quickly reached out to Lt. Carola to organize one on campus.

“He really brought it to a new level. He included public safety in all facets,” Gomes said as she listed off lawyers, police officers, firefighters and dispatchers who all have artwork on display.

Gomes said it’s all about shining a light on a diverse community of artists who happen to work in public safety, giving the public an opportunity to connect with the people that work to keep them safe.

“We’re putting a spotlight on those working in public safety, but have a lighter side in the arts,” Gomes said.

Lt. Carola, an artist himself, said that Gomes reached out to him at the perfect time. He wanted to expand his art exhibit to those in every area of public safety from New Bedford and surrounding communities, but a lack of space prevented that. This new venue provides space for more artists from other communities, he said.

The gallery is open from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Star Store campus at 715 Purchase Street in New Bedford. It runs until February 15.