2024 MFA thesis exhibition

The Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art (MFA) at Maine College of Art & Design in collaboration with the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design (ICA) is pleased to present the thesis exhibition in celebration of the MFA class of 2024.

The work in this exhibition represents the synthesis of our graduate candidates experience in the Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art program at Maine College of Art & Design.

Exhibiting artists: Emily Elizabeth Buchalski, Drew Eastwood, Kait Gallaugher, Taylor Glenn, Paige Hanson, Ian MacFarlane, Adam Masterman, Midori Morrow, Kaitlyn Peters, Samantha Shields, Kayla Spaeth, Cheza Willis.

The MFA thesis exhibition for the class of 2024 is a multidisciplinary exhibition unified by an urgency each of these MFA candidates expresses for what they see as fundamental to our shared experience of an increasingly disconnected world. With an emphasis on the personal, and at times the anecdotal, the artwork featured by these 12 artists varies in media to include ceramics, installation, painting, performance, photography, printmaking, video, sculpture, and zines. Seen together, these thesis projects hybridize a range of conceptual themes and material approaches as they relate to visual culture, the political landscape, and contemporary art practice. The nature of this work and research demonstrates the caliber and cultural relevance achieved by these graduates of Maine College of Art & Design’s Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art program. Our studio-based curriculum creates a transformative learning experience and is designed to encourage students to follow where their work leads them, supporting them to define a sustainable vision for their art practice through individualized research, critical analysis, and curatorial experimentation.

On view at the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design
ICA Gallery hours: Wed–Sun, 12–5pm

Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art at Maine College of Art
The strengths and uniqueness of our MFA program in Studio Art come from a curricular structure that cultivates a sense of community between Low and Full Residency students. Embedded in the MFA program is a level of flexibility where students choose either a Low or Full Residency option. MECA&D’s Full Residency option provides 24/7 access to private studios and staffed fabrication facilities where students work alongside peers and with local faculty. Among the first programs of its kind in the country, MECA&D’s Low Residency option combines intense periods of on-campus instruction with the freedom and independence of working from any home location, anywhere in the world. Intensive group sessions, woven throughout our two-year curriculum, bring all MFA students together for research, travel, and dialogue. Supported by renowned faculty, visiting artists, and carefully selected graduate advisors, our students benefit from collaborating with others and collectively working to elevate the field of art.

Graduate programs at Maine College of Art & Design
Maine College of Art & Design offers a Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art (MFA), a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), and a Salt Graduate Certificate in Documentary Studies. MECA&D’s community is diverse, and each new student adds immeasurably to the vibrancy of our community. Applications are evaluated individually, with consideration given to the strength of the portfolio and academic achievement.