Calendar

Exhibition

Presented by BFA Photography and Video

Mentors 2026

March 10 - 21, 2026
Close up image of a cow's left eye and eara wrestler bodyslams another through a table

Nicholas Faestel, Eye of the Prairie West, 2024, inkjet print, 11 x 16 ½ inches

Kobe Ligon, Vixsin, Death Match Ace, 2025, inkjet print, 13 x 8 inches

SVA Chelsea Gallery

601 West 26th Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10001

Reception

Tue, Mar 10; 6:00 - 8:00pm

RSVP for Reception
Looking down the gallery’s left hallway, a series of small photographs is arranged in a row on the left wall. On the right, a grid of four large photographs from a concert. Works in galleries one, two, and three are visible further down the hall.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

Upon entering the SVA Chelsea Gallery, wall vinyl above the front desk reads “MENTORS.” Beyond the desk, artwork is visible in the first gallery.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

A large piece of plywood covered in black and white photographs is attached to a wall in gallery one. To the right and left of it, medium-sized framed photographs hang in a row. On the far left, two lights glow behind small works on pedestals.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

Two large vinyl photographic collages, one in black and white and one in color, are attached to a wall in gallery one. Beside them, two wall shelves hold rows of ceramic mugs with images printed on them. The shelves are mounted beside two rows of square framed photographs. To their right, a monitor is hung, with vinyl prints arranged in a collage-like manner.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

A large piece of plywood covered in black and white photographs is attached to a wall in gallery one. On the far left, two lights glow behind small works on pedestals, underneath a row of framed photographs. Between these two sections, three medium-sized framed photographs hang side by side.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

On the wall to the right in the first gallery, two large vinyl photographic collages hang beside two wall shelves holding rows of ceramic mugs with images printed on them. A large, single photograph is hung in the center of the wall to the left.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

In a corner of gallery one, a large, single photograph is hung in the center of the right wall. Diagonally across, there is a large piece of plywood covered in black and white photographs attached to the wall. Between these two sections, two framed color photographs hang above a single pedestal.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

On a wall in gallery two, five vertical, unframed photographs are pinned side by side. Each photograph depicts a white silhouette in a mundane environment. To the left, three prints of black and red photographs are suspended on different planes so that they hang in front of each other.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

Many smaller, mostly cool-toned photographs are displayed in a constellation-like arrangement on the far wall of gallery two. A colorful lamp hangs from the ceiling in the center of the room. Three black and red photographs are suspended in front of the right wall, and further to the right, a row of five images is pinned on the wall.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

Three black and red photographs are suspended in a group in front of the left wall. Towards the right, a row of five images is pinned on the wall. On the wall perpendicular to it, five small, matted and framed photographs hang in a row. A colorful lamp is suspended from the ceiling.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

Five small, matted and framed photographs hang in a row at the far end of gallery two. A colorful lamp is suspended from the ceiling. Four printed photographs are pinned side by side on the right wall, and further down, nine photographs are arranged in a 3 x 3 grid.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

From the corner in gallery three, a large photograph in gallery four is visible, as well as a row of small photographs in the left hallway. In the alcove of gallery three, two portraits on fabric are suspended from the ceiling.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

A large piece of vinyl is affixed to the center of a wall in gallery three, with many photographs of varying sizes displayed on top. To the left of this project, four medium-sized prints are pinned in a row. To the right, five photographs of various sizes are arranged in a circular format. A large vinyl photograph takes up much of the wall in the gallery’s right hallway.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

A large vinyl photograph of overlapping buildings takes up much of the wall in the gallery’s hallway. A row of four photographs featuring a model is pinned to the wall perpendicular to it.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

From the right hallway, most of the alcove in gallery three is visible. Inside the alcove, images of people’s faces, cropped around the eyes, are projected onto the walls. A portrait on fabric is suspended beside them. Four large photographs of a concert are visible on the farthest wall across the room. In the right hallway, many black and white photographs are grouped together in a loose grid.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

In the hallway, many black and white photographs are grouped together in a loose grid, arranged on a dark green background. Some work in galleries one and three is visible when looking down the hall. In the gallery four alcove, several photographs, some framed and some printed in vinyl, are arranged in a collage-like manner on the wall.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

On the far wall of gallery four, two large prints hang beside each other, with a row of smaller prints hanging above them. The perpendicular wall displays three separate large prints - one of an evening sky, one of black and white abstraction, and one of a very close view of carbonation on fruit.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

