The last full month of summer brings thesis shows, summer student showcases, and more to the School of Visual Arts.
Yong Eun May Kwon, Spring 1, 2, 2024, acrylic on paper, 51 x 71 inches. On view at “Non-Sovereign Poetics.”
Yong Eun May Kwon, Spring 1, 2, 2024, acrylic on paper, 51 x 71 inches. On view at “Non-Sovereign Poetics.”
As the new school year creeps closer, there is much to look forward to at SVA’s gallery spaces, from final thesis shows to juried exhibitions and open studios. Plus, the SVA Masters Series will make its long-awaited return at the end of this month with a major career retrospective of design legend Stefan Sagmeister. This eclectic month also brings a special piece of performance art and a show dedicated to the work of one of SVA’s longstanding department chairs.
EXHIBITIONS
Through Saturday, August 10 | “Non-Sovereign Poetics” | SVA Chelsea Gallery
An exhibition of thesis work by the MFA Fine Arts class of 2024, curated by SVA faculty member Andrew Paul Woolbright and organized by MFA Fine Arts Program Coordinator Isabelle Schipper. Woolbright says of the exhibition, “non-sovereign poetics are anti-leviathan. They are anti-canon, anti-reverence, anti-continuance.” A performance by 2024 program graduate Jon Copes, Job Search, takes place on Saturday, August 3 (see below).
Stefan Sagmeister, Things I Have Learned So Far In My Life (Abrams, 2008). On view at “The Masters Series: Stefan Sagmeister.”
Stefan Sagmeister, Things I Have Learned So Far In My Life (Abrams, 2008). On view at “The Masters Series: Stefan Sagmeister.”
Saturday, August 3 – Wednesday, August 28 | “Daybreak” | SVA Gramercy Gallery
An exhibition of multimedia work by eight SVA students selected by a jury of their peers, “Daybreak” strives to capture the essence of quiet moments, the commonalities that bind humanity, and the hope that endures amid a rapidly changing planet. Through varied media, including design, photography and illustration, these artists present their unique perspectives on the surrounding world. Whether looking at grand aspirations or the subtle beauty of everyday life, the work in this exhibition underscores how emotions are commonly universal. Skillfully utilizing the evocative qualities of their chosen media, these artists′ work urges us all to pause, reflect and holistically consider the wonders and potential of a collective human experience.
BFA Visual and Critical Studies annually exhibits the work of a faculty member who has made a significant contribution to the SVA community. This year, the department presents an exhibition of new work by BFA Fine Arts Chair Suzanne Anker, curated by fellow SVA faculty member Peter Hristoff (BFA 1981 Fine Arts). Anker is a visual artist and theorist working at the intersection of art and the biological sciences. Her practice investigates the ways in which nature is being altered in the 21st century. Concerned with genetics, climate change, species extinction and non-human life forms, she calls attention to the beauty of life and the “necessity for enlightened thinking about nature’s ‘tangled bank’.” Anker frequently works with “pre-defined and found materials” botanical specimens, medical museum artifacts, laboratory apparatus, microscopic images and geological specimens. She works in a variety of mediums ranging from digital sculpture and installation to large-scale photography to plants grown by LED lights. Her work has been shown both nationally and internationally in museums and galleries, and this year she is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by the Society of Literature, Science and the Arts.
Barbara H Pszeniczna, My Culture, Our Deli, 2023, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40 inches. On view at “Around and Around Again.”
Barbara H Pszeniczna, My Culture, Our Deli, 2023, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40 inches. On view at “Around and Around Again.”
Wednesday, August 7 – Thursday, September 5 | “Around and Around Again” | SVA Flatiron Gallery
An exhibition of multimedia work by 10 SVA students selected by a jury of their peers. The artwork in “Around and Again” explores how societal expectations shape people’s lives. Some of these influences include gender roles, family expectations, grieving and the loss of play and curiosity as one grows up. The exhibition features a range of forms, including illustration, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. From paintings influenced by the digital workspace to cultural embroidery techniques used to challenge labels, these works evade easy categorization.
An award and exhibition honoring design giant Stefan Sagmeister, who has also taught at SVA, the 2024 Masters Series will be a career retrospective that includes elements of Sagmeister’s past exhibitions, published books, design and film work, incorporating multiple “eras” of the artist’s long and storied career. More than three decades of sketchbooks, many posters including ones commissioned by SVA as part of the College’s “subway poster” series, and design work dating back to the late 1980s will be on view. The show will include a miniature theater where Sagmeister’s film will screen on a loop, interactive installations, and even special take-home posters for visitors to the gallery. SVA will also host an artist talk with Sagmeister on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 7:00pm at the SVA Theatre.
Events
Saturday, August 3, 1:00 – 3:00pm | Job Search | SVA Chelsea Gallery
MFA Fine Arts presents a performance by 2024 program graduate Jon Copes, in conjunction with the department’s thesis exhibition, “Non-Sovereign Poetics.” Using a framework for performance developed during his thesis, “Aesthetics of Research,” Copes will use images and sounds from his personal archive, online job listings and live audio to look forward to life post academia—questioning what it means to work, attempting to determine the value of “experience” and applying for jobs. Job Search will be presented in-person at the SVA Chelsea Gallery and stream online via Zoom.
SVA Artist Residency Programs presents this year’s second open studios session—explore the creative spaces of talented residency participants from the Fine Arts: Painting and Mixed Media, Fine Arts: Contemporary Practices, and Illustration and Visual Storytelling programs. Get a behind-the-scenes look at their works-in-progress and finished pieces, interact with the artists, and ask them more about their processes, inspirations and techniques.
Suzanne Anker, Pyrexia, 2023. On view at “Suzanne Anker: Arctic Gardens and the Sixth Extinction.”
Suzanne Anker, Pyrexia, 2023. On view at “Suzanne Anker: Arctic Gardens and the Sixth Extinction.”