The MFA Studio Art Terminal Project Exhibition stands as a testament to the depth of inquiry, experimentation, and creative rigor undertaken by this year’s graduating cohort. Over the course of their graduate studies, these five artists have pushed the boundaries of material, concept, and form — engaging with the world around them and responding with works that reflect both personal vision and critical dialogue. This exhibition brings together a diverse range of practices, from painting and drawing, to three unique takes on the medium of photography, offering a vivid snapshot of contemporary art making in its many voices and possibilities.
At the heart of this exhibition is the spirit of exploration — a willingness to take risks, embrace uncertainty, and confront the questions that shape not only artistic practice but our understanding of the world. Through processes both intuitive and research-based, these artists examine themes of cross-cultural personal history, perpetual change, the built environment, sensual activation through mark-making, and ideas around existence itself. Their works reveal a commitment to material investigation and conceptual depth, often challenging conventions and reimagining established forms.
For each of these five artists, this exhibition is the culmination of three years of intensive study, including academic research and creative studio output, as well as an immersion in the Department of Art as instructors in undergraduate courses and labs. Through continuous mentorship from the faculty, as well as guest artists, critics and curators, the grads in our program are given a high bar for their creative output. As much as this exhibition celebrates individual achievement, it also reflects the collective experience of a community engaged in dialogue, critique, and collaboration. The studio becomes a space of exchange — where ideas are tested, perspectives shift, and creative voices emerge. The results are works that speak not only to the artists’ dedication and vision but to the complex and often unpredictable nature of making art.
We invite you to spend time with this exhibition and to consider the various questions it poses. This exhibition marks both a culmination and a beginning: the threshold of new possibilities for these artists as they step into the next chapter of their creative lives.
RON JUDE
Director of Graduate Studies