On the far wall of gallery four, many photographs are arranged in a grid, with some slots left empty. The parallel wall inside the alcove displays four medium-sized framed photographs next to a long red scarf. A doctor’s office chair and an IV drip stand are set up beside them. Two large, separate prints hang on the perpendicular wall, with a chair and headphones set up to face them.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

Looking down the gallery’s left hallway, a series of small photographs is arranged in a row on the left wall. On the right, a grid of four large photographs from a concert. Works in galleries one, two, and three are visible further down the hall.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

Upon entering the SVA Chelsea Gallery, wall vinyl above the front desk reads “MENTORS.” Beyond the desk, artwork is visible in the first gallery.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

A large piece of plywood covered in black and white photographs is attached to a wall in gallery one. To the right and left of it, medium-sized framed photographs hang in a row. On the far left, two lights glow behind small works on pedestals.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

Two large vinyl photographic collages, one in black and white and one in color, are attached to a wall in gallery one. Beside them, two wall shelves hold rows of ceramic mugs with images printed on them. The shelves are mounted beside two rows of square framed photographs. To their right, a monitor is hung, with vinyl prints arranged in a collage-like manner.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

A large piece of plywood covered in black and white photographs is attached to a wall in gallery one. On the far left, two lights glow behind small works on pedestals, underneath a row of framed photographs. Between these two sections, three medium-sized framed photographs hang side by side.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

On the wall to the right in the first gallery, two large vinyl photographic collages hang beside two wall shelves holding rows of ceramic mugs with images printed on them. A large, single photograph is hung in the center of the wall to the left.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

In a corner of gallery one, a large, single photograph is hung in the center of the right wall. Diagonally across, there is a large piece of plywood covered in black and white photographs attached to the wall. Between these two sections, two framed color photographs hang above a single pedestal.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

On a wall in gallery two, five vertical, unframed photographs are pinned side by side. Each photograph depicts a white silhouette in a mundane environment. To the left, three prints of black and red photographs are suspended on different planes so that they hang in front of each other.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

Many smaller, mostly cool-toned photographs are displayed in a constellation-like arrangement on the far wall of gallery two. A colorful lamp hangs from the ceiling in the center of the room. Three black and red photographs are suspended in front of the right wall, and further to the right, a row of five images is pinned on the wall.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

Three black and red photographs are suspended in a group in front of the left wall. Towards the right, a row of five images is pinned on the wall. On the wall perpendicular to it, five small, matted and framed photographs hang in a row. A colorful lamp is suspended from the ceiling.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

Five small, matted and framed photographs hang in a row at the far end of gallery two. A colorful lamp is suspended from the ceiling. Four printed photographs are pinned side by side on the right wall, and further down, nine photographs are arranged in a 3 x 3 grid.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

From the corner in gallery three, a large photograph in gallery four is visible, as well as a row of small photographs in the left hallway. In the alcove of gallery three, two portraits on fabric are suspended from the ceiling.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

A large piece of vinyl is affixed to the center of a wall in gallery three, with many photographs of varying sizes displayed on top. To the left of this project, four medium-sized prints are pinned in a row. To the right, five photographs of various sizes are arranged in a circular format. A large vinyl photograph takes up much of the wall in the gallery’s right hallway.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

A large vinyl photograph of overlapping buildings takes up much of the wall in the gallery’s hallway. A row of four photographs featuring a model is pinned to the wall perpendicular to it.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

From the right hallway, most of the alcove in gallery three is visible. Inside the alcove, images of people’s faces, cropped around the eyes, are projected onto the walls. A portrait on fabric is suspended beside them. Four large photographs of a concert are visible on the farthest wall across the room. In the right hallway, many black and white photographs are grouped together in a loose grid.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

In the hallway, many black and white photographs are grouped together in a loose grid, arranged on a dark green background. Some work in galleries one and three is visible when looking down the hall. In the gallery four alcove, several photographs, some framed and some printed in vinyl, are arranged in a collage-like manner on the wall.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

On the far wall of gallery four, two large prints hang beside each other, with a row of smaller prints hanging above them. The perpendicular wall displays three separate large prints - one of an evening sky, one of black and white abstraction, and one of a very close view of carbonation on fruit.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

On the far wall of gallery four, many photographs are arranged in a grid, with some slots left empty. The parallel wall inside the alcove displays four medium-sized framed photographs next to a long red scarf. A doctor’s office chair and an IV drip stand are set up beside them. Two large, separate prints hang on the perpendicular wall, with a chair and headphones set up to face them.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

Looking down the gallery’s left hallway, a series of small photographs is arranged in a row on the left wall. On the right, a grid of four large photographs from a concert. Works in galleries one, two, and three are visible further down the hall.

