Thesis season continues with exhibitions, screenings, open studios, and talks that spotlight bold ideas, new voices, and cross-disciplinary exploration.
Isabella Steele, A Painting to Summon Dreams, 2025, oil on canvas, 63 x 47.25 inches. On view at “Somatic Reactions.”
Isabella Steele, A Painting to Summon Dreams, 2025, oil on canvas, 63 x 47.25 inches. On view at “Somatic Reactions.”
May at the School of Visual Arts offers a dynamic culmination of the academic year, with a full slate of exhibitions and events that highlight the ingenuity and ambition of SVA’s student community. From thesis showcases in fine art, animation, fashion photography, and interaction design to public programs featuring artists, designers, and thought leaders, the month’s programming spans disciplines and mediums. Many works and discussions delve into urgent themes—technology, identity, memory, and social change—while open studios and screenings invite audiences to engage directly with the creative process. Whether through a gallery visit or a panel conversation, May is a chance to experience the future of visual culture firsthand.
EXHIBITIONS
MFA Fine Arts presents an exhibition of work by the class of 2025, curated by Rachel Gugelberger and organized by program coordinator Isabelle Schipper.
BFA Visual and Critical Studies presents an exhibition of work by seniors of the program curated by SVA faculty member Amy Wilson (BFA 1995 Fine Arts).
Through Monday, May 19 | “Still Moving: Before the Final Frames” | SVA Flatiron Gallery
BFA Animation and BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects present an exhibition of printed artworks by 30 student artists, curated by Patrick Skelton, BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects faculty member, and Nick Piscitelli, BFA Animation faculty and department coordinator.
Ke Huang, Burnt Wedding Dress, 2025, inkjet print, 30 x 40 inches. On view at “MPS Fashion Photography 2025 Graduate Exhibition.”
Ke Huang, Burnt Wedding Dress, 2025, inkjet print, 30 x 40 inches. On view at “MPS Fashion Photography 2025 Graduate Exhibition.”
Through Wednesday, May 28 | “Somatic Reactions”: 2025 Artist Residency Exhibition | Online
SVA Continuing Education and Artist Residency Programs present an exhibition that brings together 14 artists from the spring 2025 Artist Residency cohort curated by Sarah Stolar.
MPS Fashion Photography presents its 2025 Graduate Exhibition, featuring work by 11 students, curated by faculty member Shonagh Marshall. For this exhibition, each student from the graduating class of 2025 was invited to make a new body of work.
MFA Interaction Design presents an open-studio exhibition of thesis work by 21 designers from the class of 2025, asking what is the role of designers in collaboration with AI, where will this accelerated change take us, and why are inclusion and ethics more important than ever?
MFA Illustration as Visual Essay presents an exhibition of illustrated artwork by 20 students, curated by Viktor Koen, chair of BFA Illustration and faculty in MFA Illustration as Visual Essay.
MFA Illustration as Visual Essay presents an exhibition of thesis projects by 20 students, curated by Cecilia Ruiz (MFA 2012 Illustration as Visual Essay), BFA Illustration thesis faculty member.
Split diagonal image, from left to right: Hayden Glover, A 19th-Century Revival: Inspired by the National Library of Spain, 2025, video, 25 seconds; Eni Jiahe Xu, The Green Cradle, 2024, digital illustration, 5266 × 2170 pixels. On view at “Still Moving: Before the Final Frames.”
Split diagonal image, from left to right: Hayden Glover, A 19th-Century Revival: Inspired by the National Library of Spain, 2025, video, 25 seconds; Eni Jiahe Xu, The Green Cradle, 2024, digital illustration, 5266 × 2170 pixels. On view at “Still Moving: Before the Final Frames.”
EVENTS
BFA Visual and Critical Studies presents its annual open studios event, which is an opportunity to view fresh new work in a variety of media by current students from around the world in the program.
Thursday May 1, 6:30 – 9:00pm | Emerging Media Showcase | SVA Theatre
The BFA Advertising and BFA Design programs present a showcase of motion graphics, game design, interaction, creative coding, and extended reality projects by students, plus a panel discussion with industry pros who are ready to share insights on breaking into the field and pushing creative boundaries by adapting to new tech.
Friday, May 2, 1:30 – 10:00pm | BFA Film Student Selects | SVA Theatre
The outstanding films of first-, second-, and third-year BFA Film students at the School of Visual Arts, chosen by the students themselves.
Saturday, May 3 – Sunday, May 4 | SVA BFA Film Thesis Showcase 2025 | SVA Theatre
BFA Film presents two days of diverse films by students from all over the world, demonstrating high attainment in craft.
Saturday, May 3, 2:00 – 4:00pm | Memory Complex 2 | SVA Chelsea Gallery
Memory Complex 2 is an intimate drawing workshop hosted by MFA Fine Arts student Lily Hyon that will take place in MFA Fine Arts student Austin Clay Willis’ installation, Room Set. Participants will draw a space of personal history entirely from memory.
Monday, May 5, 6:00 – 9:00pm | BFA Fine Arts Open Studios | 335 W 16th Street
BFA Fine Arts presents the spring 2025 open studios. Senior students will open their studios for public viewing, along with other exhibition spaces throughout the Fine Arts building.
MPS Digital Photography and Picturing Resistance presents a talk, followed by a Q&A, with photojournalist Stephen Shames, who has had a long, distinguished career as a photojournalist. He has created award-winning photo essays on social issues for the media, foundations, advocacy organizations, and museums.
Yuxuan Wang, INCUBUS, 2025, animation, 8 ¼ x 14 ½ inches. On view at "Selections from Thesis Projects."
Yuxuan Wang, INCUBUS, 2025, animation, 8 ¼ x 14 ½ inches. On view at "Selections from Thesis Projects."
Monday, May 12, 1:00 – 5:30pm | MFA Design for Social Innovation Thesis Show | SVA Theatre
MFA Design for Social Innovation presents its 2025 thesis show. Through inspiring interventions, social issues, and partners, their explorations show us how MFA Design for Social Innovation designers find a common coexistence in future-building.
Tuesday, May 13, 7:00 – 8:30pm | i3 Photo Lecture: Tim Soter | 136 West 21st Street, Room 418f
MPS Digital Photography presents a talk with Tim Soter, an artist, photographer, book designer, and publisher operating under the imprint The Ship Escaped. His most recent book, DFA Records: The Early Years, documents the raw energy, underground spirit, and formative moments of New York’s DFA music scene from 2003 to 2007.
The BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects department presents a screening of thesis films by the class of 2025.
Friday, May 16, 7:00 – 8:30pm | 2025 BFA Animation Celebration Screening | SVA Theatre
BFA Animation presents its 2025 Animation Celebration screening! Enjoy a great selection of films and meet the filmmakers afterward at the SVA Theatre.
Saturday, May 17, 2:00 – 8:00pm | Fourth Annual Apple Box Short Film Festival | SVA Theatre
MPS Film Directing presents its thesis film festival. This year, the festival will be broken into two screening blocks of eight films. Each screening block will be followed by a Q&A, a special screening of MPS Film Directing’s learning film, and an awards presentation.
Tuesday, May 27, 7:00 – 8:30pm | i3 Photo Lecture: Samantha Isom | 136 West 21st Street, Room 418f
MPS Digital Photography presents a talk with photographer, director, DP, and MPS Digital Photography faculty member Samantha Isom. Isom spent years as a photo assistant and digital tech to some of the top image-makers in the business, all while shooting on her own.