The MFA Show is the culminating presentation of over 100 MFA candidates and an opportunity for new and ambitious work to be presented to the public. For more than six months, graduating MFA artists work with a team of three distinguished Guest Curators and twelve Graduate Curatorial Fellows to envision the exhibition. This invested approach allows for dialogue, process, and collaborative decision-making to guide the artists and curatorial teams as they work together to bring the MFA Show to fruition over time.
This year’s curatorial teams are: Lindsey Bell (Dual MA 2019), Susan Mackey (MAAH 2019), Shannon Waldman (Dual MA 2020), and Jacob Zhang (MAAH 2019), with Guest Curator Pedro Alonzo, independent curator and Adjunct Curator, Dallas Contemporary. Rohan Ayinde Smith (MAVCS 2019), Tess Haratonik, (Dual MA 2020), Yuting He, (MAAAP 2019), Juan Neira (MFA 2019), with Guest Curator Renaud Proch, Executive Director, Independent Curators International. Budgie Birka White (MAAH 2019), Itzel Basualdo (MFAW 2019), Sophie Jenkins (Dual MA 2020), Whitney Mash (Dual MA 2020), with Guest Curator Tricia Van Eck, Artistic Director and Founder, 6018North, Chicago.
The process is overseen by Kate Zeller, Director of Exhibitions, with Maire Witt O’Neill, Exhibition Producer, and lead staff: Curt Miller, Exhibition Manager; Christine Shallenberg, Performance Producer; Graduate Curatorial Assistants Duncan Bass, Chase Kaiser, and Reva Kashikar; and all in collaboration with Site Managers and student technicians.