“Mentors,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, March 10 - 21, 2026

School of Visual Arts (SVA) presents “Mentors,” an exhibition of work by BFA Photography and Video students inspired by their working relationships with world-renowned artists, curators, editors, and directors from the global arts community. Curated by department chair Joseph Maida, “Mentors” will be on view Tuesday, March 10, through Saturday, March 21, at the SVA Chelsea Gallery, 601 W 26th St, 15th floor, New York City.


The Mentors program in the BFA Photography and Video Department at SVA is designed to cultivate relationships between established and emerging artists and to introduce new talent to the broader community. Established in 1992, this program pairs fourth-year students with key figures in the arts community, giving them professional insight into their work during a culminating point in their education.


Drawn from the ranks of the industry’s best-known photographers, curators, art directors, publishers, art dealers, critics, and writers, mentors are matched with students based on their fields of expertise and the students’ areas of concentration. This year’s mentors include, among many others, Jennifer Blessing​, Senior Curator, Photography, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; Kunbi Oni​, Collection Specialist, The Museum of Modern Art; Sze Tsung Nicolás Leong, Photographer; Eve Lyons, Photo Editor, The New York Times; Sacha Lecca​, ​Deputy Photo Editor, Rolling Stone; and Lisa Sutcliffe, Curator, Metropolitan Museum of Art. 


The BFA Photography and Video Department at SVA is located in the heart of New York City, the epicenter of art, culture, fashion, commerce, and activism. The department’s renowned faculty of professionals connects students to a remarkable network, which is extended through the Mentors program. Alumni go on to work successfully in all creative fields and often hire fellow graduates because of a shared artistic language and the program’s record of accomplishment.


The SVA Chelsea Gallery is open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00am to 6:00pm, and closed on Sundays. It is fully accessible by wheelchair.

  1. Lang Chen x Claartje van Dijk: Head of Exhibitions, Foam Photography Museum Amsterdam

  2. Si Chen x Bill Jacobson: Photographer

  3. Lingke Du x Eve Lyons: Photo Editor, The New York Times

  4. Nicholas Faestel x Laura McPhee: Photographer; Professsor Emeritus, Massachusetts College of Art and Design

  5. Deven Gupta x Milagros de la Torre: Artist

  6. Sungjae Hong x Bon Duke: Director

  7. Zhikeng Huang x Brian Paul Clamp: Director, CLAMP

  8. Diane Seoyoon Lee x Alessia Glaviano: Head of Global PhotoVogue, Condé Nast

  9. Jessie Liang x Eri Morita: Photographer

  10. Kobe Ligon x Kunbi Oni: Collection Specialist, The Museum of Modern Art

  11. Clarisse Lo x Jennifer Blessing: Senior Curator, Photography, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

  12. Kaylie Lorenzana x Martha Naranjo Sandoval: Artist; Publisher

  13. RUI LU x Molly Matalon: Photographer

  14. William McFadden x Debra Klomp Ching: Co-owner, Klompching Gallery

  15. Talus Pinto x Sacha Lecca: Deputy Photo Editor, Rolling Stone

  16. Yanrong Ren x Ina Jang: Photographer

  17. Jaden Russell x Clare Grafik: Head of Exhibitions, The Photographers’ Gallery, London, UK

  18. XINGHAO SHAN x Cory Jacobs: Partner, Cottage Eight Films

  19. Eric Shang x Lisa Sutcliffe: Curator, Metropolitan Museum of Art

  20. Liam Shanley x Clare Bell: Associate Director, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, New York Public Library

  21. Yundong Shu x Tommy Kha: Photographer; Critic, Yale School of Art

  22. Amber Timinski x Paul Moakley: Executive Producer, The New Yorker

  23. Kieran van Sertima x Anika Sabin: Publisher and Editor, Capricious Foundation

  24. Zhicheng Wang x Sean Corcoran: Senior Curator, Prints and Photographs, Museum of the City of New York

  25. Christine Xu x Sze Tsung Nicolás Leong: Photographer

  26. Leslie Xu x Tom Gitterman: Director and Owner, Gitterman Gallery

  27. Wanying Xu x Michael Famighetti: Editor in Chief, Aperture 

  28. Yan Yan x Nadia Vellam: Photo and Video Director, T: The New York Times Style Magazine

  29. Feijia Yu x Mark Klett: Photographer

  30. Mina Yu x Tomoko Sawada: Artist; Professor, Senri Kinran University

  31. Shong Zhao x Guanyu Xu: Artist

  32. Pengcheng Zhou x Alyson Denny: Artist

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