MFA Thesis (2026)
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MFA THESIS SHOW (2026)
Painting • Graphic Design • Sculpture • Print Media and Photography • Visual Narrative
April – May, 2026
808 Gallery • Stone Gallery
Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Visual Arts (SVA) presented the Class of 2026 Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Thesis Exhibitions, in April and May, 2026. The MFA exhibitions featured works of graduating students in BU’s MFA programs in Graphic Design, Painting, Sculpture, Print Media & Photography, and Visual Narrative. These culminating exhibitions highlight the diverse practices, critical inquiries, and innovative approaches shaping the next generation of contemporary artists and designers.
💻 MFA Graphic Design
April 3 – Saturday, April 18, 2026
808 Gallery (808 Commonwealth Avenue)
📸 MFA Print Media and Photography / MFA Sculpture
Friday, April 3 – Saturday, April 18, 2026
Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery (855 Commonwealth Avenue)
🖌️ MFA Painting
Tuesday, April 28 – Sunday, May 17, 2026
Stone Gallery (855 Commonwealth Avenue)
📖 MFA Visual Narrative: Book Talk
Friday, May 1, 2026
Howard Thurman Center, Room 104 (808 Commonwealth Avenue)
Visual identity by Kira Chen, Madison Hoppler, Alara Kalfazade, Yue Zhou. Faculty Advisor: Christopher Sleboda, Associate Professor of Art, Graphic Design
“This work is shaped not only by artistic development, but by the personal commitments and difficult decisions that have made this moment possible—whether involving relocation, family, employment, or other responsibilities,” says Marc Schepens, Director of BU School of Visual Arts and Senior Lecturer in Art, Painting.
Graduate study demands both sacrifice and resolve, while providing the time, space, community, and mentorship necessary to develop a distinct artistic voice and expand a lasting practice. The work presented by SVA’s MFA students in Graphic Design, Painting, Sculpture, Print Media & Photography, and Visual Narrative reflects both the rigor of their training and their engagement with the world around them and the worlds within them. Developed through two years of sustained dialogue with faculty, peers, and visiting critics, these practices are grounded in the College of Fine Arts, shaped by the broader artistic community of Boston, and informed by ongoing engagement with art historical precedents as well as the evolving discourse of contemporary art. The exhibition serves as a bridge to the wider art world, where these artists will continue refining their voices, questioning, and sustaining a lifelong commitment to artmaking.
Exhibiting Students
MFA Painting
Steven Baldino • Hayoung Cheon • Scout Curtin • Samantha Hayslett • Leah Nashel • Kasey Ott • Raquel Philippe • Alessandra Pozzuoli • Anna Pugh
CURATED BY MA Art History student Emily Nootbaar (CAS’26)
MFA Sculpture
Paola Dartigues • Kal L • Noelle Ventura
MFA Visual Narrative
Katherine Blancha • P. Christopher Capp • Julia Grace Diaz • Marina Hor-Meyll Lemos • Caleb J. Murphy • Constanza Osuna • Julian Paupaw • Emma Varteresian • Runqi Yang
MFA Print Media & Photography
Shannon Johnson • JaJamison Cloud • Chuan Liu • Rory McNamara • AJ Puplava • Vic Ferreira Sardinha
MFA Graphic Design
Kira Chen • Ruijie Chen • Rachel Coffua • Valeria Diaz • Nickola Getchevski • Madison Hoppler • Zhiyu Huang • Luna Jing • Vibhasa Kanthamraj • Christin Kim • Colin Ladd • Helen (Qingyang) Liu • Yingxuan Liu • Erica Pritchett • Chunyue Shen • Adams Staples • Sarah Sutton • Ziyu Wang • Yunxi (Lucy) Ye • Zeyu Yin • Andi Zhang • Yuhan (Joann) Zhou • Haoteng Zhu
MA Art Education Exhibition
Gallery 5 • 855 Commonwealth Avenue (5th floor)
EXHIBITING STUDENTS
Julia Pappania • Yanfuan (Mary) Yang • Yaming Jiang • Sueyon Ji • Eli Siegel • Corinne Nichols • Yeji Kim
Alongside the MFA Thesis Exhibitions, the MA Art Education students install the artwork created by their students from Boston-area schools.
Photo by Corinne Davidson (COM’26)
Painting major and grad student Anna Pugh works on her thesis project at 808. Photo by Cydney Scott
Graphic design masters student Madison Hoppler works on her thesis project at 808. Photo by Cydney Scott
Sculpture grad student Paola Dartigue works on her thesis project at 808 with her ten year old dog Pascual. Photo by Cydney Scott
Runqi Yang (CFA’26), a visual narrative grad student works on their thesis at 808 Commonwealth Ave. Photo by Cydney Scott
Boston University School of Visual Arts Unveils 2026 MFA Thesis Exhibitions Celebrating Emerging Artists
The 2026 MFA Thesis season showcases the works of graduating students in BU’s Graphic Design, Painting, Sculpture, Print Media & Photography, and Visual Narrative graduate programs.
School of Visual Arts MFA Thesis Exhibitions Open
The 2025 MFA Thesis Exhibitions celebrate the works of graduating students in BU’s Graphic Design, Painting, Sculpture, Print Media & Photography, and Visual Narrative graduate programs. BU grad student Vic Sardinha (CFA’26) works on their Print Media & Photography thesis project at 808. Photo by Cydney Scott
Info & Credits
Visual identity by Kira Chen, Madison Hoppler, Alara Kalfazade, Yue Zhou. Faculty Advisor: Christopher Sleboda, Associate Professor of Art, Graphic Design
